By Dick Jordan
Taylor Ferns of Shelby Township, Mich. has a 143-point lead over Kyle Hamilton in the USAC Mopar D1 Midget standings entering the final two races, October 14 and 15 at Kokomo, Ind. and Toledo, Ohio respectively. She hopes to become only USAC’s second female driving champion, following in the footsteps of 2004 Indianapolis Speedrome Regional Midget Champ Sondi Eden.
Hamilton, of Danville, Ind., posted the fastest qualifying time, then went on to win the 30-lapper Saturday night at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway. Hamilton caught early leader Mario Marietta on lap 11 and led the final 20 laps in his Hamilton Painting Spike/Esslinger Ford to beat Dalton Armstrong, Marietta, Tyler Cottongim and Dillon Welch to the checkered flag.
Ferns finished sixth in the Columbus feature.
USAC MOPAR D1 MIDGET SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1-Taylor Ferns-718; 2-Kyle Hamilton-575; 3-Andy O’Gara-499; 4-Bryan Nuckles-476; 5-Jake Blackhurst-467; 6-Mario Marietta-415; 7-Morgan Nelson-386; 8-Ali Jackson-346; 9-Dakoda Armstrong-278; 10-Davey Ray-255.