INDIANAPOLIS — Veteran competitor Kyle Hamilton scored a clean-sweep in Kenyon Midget action at the Indianapolis Speedrome.
Hamilton, filling in until Danny O’Gara becomes old enough to compete with the series, scored his 15th career win Saturday, but it was not a walk in the park.
Hamilton in the Peterman Brothers sponsored ride set a track record turning a lap at 12.179 seconds to break the mark set by Ayrton Houk in 2021 at 12.225-seconds to capture the K&K Marketing fast qualifier honors.
Hamilton led the entire 50-laps for the feature, but was pressed for much of the race by former Speedrome race winner Isaac Johnson and in the late stages of the race by Houk.
Hamilton took the lead at the start chased by Jase Petty, Johnson and Dameron Taylor.
Houk, who missed qualifying started ninth in the field.
Johnson and Taylor moved around Petty by the sixth circuit as Houk started to work through the field.
The race was red-flagged on lap 23 when Andrew Wall make contact with the truck tire in turn three and flipped.
By lap 26 the front three of Hamilton, Johnson and Houk were running nose to tail.
The caution flag waved on lap 39 when Taylor and Lee Petty tangled in turn three.
From there Houk moved into the second spot and closed on Hamilton, but came up .13-seconds short of a second victory to open the 2026 campaign.
Johnson came home in third followed by Eli Fox and Kyle Sheard.
“I really like this place,” Hamilton said in the winner’s circle. “This is one of my favorite tracks.”
Evan Hammond, who finished second at the season opening event in Anderson, experienced an electrical problem while running in the top ten.
Houk earned the Advanced Racing Suspensions Hard Charger award for advancing the most positions with Hamilton and Fox claiming the KRJ Race Products heat wins.
The finish:
1) Kyle Hamilton; 2) Ayrton Houk; 3) Isaac Johnson; 4) Eli Fox; 5) Kyle Sheard; 6) Jase Petty; 7) Dameron Taylor; 8) Hunter Peri; 9) Ryan Shilkuski; 10) Evan Patton; 11) Austin Pierce; 12) Lee Pierce; 13) Evan Hammond; 14) Andrew Wall; 15) Brayden Rutter; 16) Brian Richardson
