Kyle O’Gara proved to be a quick study at the first US 24 Speedway Mel Kenyon Midget Series round May 2nd. Prior to Saturday night O’Gara’s only dirt racing experience was this past January at the Chili Bowl. The May 2nd victory also marked O’Gara’s maiden dirt race in a Kenyon Midget.

At the start of the race Ashlea Albertson took the long way around turns one and two to jump to the lead, making the outside pass on Logan Huggler on the back straight. O’Gara grabbed second on lap 2 and set sail for Albertson. Latching onto Albertson’s tail tank, O’Gara ran the high side of the track, using his momentum to nip Albertson for the lead exiting turn four on lap 7.

“I don’t like to run the bottom, it’s more fun to run the top,” O’Gara commented after the race. He used the cushion throughout the race to work his way past the lapped traffic.

Taking a page from O’Gara’s book, second place finisher Dameron Taylor moved up top in his battle with Albertson for the second spot. “I finally figured out the top of the track,” Taylor said echoing O’Gara.

Kent Kriegbaum and Logan Huggler battled throughout the 30-lap feature event to finally lock down the 3rd and 4th positions. Series Rookie Rusty Callahan combined patience and several bold moves to grab a solid 5th place in his first Mel Kenyon Midget Series race.

Kent Kriegbaum led O’Gara and Taylor to the checkers in the first heat while Albertson won the second heat from the pole.

O’Gara’s third straight victory of the 2015 Mel Kenyon Midget Series season places him on top of the series point standings followed by Taylor, L Huggler, Kriegbaum and Albertson.

The Mel Kenyon Midget Series will return to action in the first on Saturday May 9 at US 24 Speedway in Logansport, IN. Practice on the US 24 bullring will begin at 6:15 with racing schedule to start at 7:30. The USSA midgets will compete in a 30 lap feature.