New format brings return of 50-laps at Speedrome
Kenyon Midgets at the Indianapolis Speedrome in 2025. (Aaron Skillman photo)
By Ken de la Bastide
In a return to its racing roots the Kenyon Midget Series this weekend will be competing in a 50-lap feature at the Indianapolis Speedrome. The series will be making three visits to the bull ring this year with Saturday's race the second of the 2026 season. Other visits to the Speedrome are set for July 25 and Sept. 5 at the track which has been a stable with the Kenyon Midget Series for many years.
The track presents unique challenges to the drivers because of the lack of banking in the corners and the need to be hooked up to run the low groove, but with the ability to pass on the outside to advance through the field.
Four-time series champion Dameron Taylor has scored six feature wins at the oval in recent years and will be joined this weekend by former Speedrome winners Kyle Hamilton, Aryton Houk and Isaac Johnson.
Johnson scored his first feature win in a Kenyon Midget at the Speedrome last year and followed that up with a win at Paragon Speedway. Taylor finished second with Clayton Gaines rounding out the top three.
Rain late in the year forced a second scheduled race at the Speedrome to be cancelled.
“I'm looking forward to going back,” Johnson said of the return to the Speedrome. “I would like to set a new track record, which I was close to doing last year.” The track record of 12.225-seconds was set by Houk in 2021.
There are 17 teams entered for the weekend including the return to Kenyon Midget Series action by Lee Pierce, who will be celebrating his 50th birthday. He will be joined by his son Austin.
Houk is coming with a win last weekend at Anderson Speedway in the Dick Jordan Classic by passing Evan Hammond on the final lap. Hammond led the first 29 laps before lapped traffic allowed Houk to claim the victory with Kyle Sheard coming home in third.
The teammates of Houk and Hunter Peri took home the KRJ Racing heat wins with Houk taking K&K Marketing qualifying honors. The third member of the team, Evan Patton earned the Advanced Racing Suspensions Hard Charger award at Anderson.