By Eric Bunn
(Lebanon, IN) Nick Hamilton took on the weather, a fast field of cars, a racetrack the UAW American Made Mel Kenyon Midget Series had never visited and even a flash fire in his engine compartment and still managed to win the series inaugural visit to the Sportsdrome Speedway in Jeffersonville, IN. Hamilton grabbed the lead from Ryan Huggler with an inside pass in turn two on lap 11 and never looked back.
During the 50-lap feature event Hamilton turned a 13.820 second lap, eclipsing the race lap record set in the early 1980’s by racing legend “Chargin’” Charlie Glotzback. Glotzback earned four wins in 124 starts in NASCAR’s top division.
Prior to the third practice session, Hamilton’s engine back fired through the carburetors, igniting an air cleaner. Along with the rest of the field, Hamilton dodged intermittent sprinkles and mist around the two heat races.. Hamilton won his heat while Simpson World Indy Rookie Alan Edsall earned to the top spot in the other heat.
The feature race was slowed by only two caution periods with the second coming on lap 12. The long green flag run to the finish allowed Hamilton open a 5 second margin over point leader and second place finisher, Dameron Taylor.
The close racing was for 3rd, 4th and 5th place. Ryan Huggler, Chase Jones and Trey Osborne traded spots and a little paint with only 0.7 second separating the three cars at the checkered flag.
Taylor will lead the UAW America Made Mel Kenyon Midget Series drivers to the high banks of Anderson Speedway this Saturday, July 9. Practice will begin at 5, with qualifications at 6:30 and racing at 8 on the Anderson’s high banks. Adult tickets are $12, kids 6 to 12 $4, and kids 5 and under are FREE.