Push for the title starts at Berlin
By Ken de la Bastide
For the first time in 2026 there is a new Kenyon Midget Series competitor at the top of the point standings. The Series is making its fifth visit to the fast Berlin Raceway with three races to follow in Indiana. Isaac Johnson in the RealTruck sponsored midget has moved to the top of the standings following a third place finish at Lincoln Park Speedway.
Ayrton Houk, who has been at the top of the standings from the opening race at Anderson didn't compete at Lincoln Park while racing with the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at Virginia International Raceway.
With four races remaining Johnson leads Houk by 74-points with defending champion Dameron Taylor another 25 points back and Evan Hammond sitting fourth 117 points behind Johnson.
Houk won the series visit to Berlin Raceway last year with Johnson, Taylor and Hammond all finishing from 6th to 8th. Taylor won both races at Berlin in 2024 with Hammond finishing the runner-up spot. He finished fourth in the first visit to the track in 2023 with Hammond coming home in seventh.
“It's great to be the points leader, but the most important thing is the next race and focusing on executing these next four races,” Johnson said. Johnson said he hopes to be a little better at Berlin this weekend. “We struggled in qualifying and didn't get much going until feature time,” he said.
Houk in the Binkley's Kitchen and Bar sponsored ride is ready to mount a charge for a second championship. “I'm very excited to get back to Berlin,” Houk said. “I am comfortable at that track and feel like we have a good opportunity to reel Isaac (Johnson) back in.” He said entering the final four races of the season he is focused on the best finishes and getting back to the championship points lead.
Taylor driving the Autotastic Service and Fleet Midget has never finished outside of the top ten at Berlin and is confident going into the weekend. “Our goal is to stay right with (Ayrton) Houk to see if we can pull off second in the championship once again,” he said. “We would love to win the championship again, but Isaac (Johnson) has been pretty consistent lately.”
Hammond drives the Snap On Tools sponsored Midget and experienced an electrical problem and didn't start the feature at Lincoln Park. “We were fast, but couldn't start the feature,” he said. “Our strong point is the faster more banked tracks. So I think I can be competitive, it's just up to us to execute with no mistakes or problems.”