Behind the winner, Seth Gregory pieced together another clean, high-value result to finish second. That 11-point payout tightened the battle for the runner-up spot in the standings and, combined with Strawberry’s absence, trimmed the overall gap to the championship lead. Newcomer Ben Joly made his season debut count with a strong podium run, slotting into third on the night and immediately appearing inside the top 10 in points. Series regulars JT Ferry and Kinser Lightner also banked important nights, adding depth to an increasingly crowded fight behind P1 in the table.
The points format—12 to win, minus one point per position, plus 1 for qualifying fast time—made Kokomo especially pivotal. Blackburn’s 13-point sweep launched him onto the board in sixth overall despite this being his first start of the season. Gregory’s runner-up lifted him to a firm second in the standings and trimmed the deficit to 14. Ferry’s steady accumulation continued with another top-five type return, keeping him within two points of Gregory. Lightner’s consistency preserved his proximity to that lead duo, and Brayden E. Carter stayed within striking distance despite not scoring at Kokomo.
Hard-charger recognition on the night goes to the winner’s path through the schedule more than a deep climb in positions, but Kokomo still surfaced several notable movers in the season picture. Joly’s debut podium placed him shoulder-to-shoulder with established names on points-per-start. Meanwhile, Lightner’s season-long balance of pace and finishes has kept him in the title conversation even without a Kokomo podium. With multiple rounds still to run, the math remains volatile: a single 12-point win—or a qualifying bonus at the right moment—can flip positions inside the top five.
Kokomo also reinforced how thin the margins can be for title hopefuls. Gregory’s consistent execution has translated to three-for-three in top-10s this season and a clear climb to second overall. Ferry matched that consistency with four top-10s in four starts, keeping him only two points behind Gregory. Strawberry’s decision to sit out preserved his 47-point total, but it also put the field within closer range; the chase pack now has a tangible path if they convert more of these 10–12 point nights down the stretch.
RESULTS — ROUND 5 (KOKOMO SPEEDWAY)
-
Dylan Blackburn (winner; also fast qualifier, +1 bonus)
-
Seth Gregory
-
Ben Joly
-
JT Ferry
-
Kinser Lightner[Note: Full-field classifications beyond the top five were recorded but are not required for the points narrative below.]
TOP 20 IN POINTS (AFTER ROUND 5)
-
Aidan Strawberry — 47 (4 starts; 2 wins; 2 bonus)
-
Seth Gregory — 33 (3 starts; 0 bonus) [-14]
-
JT Ferry — 31 (4 starts; 0 bonus) [-16]
-
Kinser Lightner — 27 (3 starts; 1 bonus) [-20]
-
Brayden E Carter — 20 (3 starts; 0 bonus) [-27]
-
Dylan Blackburn — 13 (1 start; 1 bonus) [-34]
-
Brenden McGlothlin — 12 (1 start; 0 bonus) [-35]
-
Joseph Grandy — 11 (1 start; 0 bonus) [-36]
-
Brett Grube — 10 (1 start; 0 bonus) [-37]
-
Ben Joly — 10 (1 start; 0 bonus) [-37]
-
Damian Ward — 10 (1 start; 0 bonus) [-37]
-
Brandon Dittmer — 9 (2 starts; 0 bonus) [-38]
-
Dustin Holloway — 9 (1 start; 0 bonus) [-38]
-
James Richard2 — 9 (2 starts; 1 bonus) [-38]
-
Richie Yost — 9 (1 start; 0 bonus) [-38]
-
Tyler Mckim — 8 (1 start; 0 bonus) [-39]
-
Trey Paseka — 8 (1 start; 0 bonus) [-39]
-
Garrett Paull — 8 (1 start; 0 bonus) [-39]
-
Jakob Stitzel — 8 (2 starts; 0 bonus) [-39]
-
Blaise Baker — 7 (1 start; 0 bonus) [-40]
-
Dalton Tournear — 7 (1 start; 0 bonus) [-40]
You can race with ICL for free, following along with race day info in our discord here: https://discord.gg/vQmsdwxvTf