Paragon race crucial in title chase

Ryan Huggler took the victory at Paragon Speedway in 2024, on his way to winning the Kenyon Midget Series Championship. (Aaron Skillman photo)

By Ken de la Bastide

Dameron Taylor is shooting for a record fourth Kenyon Midget Series championship, but is facing a strong challenge from several other competitors. Taylor won the opening two races of the 2025 campaign and has added a second place finish to hold a 51-point margin over Isaac Johnson.

Going into the only dirt race on the schedule at Paragon Speedway, Taylor has struggled at the southern Indiana track. His best finish is a sixth place last year but in two other visits to the track has finished outside the top ten.

Johnson is coming off his first career feature win at the Indianapolis Speedrome to go along with a podium finish at the Sportsdrome and a fourth at Anderson Speedway.

Johnson has never raced at Paragon in a Kenyon Midget, so it will be a new challenge. Johnson said Paragon is his home track and raced once there in a Pure Stock.

“I should do well, based on my past experience,” he said. “I'm itching to get back at it. I knew early in the season we would see where the points would be.” Johnson said the team is getting the finishes they wanted to start the season, but has to do better in qualifying to catch Taylor.

Third in points is Evan Hammond who trails Taylor by 103 points. Hammond finished second at the Sportsdrome, but finished 12th at Anderson and is still seeking that first career feature win. He finished fourth at Paragon in 2024 and recorded a sixth and 14th place showing at the track in 2023.

Hammond said he has been fast at every track and the three years of experience is paying off.

“We don't have a big crew,” he said. “It's basically my dad and me. Our success has been my ability and the hard work of the team.”

Hammond said Taylor is on his “A” game and Johnson has been strong at all the races. “This is the toughest season,” he said. “Going to Paragon, I'm sure there will be a number of contenders. Kyle Sheard has stepped it up. “I feel really confident about Paragon,” Hammond said.

Leading Redline Ace Rookie of the Year contender Clayton Bohanon is only 11 points back of Hammond and will be making his first start at Paragon. Bohanon finished a career best second at Anderson this year and has finished seventh in the other two events.

Kyle Sheard is only 21 points behind Bohanon and has recorded two top ten finishes this year to go along with an 11th at Anderson after tangling with Hammond.

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The Kenyon Midget Series races at Paragon Speedway on Saturday May 31.