ANDERSON, Ind. – For the second time this year, Kyle O’Gara turned in a dominant performance to win the pavement midget feature at Anderson Speedway on Saturday night.
O’Gara set fast time during qualifications and with a full inversion had to start at the back of the field.
Nick Hamilton took the point at the start chased by Annie Breidinger and Dalton Armstrong.
The only caution flag waved on lap eight when Tyler Roahrig spun and on the restart Armstrong took the lead with O’Gara moving into the second spot on lap 10.
Armstrong maintained the lead until he was forced out of contention on lap 20 giving the lead to O’Gara.
O’Gara went on to win by more than 7-seconds over Aaron Pierce with Hamilton coming home in third.
“We keep working on the car and made it better tonight,” O’Gara said in the Riley & Son Victory Lane. “I really like racing at Anderson and glad they’re bringing back the pavement midgets.”
Dameron Taylor led all 30 laps to capture the Mel Kenyon Midget feature having to hold off two championship contenders the entire distance.
Taylor grabbed the lead at the start with Ayrton Houk and Colin Grissom glued to his tail tank. Lap after lap Houk attempted to make an inside pass entering turn one but Taylor was able to keep up the momentum coming off the second corner.
Grissom claimed the second spot on lap 28 with an inside pass exiting the second corner when Houk drifted high.
Taylor went on to win by .175-seconds over Grissom with Houk coming home in third.
“I knew he (Houk) had a fast car,” Taylor said. “Every time I saw him on the inside, I would just give it a little gas to break his momentum.”
Just by starting the feature event Houk won the championship with Grissom following up his 2020 championship with a runner-up finish and Jack Macenko third in the point standings.
The finishes:
Pavement Midgets: 1) Kyle O’Gara; 2) Aaron Pierce; 3) Nick Hamilton; 4) Annie Breidinger; 5) Derek Bischak; 6) Dalton Armstrong; 7) Colin Grissom; 8) Tyler Roahrig
Kenyon Midgets: 1) Dameron Taylor; 2) Colin Grissom; 3) Aryton Houk; 4) Jack Macenko; 5) Dave Osborn; 6) Clayton Gaines