Salem doubleheader crucial as season winds down

The Kenyon Midget Series made its first visit to Salem Speedway in 2024. (Aaron Skillman photo)

By Ken de la Bastide

With just five races remaining in the 2025 Kenyon Midget Series the competitors are facing a crucial two races at Salem Speedway. The Kenyon Midgets will be competing in two 20-lap features on Saturday at the historic oval along with the USAC Silver Crown Series.

Coming off the two-race Michigan swing to Kalamazoo and Owosso speedways, Dameron Taylor extended his championship point lead over Isaac Johnson and Evan Hammond with a victory at Owosso. Taylor enters the weekend with a 65-point lead over Johnson.

At the two Michigan races it was the Jeff Hill Trailer Sales team of three midgets that showed lots of speed. Landon Brown scored his first victory at Kalamazoo with Kyle Sheard recording two podium finishes and Eli Fox coming home second at Owosso.

“A lot like the Speedrome and the length of Anderson, but without the banking,” Brown said of the Salem oval.

Ryan Shilkuski said the Salem track is not like any other visited by the series.

“Salem will be interesting,” he said before the 2024 race. “It will be exciting and way different than anyplace else we've raced so far.”

Redline Ace rookie of the year point leader is Andrew Wall, who sits fifth in the overall point standings with a 73-point margin over Clayton Bohanon, who will be competing at his home track this weekend.

The series is visiting Salem Speedway for the second time.

A year ago Logan Huggler established the track record at Salem Speedway during K&K Marketing qualifying.

Landon Brown and Taylor won the KRJ Race Products heat races.

Taylor won the Salem race followed by eventual champion Ryan Huggler with Landon Brown finishing on the podium.