ANDERSON, Ind. – Recap and photo by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman –
17-year-old Clayton Gaines led only one lap all night during the 30-lap Mel Kenyon Midget Series feature at Anderson Speedway.
The good news? It was the last one.
Gaines looked like a 30-year veteran in the final tenth of a mile in rolling up the outside lane, making a furious charge as race-long leaders Kyle O’Gara and Logan Huggler sat helpless on the bottom lane – mired in heavy lapped traffic.
That traffic ultimately allowed the Alexandria, Ind. young gun to become the stunning spoiler, going from third to first exiting turn four to pick up his first career Kenyon Midget checkered flag in thrilling fashion.
“I’m pretty exhausted right now, but more stunned,” a breathless Gaines said in Victory Lane. “I still can’t believe [that charge up the outside] actually worked.”
The official margin of victory was 0.081 seconds at the start/finish line, with Gaines holding just under a car length advantage as he flashed under the checkered flag.
Over the final five laps, the young gun methodically cut into his deficit to the leaders after being nearly ten car lengths back and seemingly out of it – never giving up and making everything out of nothing.
“I saw coming to the white flag that there was a ton of lap traffic and O’Gara and Huggler were stuck on the bottom, so I figured, ‘Hey, they’ve left a wide open lane up top,’ and they got just slowed up enough that we were able to make it work. This is amazing, I’m beyond thrilled right now.”
After first taking the lead from Huggler at lap 23, O’Gara finished just short of his third consecutive Kenyon Series victory at Anderson, shuffled to second at the checkered flag.
“Traffic killed us, we just got mired on the bottom,” O’Gara said. “I hate it, but what a race. We fought hard with Logan all 30 laps and then to lose it on the last one, it’s so tough to swallow but it was a fun show. Congrats to Clayton, he definitely earned this one tonight.”
Huggler came home third after leading the first 22 laps of the event. Female standouts Jessica Bean and Ashlea Albertson rounded out the top five.
The only caution of the event flew at lap eight for a spin by Nate Foster at the bottom of turn one.
Gaines kicked off the night for the Kenyon Midgets with quick time around the quarter-mile bullring, setting a fast lap of 12.539 seconds (71.776 mph). He and Amanda Davies won their respective 10-lap heat races prior to the feature, meaning the night was a clean sweep for the high school junior.
As a young gun trying to make his own name in the Midwest racing circles, Gaines also had a bit of advice for fellow teenagers trying to climb the short track ladders.
“Stick to it,” Gaines emphasized with a huge smile. “Never give up chasing your dreams. It pays off – I’m living my dream tonight.”
RESULTS: Mel Kenyon Midget Series; Anderson Speedway; May 20, 2015
Time Trials (Best of two laps): 1) Clayton Gaines, 12.539; 2) Jessica Bean, 12.692; 3) Kyle O’Gara, 12.707; 4) Logan Huggler, 12.741; 5) Ashlea Albertson, 12.795; 6) Nate Foster, 12.970; 7) Cole Roberson, 13.064; 8) Amanda Davies, 13.166; 9) Ryan Huggler, 13.188; 10) Trey Osborne, 13.244; 11) Kent Kriegbaum, 13.290; 12) Tommy Kouns, 14.190; 13) Grant Simpson, 14.690; 14) Dameron Taylor, NT.
Heat One (10 laps): 1) Clayton Gaines; 2) Ashlea Albertson; 3) Kyle O’Gara; 4) Ryan Huggler; 5) Cole Roberson; 6) Kent Kriegbaum; 7) Grant Simpson.
Heat Two (10 laps): 1) Amanda Davies; 2) Logan Huggler; 3) Jessica Bean; 4) Nate Foster; 5) Trey Osborne; 6) Tommy Kouns; 7) Dameron Taylor.
Feature (30 laps): 1) Clayton Gaines; 2) Kyle O’Gara; 3) Logan Huggler; 4) Jessica Bean; 5) Ashlea Albertson; 6) Dameron Taylor; 7) Amanda Davies; 8) Cole Roberson; 9) Ryan Huggler; 10) Kent Kriegbaum; 11) Tommy Kouns; 12) Nate Foster; 13) Trey Osborne; 14) Grant Simpson.
