New owner planning for 2022 season

By Ken de la Bastide

PENDLETON – At an early age Brad Hayes got his passion for racing from his father, John. Born in rural Madison County on a farm that has been in the family since the land grant days, Hayes, 47, was exposed to racing at venues throughout central Indiana. He started racing radio-controlled cars with his father and received a mechanical engineering degree from Purdue University. From there he went to work for Parma International in Ohio designing radio-controlled race cars.

In 2007 Hayes started racing with the Sports Car Club of America in Formula Ford cars and continued his passion while working for Tesla Motors in California. Hayes and his wife moved back to Indiana and lives on the family owned property.

The road to purchasing the Mel Kenyon Midget Series started in 2020.

“Ayrton Houk had run in a rental car in the Kenyon Series in 2020,” Hayes said. “We were working to put Houk in a Formula car and because of my love for sprint and midget cars thought we could do something together.”

The newly formed team purchased the car from Don Kenyon and was crowned series champion in 2021.

“Going through the season I really liked what the whole series was about,” Hayes said. “I liked the fact the costs were reasonable and it tied in with my driver development efforts and to teach people how to race.”

“It was obvious Don and Mel wouldn't be doing it forever,” he said. “I saw an interview done with Mel about selling the series before the pandemic and that deal fell through.”

That led to a conversation with Don Kenyon pertaining to the possible sale of the series, something the two brothers weren't immediately interested in doing.

“A couple of months later I went to pick up some parts and Don started asking me questions about my road racing program,” Hayes recalled. “He offered to sell me the entire series. They want the series to continue. Next thing you know I was buying the series, cars and parts from them.”

His wife, Nancy, has always been supportive of the family's involvement in racing.

“She has four rules,” Hayes explained. “We have to pay the mortgage, put food on the table, take care of the dogs and gas in the cars. She has been around racing all of her life, so she understands.”

Since taking over ownership, Hayes said there are currently 30 drivers interested in competing with the series on either a full-time or part-time basis. The hope is to have 12 or 13 races in 2022 on a mix of pavement and dirt ovals.

“The biggest concern was getting the car count up,” Hayes said. “The goal is to get people wanting to get into the series and tracks wanting to have us.”

“Last year teams were selling cars which was a concern, but once we announced the purchase we have had people interested in coming into the series,” he said.

Hayes said the Mel Kenyon Midget Series name will remain and he is working on strengthening the brand and expanding the presence of social media.