By Eric Bunn
(Lebanon, IN) When the dust settled on the final Mel Keny9on Midget Series dirt race of the 2014 racing season, Kent Kriegbaum took home the checkers in convincing fashion. Kriegbaum’s first career win was just like every driver wants it to be, jumping to the lead from the pole position at the start and leading every lap of the 30 lap feature.
Kriegbaum had to defend his lead 7 times in the first 15 laps on restarts from yellow flags. Each time Cordy Horn and Colten Dooley tried to get the jump on Kriegbaum, he used the torque advantage of his Ford engine to gather up some breathing room going into turn one. Horn and Dooley would eventually wrap-up the 2nd and 3rd spots.
Rookie Ashlea Albertson also took advantage of the caution periods to pick off cars. Albertson drove a smart race avoiding the trouble caused by other cars to grab the 4th position.
In a rare occurrence the drivers in 1st and 2nd place in the point battle, Cole Fehr and Jessica Bean were each credited with 5th place in a dead heat. USSA officials lined the two cars up incorrectly for the re-start following the lap 15 caution. Officials reduced Bean’s total time for the race by 0.551 second to compensate for placing her behind Fehr. Both drivers were awarded 5th place points and purse money.
Fehr will carry a 55 point lead over Bean to the Indianapolis Speedrome when the Mel Kenyon Midget Series returns to action on Sunday October 5. Cooley reduced Bean’s margin to just 22 points. The series’ will return to the pavement on Sunday October 5 with practice at noon and racing at 1:30.
