Speedrome brings new challenges

By Ken de la Bastide

After opening the season on the high banked quarter-mile Anderson Speedway oval, the Kenyon Midget Series will be facing a new challenge. The second race of the season is set for the one-fifth mile oval Indianapolis Speedrome that is flat and requires lot of patience from competitors.

The Kenyon Midget Series last raced at the Speedrome in 2021 and only Aryton Houk and Logan Huggler are among the current list of drivers to have competed at the facility in recent years. It will be a learning experience for the rookies competing with the series this year.

Rookie of the year contender John Robbins has never raced a midget at the Indianapolis Speedrome, but has turned numerous laps there in a Legends car. “It's flat,” Robbins said. “You have to run the low groove and hope someone makes a mistake in front of you to make a pass. “It's hard to pass on the outside,” he said. “You need to maintain momentum tight on the inside line.”

Ayrton Houk, who scored a victory at the track in 2021, said he's looking forward to the race. “I'm coming off a strong performance at Anderson,” he said. “I'm very confident in JK Racing's Kenyon car and my ability to take it to the front.” Houk said the track can be difficult to pass on but the braking zones allow opportunities entering turns one and three. “If you can get up alongside someone, it's not to hard to out brake them going into the corners,” he said.

Clayton Gaines has raced at the Speedrome multiple times over the years in a Kenyon Midget. “I think my average finish there is in the top five,” he said. “If you can race and be competitive at the Speedrome, you can be competitive anywhere.” Gaines agreed that the ideal passing opportunities are in the braking zone entering turns 1 and 3. “There is no outside passing there,” he said. “If you can pass on the outside, you're really hooked up. I've never been able to pass on the outside.” Gaines said before the track was repaved there was an outside racing line because that portion of the track was smoother than the bumpy low groove.

———

The Kenyon Midget Series races at the Indianapolis Speedome on Friday night May 5. and again on Saturday September 30.