DIFFERENT INSTRUMENT, SAME TUNE FOR USAC CHAMP SWANSON

By: Jay Hardin - Track Enterprises Staff

Indianapolis, IN (May 20, 2019)-The news at the end of 2018 that the USAC Silver Crown championship team of Tony DePalma was leaving the series came as an eye opener for fans and competitors.  The departure of a team that won four championships in five years triggered a lot of questions.  What would happen to championship crew chief Bob Hampshire?  Would the familiar number 63 be used again?  Where would the all-time leader in series victories, Kody Swanson, land in 2019?  Would Swanson have the same magic touch in a new ride that he had with Hampshire and DePalma?

Before the end of the year some of the questions were answered.  Swanson landed a ride with Columbus, Indiana car owner Gene Nolen and the familiar yellow number 20.  Nolen decided to cut his operation back to one machine for the 2019 season and quickly moved to hire Swanson when the California native became available.  The Swanson hire set some other dominoes in motion as 2008 USAC champ Jerry Coons, Jr. was out of the yellow number 20 and in search of a ride, while 2016 Silver Crown champ Chris Windom was also searching for employment.  Windom eventually landed a ride in a car co-owned by Matt Goodnight and the Byrd Racing Team of Indianapolis.

The season opener in Memphis provided further answers to the off-season questions.  Swanson set fast time on the Memphis pavement for his 25th career pole run and then led the first 5 circuits before dropping back to conserve tires.  In true Swanson fashion he ran a patient race taking the lead for the final time on lap 80 and leading to the checker for his record 25th series win and first with Gene Nolen.    The first dirt race of the year at Terre Haute was a washout, the Rollie Beale Classic at Toledo came next for the Swanson/Nolen team.  All Swanson did at Toledo was take the pole again and lead all 100 laps for win number 26.  Two races, two wins and an 18-point margin coming into the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Many thought that the breakup of the DePalma team would open the door to victory lane for others, but Swanson enters the Hoosier Hundred as one of the clear favorites.  On top of it all, on May 23 he will be seeking an unprecendented FIFTH consecutive victory in the Hoosier Hundred.  Only Swanson and Al Unser have ever won four consecutive Hoosier Hundred races and of the three dirt miles on the USAC Silver Crown schedule, no driver has ever won five consecutive races at any of the tracks.

One-hundred-mile championship events on the dirt generally require strategy and patience to deal with the changes in handling and the racing surface.  Swanson showed he had both in 2010 when he took over a car from brother Tanner and came to 4th from 35th starting position.  In 2014 he started 8th and led the last 23 miles, in 2015 he started from the pole and led the last 33.  He led the last 34 in 2016 and took the lead for the final time in 2018 just past the halfway point. 

May 23 Kody Swanson is out to pass one of the greatest racing drivers ever, “Big Al” Unser by taking a fifth consecutive race at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in what could be the last automobile race ever run on the historic Indy Mile.  A victory would further cement Swanson’s status as one of the best drivers ever to sit behind the wheel of one of the big cars.

"Hoosier Hundred" activities get underway with pits opening at noon eastern, grandstands at 3pm, drivers meeting at 4pm and practice from 4:45-6pm, with qualifications and racing to immediately follow.  Tickets are $25 for advance adult general admission and $30 the day of the event.  Infield tickets are $20, while general admission for children 11 and under is $10.  Pit passes are $30 for members and $35 for non-members.

A great deal is available for those who don't want to miss a single lap of "The Week of Indy.”  A Superticket is being sold for a savings of 25% off of the regular three-day prices for the Wednesday, May 22 “Tony Hulman Classic” for USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars at the Terre Haute Action Track, the Thursday, May 23 “Hoosier Hundred” for USAC Silver Crown at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and on Friday, May 24 for the Dave Steele “Carb Night Classic” Silver Crown race at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

For just $60, a savings of $20, a fan will receive general admission at Terre Haute and Lucas Oil Raceway as well as a reserved seat for the Hoosier Hundred.  To purchase a Superticket, visit https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/2019-week-of-indy-ticket-sales.

For more information on any of the events, visit http://www.trackenterprises.com/, http://www.usacracing.com/, or call the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.