MEL KENYON - USAC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2012

Known as the “King of the Midgets,” Mel Kenyon’s record in the sport is unmatched and incomparable.  His 111 career USAC National Midget feature wins remain as one of the most untouchable highwater marks in the sport.

Originally hailing from Davenport, Iowa, but later making his home in Lebanon, Ind., Kenyon captured seven career USAC National Midget driving championships, spanning an incredible 21 years in 1964-67-68-74-77-81-85.

Teamed for the high majority of his career with his brother, fellow USAC Hall of Famer Don Kenyon, serving as his car owner and crew chief, “Miraculous Mel” won at least one USAC National Midget event for 21 consecutive seasons between 1962-82.

Most notably, Kenyon achieved the majority of his accomplishments after a fiery crash USAC National Championship crash at Pennsylvania’s Langhorne Speedway in 1965, which burned off the fingers on his left hand.  Undaunted, the Kenyons designed a one-of-a-kind glove with a rubber gromet sewn into the palm, which fit over a stud on the steering wheel and allowed Mel to steer with the palm of his left hand.

Kenyon was also successful in the USAC champ cars, making eight Indianapolis 500 starts, and finished inside the top-five in half of them with a best result of third in 1968.  He hung up the helmet for the last time in 2009 after more than a half-century of midget racing, accumulating an astonishing 925 USAC National Midget starts, 419 of which he finished inside the top-five.

He and Don Kenyon constructed several midget chassis, and from 2004-09, their Kenyon Car Midget Series was sanctioned by USAC.