DODSON, 2007 USAC SILVER CROWN TOP ROOKIE, DIES AT 33
By: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Speedway, Indiana (December 20, 2021)………Three-time USAC Silver Crown winner and 2007 series Rookie of the Year, Cameron Dodson, passed away on December 19, 2021. He was 33 years old.
The Greenfield, Ind. native was a force on the pavement throughout his relatively brief USAC career, in which he made a lasting mark.
He made 23 career Silver Crown starts with his debut coming in 2007 at the age of 18. That year, he raced to the pole at New Hampshire International Speedway, then scored his first career win in the season finale Copper World Classic at Arizona’s Phoenix International Raceway, winding up the season sixth in the point standings and securing Rookie of the Year honors.
While Dodson will forever remain the answer to the trivia question, “Who won the final race for the ‘New Generation’ Silver Crown cars with his 2007 triumph at Phoenix,’ his success translated to the traditional cars as well, winning the series round at Iowa Speedway in 2008.
A serious road accident sidelined his racing ventures for a short while, but Dodson returned with authority by racing to victory for the third and final time, defending his Iowa victory with another at Iowa in 2009 in which he drove the highest car number to ever grace Silver Crown victory lane – No. 991. All three of his Silver Crown wins came for the Carl Edwards/RE Technologies team.
Dodson also made 11 career USAC National Sprint Car starts, finishing a best of 6th at Ohio’s Toledo Speedway for Keith Kunz Motorsports. He also made four career USAC National Midget feature starts, the best of the bunch coming at Indiana’s Salem Speedway with a 9th place result for Kunz in 2006.
After a near decade hiatus, Dodson made his return to USAC Silver Crown racing in 2019, finishing 20th at Indiana’s Lucas Oil Raceway, dropping out 30 laps into the 100-lapper after overheating forced him to the sidelines.
Dodson also made waves in winged pavement sprint car competition, scoring 17 career wins with the Auto Value Super Sprints. He also made four career NASCAR Truck Series starts in 2006 at the age of 17.