Taylor opens 2025 with thrilling win
Dameron Taylor visits Jeff Hill Trailer Sales Victory Lane Friday night at Sportsdrome Speedway. (Aaron Skillman photo)
By Ken de la Bastide
CLARKSVILLE – Experience paid off for veteran driver Dameron Taylor as he scored the victory at the Sportsdrome Speedway. Taylor was among the few drivers that had competed at the quarter-mile oval before, recording victories at the track in the past.
Taylor set fast time during qualifications followed by Clayton Bohanon and Issac Johnson. Taylor earned the K&K Marketing fast qualifier award with a lap of 14.334-seconds.
The invert put Johnson and rookie competitor Andrew Wall on the front row but a lap wasn't completed when Ryan Shilkuski came to a stop in turn one.
On the restart Johnson took the point followed by Wall, Taylor, Evan Hammond and Lee Pierce.
Bohanon moved into the fifth spot on lap three, but five laps later came to stop and was relegated to the rear of the field.
For the next 22 laps fans were treated to intense racing among the top five drivers.
Taylor moved into the second spot with an inside pass of Wall entering turn one on the restart and a lap later was able to pass Johnson for the lead.
Hammond made a nifty pass of Johnson for the second spot with an inside pass entering turn three and immediately turned up the pressure on Taylor.
Johnson and Wall swapped the third spot several times in the final ten laps.
For Taylor it was his 34th career victory with the Kenyon Midget Series with Hammond, Johnson, Wall and Kyle Sheard rounding out the top five.
“The car was definitely hooked-up,” Taylor said after a visit to the Jeff Hill Trailer Sales victory lane. “I didn't know if the car would be good or not because all our notes are from 2017.”
Taylor said he used a set-up mix of Salem Speedway and the Indianapolis Speedrome to set up the car.
During practice the team found a problem and changed a right rear bearing before qualifying.
“I knew I would be good if I remained consistent,” Taylor said. “It's important here to get off the corners well, I knew I had to carry the left front as low as possible.”
Taylor said he didn't know how close Hammond was to taking the point, but at one point late in the race saw the nose of Hammond's car and turned it up a notch.
Hammond said his car was really good in the corners “I had a really good race car and could pass really well,” he said. “He (Taylor) was so fast, I just couldn't get around him. Probably had a chance at the end, but got a little bit too excited.”
Johnson was pleased with his podium finish after not competing in a Kenyon Midget for several years. “We just didn't have the forward bite we needed off the corners,” Johnson said. “I wish the race would have stayed green early because the car was good on the first run.”
Johnson said it was a great start to the season.
Wall said it was a great run for his first time in competition and was glad he didn't wreck the car. “Qualifying fifth on speed and then to start second after the redraw,” Wall said. “I really liked this track, it was really smooth and want to come back again.”
Kaleb Case was unable to make a qualifying attempt due to a mechanical issue. He started the feature 15th in the field. He recovered to drive to a tenth place finish earning the Advanced Racing Suspensions Hard Charger award.