Schrage first-time Kenyon Midget victor

(Darrell Harper photo)

By Ken de la Bastide

ANDERSON, IN - In only his third career start Thomas Schrage recorded his first feature victory with the Kenyon Midget Series Saturday at Anderson Speedway. Schrage becomes the fourth different winner in competition this year.

Starting on the front row Schrage took the lead from point leader Trey Osborne with Dameron Taylor moving into the second spot from the third starting spot. On the 11th circuit Taylor got trapped in the high groove and was passed by fast qualifier Jack Macenko, Osborne and Anderson Patterson.

With Schrage opening a comfortable lead there was a lot of close racing behind the leader with drivers scrambling for every position. Osborne claimed the second spot from Macenko on the 23rd lap when Macenko got high in the fourth corner, almost making contact with the outside retaining wall.

Schrage went on to win by .955-seconds over Osborne with Macenko, Andrew Patterson and Kyle Ford rounding out the top five. Tanner Tecco captured the Advanced Racing Suspensions Hard Charger award by advancing four positions to finish eighth.

“It's a dream come true,” Schrage said of his victory at Anderson Speedway. “I don't know what was taking place behind me, I just kept looking straight ahead. “I didn't when my heat race, but I knew the car was fast,” he continued. “During the race I was just trying to maintain the momentum.”

Point leader Trey Osborne overcame an engine issue before leaving Ohio and a fuel pick-up problem at Anderson Speedway. Osborne was able to make the necessary repairs and drove to a second place finish ahead of Macenko who is second in the point standings.

Macenko was the K&K Marketing fast qualifier on June 11 before racing was rescheduled to this past Saturday.

Macenko captured the first KRJ Race Products heat race finishing ahead of Osborne by only .183-seconds with Patterson coming home in third.

Taylor won the second KRJ Race Products heat race by .666-seconds over Schrage and Ford.