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This site is meant to be informative for our fans. If there is something that we've missed or something that you would like to see, please let us know at melissaw@racingeclipse.com.
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** FOR SALE **
2 fresh Don Ott 410 motors
Call Sammy at 901-377-8830 or 901-385-9621
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A HELUVA GOOD! FINISH FOR KEVIN SWINDELL
June 26, 2009 - Kevin Swindell, one of the top young talents in Nascar, finished third after a classic battle at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Friday, in the Heluva Good! Summer 125.
In only his third career start in the Nascar Camping World East Series, the 20-year-old who makes his home in Mooresville, North Carolina, drove the Curb Records, Dave Davis Motorsports Dodge, to an impressive third place finish.
After qualifying third, Kevin dropped back a few spots in the early stages of the race, waiting on the first pit stop to make needed adjustments. A fuel-only stop brought him out in second place and on the restart on lap 69, passed race leader Eddie McDonald and paced the field for 10 laps. With many teams stopping on the next caution and taking tires, Kevin’s crew decided to wait and have an advantage in the later stages of the race. With track position being so important, they chose to gamble and go all the way on the same set of tires. It paid off, as he was able to hold on and bring home a third place finish.
“It started off way out of the racetrack, so we stopped early. We thought if we waited to get tires, we would have an advantage, but we saw we would get buried in the field so we made our bed when everyone else stopped. We tried to hang on,” said Kevin in the post-race interview. “I felt like I was better that the 18 car, he was about even with us with 30 to go. I’m still learning about restarts, I finally got the last one perfect. They, Truex and Dibenedetto, were definitely the better cars at the end; we were just out of tires.”
For the complete finish of the race, videos, and post race interviews, please go to www.Nascarhometracks.com.
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"It was a great night", Swindell said. "I looked up with 5 to go, and told myself to just keep pushing. I saw he was having trouble on the bottom, but couldn't believe how fast I caught him. I've always wanted to win here. Thanks to all my guys at Keith Kunz Motorsports."
Kevin's next races in the USAC National Midget will be June 10-14 for Midget week in Indiana.
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SAMMY SWINDELL MASTERS KNOXVILLE RACEWAY CLASSIC
By Bob Wilson
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (May 29) Sammy Swindell of Bartlett Tennessee captured the 17th annual Masters Classic at Knoxville Raceway Friday night. The Classic is the annual National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Musuem’s race for those drivers who are 50 years of age or older and has become an integral part of their Induction weekend activities.
Swindell, who started in the front row, jumped to the immediate lead when he roared out of turn two on the first lap. He was chased early on by Gary Wright who started right behind him. Swindell moved into lap traffic on the fifth circuit, thus allowing Wright to close in on his rear nerf bar.
Both drivers put on exciting performances dicing through traffic in this 24-car field as neither driver seemed to falter in this early going. It was lap 10 that saw Wright make his move on Swindell as he roared into turn three beside the bottom-hugging leader. As they headed toward turn four, Swindell was slowed by a lap car and Wright took the lead.
At this point, the race had become a two-car battle. Though both cars were still in lap traffic, third place Kenny Jacobs was unable to stay with them. Then, just as Wright headed for the flag stand at the end of lap 14, he slowed allowing Swindell to take the lead. The yellow was displayed as Wright stopped in turn two the victim of a broken fuel pump.
When the race resumed, Swindell was chased by Jacobs who soon faltered. By lap 20 Swindell could claim a full straightaway lead, but he nearly lost it when he became sideways in turn four as he headed to the white flag. After he corrected the move he continued on around the half-mile oval to take the $3,000 first place prize money. Jacobs claimed second and $2,000 and Chuck Swenson was third for $1,500. Fourth went to the defending champion Randy Smith($1,200) and claiming fifth was Joe McCarthy ($1,000). Completing the top ten finishers were Judy Bates, Greg Rilat, Ed Neumeister, Terry Alexander and Allen Unruh.
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PRE ORDER
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May 18, 2009
Sammy Swindell
2009 Chili Bowl Midget
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Sammy Swindell rolled into the 23rd Annual Chili Bowl event with his black #1 machine in tow. Unloaded off the trailer to much surprise sporting an old school super modified fuel tank. Not only did Swindell go out and capture his unprecedented 5th Chili Bowl title he did it in fine fashion as he piloted his new look midget to a sweep of the entire event.
R&R Enterprises is proud to announce it has teamed up with Swindell Motorsports to bring this highly saught after collectible to all of Sammy's fans. Tooling is currently underway for the specially designed tail tank and the die cast replica will be ready for delivery later this year.
Sammy wanted to do something special for all his fans to commemorate this historical event so all of the 1/18th scale die cast replicas will come with a personally autographed collector signature card.
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Limited quantity - pre-order your's today before they're gone! Click here for info
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SWINDELL HAPPIER BEHIND THE WHEEL
By Pete Wickham, The Commercial Appeal
"He's happier."
With a sentence that would challenge her husband's gift of brevity, Amy Swindell took a quick look at Sammy Swindell, her husband of 37 years, and broke into a small smile as she saw him prepare for yet another Friday night, another World of Outlaws race and another chance to conquer the 60-year old witch that is Riverside International Speedway.
For the first time in four years, however, he's doing it as a full-time member of the Outlaws' tour, running a car owned by Tom Rolfe of Chico, Calif.
"We're still looking to see if we're going to run all (70-plus) events, but so far we've been able to make all the shows, and we've been competitive from the start, and that's felt pretty good," said the 53-year-old Germantown driver, who has won three Outlaw titles, 268 feature races and was sixth in the points going into Friday's 40-lap feature.
Swindell had drastically scaled back his racing schedule the past four years, concentrating instead on trying to get his 20-year-old son Kevin started in the sport. The youngster, who hopes to eventually wind up in NASCAR, is running USAC midget and sprint races, and was in Australia to run in a season-ending event at the track where he won the Australian Speedway series in January.
But last fall, Rolfe called Sammy Swindell to see if he was interested in running his sprinter full-time - and it was time.
"I knew that it wasn't out of his system," Amy Swindell said.
Sammy hadn't raced an Outlaw event at Riverside since 1981, when he won the fature on the way to his first points championship, and had only run two other races here in the interim. But to judge the number of Swindell t-shirts in the crowd, and the cheers that went up after his 11.973-second qualifying run (fifth fastest), you'd think he'd never been away.
Even more telling was the sight of track promotor Clayton Allen working the back of the line with fistfuls of tickets and cash to get a late crush of fans through the gates in time for qualifying.
"It's the size of the crowd you expect for an Outlaw race here," said Allen, "but Sammy has added a buzz to it. This is the hometown guy protecting his turf, and protecting turf is a big thing here."
The 53-year-old pulled out another of those "crowning achievement" moments in January when he captured his fifth title in the Chili Bowl, motorsports' mid-winter fix that brings everyone and his brother to a 1/4-mile indoor track in Tulsa. He won all five of his events for his first Chili win since 1998.
"It was just me and Amy working on the car, and we had it set just right," he said. "When that happens, it's a lot of fun."
Defending Outlaw champ Donny Schatz, like Sammy a man of few words, said it's not surprising. "He's no rookie. You expect him to run at a high level, and he's done that."
And after his qualifying lap he was, as usual, not satisfied with the effort.
"Car just wouldn't turn," he said, shaking his head. "I've been away too long."
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SAMMY SWINDELL TAKES ON LUCAS OIL ASCS FRIDAY NIGHT AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (April 28, 2009) – He's won just about everything imaginable in Sprint Car racing. Of course, when a guy piles up more than 600 feature wins over the course of a career, that's just about inevitable. And he's not done yet.
Sammy Swindell will try to add yet another major win to the ledger this Friday night when he takes on the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, IL.
The Germantown, TN, racer isn't a complete stranger to either Tri-City Speedway or the American Sprint Car Series. But, when he unloads the Tom Rolfe Racing No. 10 Maxim this Friday night, it will mark his first visit to Tri-City Speedway since its reconfiguration prior to the 2007 season and his first dose of ASCS competition since 1995.
Albeit, Swindell's previous taste of ASCS competition was successful to the tune of a Devil's Bowl weekend sweep in September of 1995. And, the Sprint Car racing legend enjoyed his share of success atop Tri-City Speedway's former ½-mile oval, cracking victory lane on eleven different occasions.
Now, Swindell will try to make more history with the new era of the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters at the "new-look" Tri-City Speedway on Friday, taking on a stellar field of entries that will include the likes of Jason Johnson, Gary Wright, Shane Stewart, Paul McMahan, Tim Crawley, Travis Rilat, Danny Wood, Nick Smith, Brian Brown, Tony Bruce, Jr., Jack Dover and several dozen more.
Racking up victories with virtually every sanctioning body possible over the years, the three-time Outlaw champion opened the 2009 season with a resounding Chili Bowl Nationals victory in Tulsa, OK, to become the prestigious event's first five-time winner.
Friday's $6,000-to-win Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters event will headline a twin bill of open wheel racing action that also includes a $2,000-to-win POWRi Midget event.
Tickets for Friday's Lucas Oil ASCS debut at Tri-City Speedway are just $25, with kids twelve and under admitted for free.
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PICKENS LEADS THE CHARGE IN ANZAC DAY 50 LAP CLASSIC
Posted Sunday, 26 April 2009 by TPCR PR
In front of a huge crowd New Zealand’s Michael Pickens fought off all challengers to take victory in the Gleeman Truck Parts 50 lap Classic from compatriots Shaun Insley and Brad Mosen. The racing on track left the crowd spellbound as the leading competitors threw caution to the wind on a trying track that produced the most spectacular racing seen at the venue for some time.
Pickens led for thirty nine of the fifty laps but the victory did not come easy as he had to fight off numerous challengers including a very determined current Australian Champion, USA’s Kevin Swindell. Swindell whom flew into Australia especially for the event thrilled the crowd as he chased Pickens with dogged determination before succumbing to a deflating left rear late in the race.
At the start it was Queensland’s Sean Burrows who took the early lead from Mick Harders (QLD) and Darren Jenkins.
Mark Brown who started from position sixteen was the big mover in the first few laps, by the second lap he had moved his way into second position passing the majority of the field on the top edge of the track. Unfortunately Brown succumbed to mechanical failure on lap three and pulled off the back straight and returned to the pits.
While Brown returned to the pits Pickens took over second position after carving his way through the field from his seventeenth starting position. Anthony Brien was showing great car speed once again and sat in behind Swindell in third position.
Meanwhile Swindell was moving forward at a rapid rate whilst Shaun Insley and Brad Mosen were having their own battle back in the pack.
On lap nine Neville Lance brought on the yellows after spinning to a stop in turn 3.
At the restart Swindell made a spectacular move around the outside of Pickens before the yellows came on negating the move.
On the next restart Pickens moved to the top of the track in turn one blocking Swindell from making an outside pass.
The two maintained their positions until lap seventeen when Pickens slid over the top of turn one allowing Swindell to make the pass. One lap later Pickens moved back by Swindell as they began to open a gap between them and their nearest competitors.
On lap twenty-three the red lights came on after Mick harders took a heavy roll in turn one. He emerged from the car with sore knees, but otherwise ok.
At the restart it was Pickens from Swindell, Insley and Mosen.
Insley made a sensational move at the restart passing both Swindell and Pickens to take the lead.
One lap later Swindell recovered the lead and began to open a gap on his rivals. On lap twenty eight Brien and Burrows came together and spun on turn three right in front of the leader. Unfortunately Swindell had nowhere to go and had to spin to a stop to avoid crashing into the two stationary cars.
Swindell had to go to the rear of the field courtesy of the stoppage.
Within four laps Swindell had fought his way back into third position behind Pickens and Mosen. Swindell thrilled the crowd making passing manoeuvres’ that had to be seen to believed.
Meanwhile Neville Lance, Anthony Brien and Tim Evans were having a battle of their own.
Pickens, Swindell, Mosen and Insley continued to trade positions before Pickens opened up a slight gap on Swindell.
With eight laps to go Swindell began to slow with a deflating left rear tyre and one lap later came to a stop on the back straight. He returned to the pits but not before given a rousing round of applause from an appreciative crowd.
Pickens held sway over the final laps from fellow New Zealander’s Insley and Mosen. Anthony Brien was the first aussie home in fourth position followed by Tim Evans, Brock Dean, Peter Bourke and Troy Jordan rounding out the finishers.
Earlier in the night Kevin Swindell took victory in the International challenge event.
Heat race victories went to Brien, Pickens, Insley, Troy Jenkins and Dene McAllen.
Rod Bright took the honours in the B Main.
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Kevin Swindell; Australia Number One Back In Oz For 50 Lapper!
Posted Wednesday, 15 April 2009 by NSW Speedcar Committee
He’s BACK! America’s own young gun throttle-stomper and reigning Australian Speedcar Champion, Kevin Swindell; has today nominated for the Gleeman Truck Parts 50 Lap Speedcar Classic at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway!
Heading back Down Under after smashing the competition at the Australian Title held in Murray Bridge in January; Swindell will once again step behind the wheel of the immaculate Steven Graham Spike/Barry Graham Hawk machinery, but this time as AU1!
No rookie when it comes to racing at TPCR, Kevin became the youngest driver in the history of the World of Outlaws Sprintcar series to score a top 10 finish in a feature event, after finishing 6th during WoO Down Under at TPCR in 2005 at the age of 15!
“I’m really looking forward to racing the Midget in Sydney as Australia number one” said the Tennessee hard-charger. “I’m proud to be carrying the #1 and understand its significance in Australia”.
Thanks to the coalition effort of Steven Graham, Speedcars Australia, Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway and superb Speedcar sponsor Cyril Robinson; Swindell makes his return to Australian shores for the one night of fastest to the rear Speedcar action on Saturday April 25th.
“Having Kevin come back to Australia to race at TPCR is a massive coup for the 50 Lapper event” said TPCR Promoter Steve Green. “With Kevin, the number of top New Zealanders and the amount of talented local drivers from across Australia, this event is going to be the best Speedcar show of the season”.
To date, 39 competitors have nominated for the Gleeman Truck Parts 50 Lap Speedcar Classic including USA’s Swindell, five New Zealander’s, eleven interstaters and twenty-two local heroes; all set to hit the track on ANZAC day, Saturday 25th April.
Watch this space as more news comes to hand!
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HISTORY IN THE MAKING: 50 Lapper 70 Years On
Posted Tuesday, 21 April 2009 by Bill Lawler
This Saturday night at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway, the NSW Speedcar Association will proudly present a star-studded field for the end-of-year Gleeman Truck Parts sponsored 50 lap feature. This will be the 33rd running of the event, and not only will it be 70 years since Beale Simmons brought out his American #27 V8-60 midget to claim a well-deserved victory down town at the old Sydney Sports Ground, but it was also the very same date... Anzac Day 25th April 1939.
Since then, some of the greatest Sydney and International stars have claimed victory in this race. Bob Tattersall, Butterworth, Freeman, Peers, Rush, Goode, Mackay, Pinchbeck, Harvey, Stewart, Pickens, Middlemass, Revell, and the list goes on.
But never in the history of the race have so many talented drivers from around the country and overseas nominated for next Saturday nights race. Some of these drivers have resumes as long as your arm!
Kevin Swindell USA; Current Australian Champion (pictured). Darren Jenkins; NSW Champion 2003, and AGP 2003. Nathan Smee NSW; twice winner of the 50 lapper, NSW champion 2008 and Queensland Champ 2002. Michael Pickens NZ; past NZ champ, winner of 2005 AGP and feature race wins in the United States. Neville Lance WA; multiple winner of the WA championship. Shayne Alach NZ; current NZ champion. Mark Brown NSW; twice winner of the AGP, multiple world derby winner 1995, 2007, 2008, multiple Victorian champion, winner NSW Championship 2006 and 2009, South Australian champion 2000 and 2008. Dene McAllan WA; winner 2006 AGP. Peter Ghent VIC; winner 2003 and 2004 South Australian Championship. Troy Jordan VIC; Victorian champion 2005. Troy Jenkins NSW; multiple winner of the AGP... And that is only half the field of starters.
There have only been three drivers in the history of the race to have won three. Ray Oram, Sid Middlemass, and Ronald Mackay. This Saturday night, Nathan Smee will be going all-out for his third win, but he will have the biggest line-up of champions to defeat before he climbs those steps to receive the trophy and sash and stamp his name in the record books as the 4th multiple winner.
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PROUD SPONSOR OF THE #10 ROLFE RACING SPRINTER
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Chico, CA
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SWINDELL, A MASTER AT 19
By Murray Bridge PR
Forty Six Speedcars including four of America's best worked the Moore Engineering, Murray Bridge Speedway over the long weekend, and not a sole would have left the venue unimpressed!
In the end, it was the amicable American Youngster, Kevin Swindell who took out the top honours and is the 2009 Australian Speedcar Champion. Swindell, son of Sammy Swindell, the recent Chilli Bowl winner, holds the record for being the youngest ever WOO's Feature winner at 17 yrs of age, and the youngest ever to score a top 10 finish in WOO's at Parramatta Speedway, at the age of 15.
Going into the 40 lap final race, the 19 year old sat on 95 out of a possible 100 points, and from the minute a "shot was fired in anger" for the first round of heats on Saturday night, Swindell never looked like he was going to faulter. A "busy" driver by any standards, Swindell drives his midget by the absolute seat of his pants, and I don't think I have seen a world class competitor so busy behind the steering wheel.
It can be said that motor racing can come down to luck, which it does at times, but the Graham Team and Kevin Swindell made their own luck all weekend, by simply being very good.
A large crowd supported the event on both racing nights, and visitors came from every state in Australia, New Zealand and the USA, to witness the running of the 67th Australian Speedcar Title, and none were disappointed.
Following Kevin Swindell home was fellow American, Brad Kuhn, and legendary Aussie competitor "Big Rev Nev", Neville Lance. Fourth place went to another American in Jerry Coon's Jr. Mark "Browndog" Brown managed to salvage 5th spot, after being as high as 3rd at 3/4 race distance. The top Kiwi competitor home was Jimi Quinn in 12th position.
Defending Australian National Midget Champion, Davey Ray (USA SA/71) went into the "A" Main in his lonely position of 21st, (due to the fact that he (Ray) had recorded zero points,and was given the option to run off the back as defending champion), after a weekend I believe he would rather forget. Ray told me on the infield, after his car refused to take part in the 3rd round of heats.."I am really p....d over this. I came here for success and I don't go anywhere to make up numbers!".
Both Ray and Coon's Jr. commented on the track "not being like they had been told it would be", and both wanted to see more racing lines made available. Immediately prior to the "A" Main, drivers were invited to the pit gate by the chief steward and asked the question.."What do you want done with the track"? It was Todd Wanless that stated.." Nothing, leave it as it is, it will come on". And come on it did. The final race saw Swindell and Kuhns, Lance, Brown and Coon's Jr, "up-stairs and down-stairs" as they went through lapped traffic, almost totally unhindered.
Davey Ray, after coming out of position 21, made it to 5th by using the outside of the 390 mtr clay way, until he unceremoniously smacked the wall in turn 4.
Many patrons probably had no idea that the Murray Bridge venue was being used as a stage for some of the worlds best "Midget" drivers, and it wouldn't have taken them too long to realise that they were about to witness two nights of some of the best dirt track racing seen in Australia for a long time!
Fresh from the worlds most renowned speedcar event, The Chilli Bowl, a 1/4 mile, indoor event, held in Tulsa Oklahoma in the USA, where over 280 speedcar competitors were fighting it out, these likeable Americans showed our local and interstate drivers what being at a 'new level' was all about.
Local driver, Tim Crouch managed a win in the heats, then got caught up in a scuffle and rolled his car in heat 2. After missing heat 3, Crouch managed to claw his way into the "A" main by winning the "B" main. Sadly for Crouch, he took a shunt in the rear during the "A" main, and spun. Being a gentleman and not wanting to "get in their way", Crouch made the decision to withdraw.
All the "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi oi" in the world was not going to stop the American Invasion, although Neville Lance did his best to keep the title here in Oz.
The Americans were very complimentary towards the venue and its management, the fan's and the facilities, and after coming out of snowy conditions in the US, all enjoyed the "warmth" of Murray Bridge.
"Midget Racing" is certainly alive and well in Oz, and it would be great to have the calibre of Swindell and Co here more often!
Congratulations got to the Murray Bridge Club, SASA, Murray Bridge Glass,Bridge Motors, the officials and volunteers, and of course the supportive fans, who together, made this Australia Day Long Weekend, one to remember for a long time.
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SAMMY’S BACK: Swindell Returns to the World of Outlaws in 2009
By Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director
Concord, NC— December 29, 2009—What is shaping up to be one of the most competitive, if not the most competitive field in the history of the World of Outlaws just got even stronger, with the announcement by three-time series champion Sammy Swindell that he will return to the series full-time in 2009 to battle for his fourth title.
Swindell, who claimed World of Outlaws titles in 1981 and 1982 as well as 1997, will pilot the No. 10 Maxim for Tom Rolfe Racing with Don Ott power. The team is based in Chico, California, but will be run out of Swindell’s shop in his home state of Tennessee. The 2006 inductee into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame ran a number of races for the team last season on the West Coast, winning at Placerville Speedway in California and finishing fifth in the Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway.
“It was Tom’s decision,” said Swindell of the decision to take to the road this year with the World of Outlaws beginning in Florida. “He wanted to go down there for the first races of the year. We are going to try and make a statement there. I am excited to be competing with the Outlaws.”
Swindell joins three fellow World of Outlaws champions in the mix this year, including his longtime rival, 20-time series champion Steve Kinser, three-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz and 2001 series titlist Danny Lasoski. This will be just the second time in the 31-year history of the series that four former champions have competed full-time in the same year, as Swindell, Steve Kinser, Mark Kinser and Dave Blaney all were on the tour in 1997.
“It’s getting tougher and tougher all the time,” Swindell noted of the competition with the World of Outlaws. “There are not many advantages anymore that you can have. The biggest advantage that you can have is to have a big budget and smart people.”
The native of Germantown, Tenn. is second on the all-time win list with 268 A-Feature victories entering the 2009 campaign. His first World of Outlaws A-Feature win came at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Texas during the series inaugural 1978 season. He has won in 28 different seasons with the series, with his most recent triumph coming in 2006 at the famed Eldora Speedway, winning both nights of a two-day show.
Swindell’s quest for a fourth World of Outlaws championship will begin next week at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida during the 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH. In his career at the half-mile, he has two wins and 10 Top-10 finishes in just 12 starts.
“It will be nice to get down to Florida and get started,” said Swindell. “I haven’t been there for a few years. I have won there a few times. It will be nice to be back in something where I can have some control and run the team like I used to.”
While he has not competed full-time with the World of Outlaws for a number of years, Swindell knows very well what it takes to be fast night in and night out and expects to be quick right out of the box next week. Of the first 15 tracks on the 2009 World of Outlaws schedule, he has won at 13 of them.
“Just winning some races,” said Swindell, when asked what would make it a good season. “We want to show what we can do. I have been competitive when I get back in a car, and there have been some big gaps in there. I was helping (son) Kevin out there for a bit with his things and had been driving just whatever was around. It will be good to be back out there.”
Swindell already has a few races under his belt this season, turning in a perfect performance at the 23rd Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Okla. winning the Race of Champions, as well as the first qualifying night and also the 50-lap main event for the fifth time in his career.
The 2009 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series seasons kicks off February 6-8 at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida with the 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH. For more information on the event, including tickets, visit http://www.dirtcarnationals.com.
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KEVIN SWINDELL CAPTURES AUSTRALIAN SPEEDCAR CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
January 26, 2009 - Making his Australian debut at Murray Bridge Speedway in South Australia, American Kevin Swindell not only captured the Speedcar National Title race, but also did so in convincing fashion.
Driving for Barry and Steven Graham, and sponsored by Richard Petty Driving Experience, Supershox, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, and Valvoline, with Hawk power, Swindell absolutely put on a driving clinic.
With a tough format of four qualifying races to run, Kevin finished an amazing first, second, first, and first, plus won two pole scramble events to earn the front row starting position. At the drop of the green flag in the Title race, it was all Swindell, leading the entire distance, lapping cars and getting an impressive victory over the top Australian and American drivers.
“We were so excited to have Kevin come to Australia,” said Graham. “It’s hard to imagine there could be a more perfect two days of racing than Kevin had. This is such an important race for us, rich in the history of Australian Motorsports. To be only 19, he was just incredible.”
“I was honored to be asked to drive for the Graham’s and Richard Petty Driving Experience. Steven won this race in 2005, and I am so happy to be able to bring the car owner championship back to them. The car was perfect each time we went out, and it let me drive wherever I needed to pass cars. It was an awesome event,” said Kevin.
Australian press called him “fast”, “patient”, and “perfect”. With the song “Born in the USA” blasting in the background, Swindell was crowned the 2009 Australian Speedcar Champion!
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SAMMY SWINDELL GETS ONE FOR THE THUMB WITH 5TH CHILI BOWL WIN!
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 17, 2009) – Sammy Swindell put the finishing touches on a perfect week by racing to victory lane in Saturday night's 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire 50-lap championship feature event, besting an event record of 281 competitors.
After slipping back as far as fifth for a brief moment at the race's midway point, the Tennessee shoe took to the upper reaches of the QuikTrip Center's ¼-mile Tulsa Expo Raceway clay oval and blitzed to the head of the pack in short order, taking the lead away from Tracy Hines on the 34th circuit.
"To pull this off the way we did, to be undefeated here in every race, it was fun," Swindell commented afterward. "We had a great car and a lot of good fortune that we didn't get in trouble, and didn't tear up anything or get banged around."
Swindell survived a set of cautions in the final handful of circuits along with a foray or two above the turns one and two cushion to capture an unprecedented fifth Chili Bowl title and the coveted Golden Driller trophy that goes along with it.
Swindell was chased to the line by Hines, with Brad Kuhn making a last-corner move around Jerry Coons, Jr., to snare the show position. J.J. Yeley rounded out the top five.
The triumph, his first since reeling off four wins over the stretch from 1989 to 1998, capped an undefeated week of competition for "Slammin' Sammy" aboard the unique Esslinger-powered Venture Racing/ARIENCO/John Christner Trucking No. 1 Spike that sported an old-school appearing super modified tail tank.
Swindell opened the week with a Race of Champions victory on Tuesday and then swept Wednesday night's card with wins in heat race, qualifying race and main event competition to establish himself as a strong favorite in Saturday night's finale.
"Sometimes you can really get in trouble when you have a car that's really good," Swindell explained. "This place here is a little bit of momentum and rhythm, if I can get in that one little zone there I don't make many mistakes."
For the first half of Saturday's finale, third-starter Swindell was chasing front row starters Hines and Coons, who paced the initial 26 circuits that ran off in rapid fire fashion with the only interruption a lap 19 spin in turn four by Josh Ford.
While Coons led from the outset, Hines persistently pressured for the lead with Swindell, Kuhn and Levi Jones in pursuit. A Hines bobble exiting turn two on the tenth round briefly moved Swindell into second, only to have Hines battle back by two laps later as the leaders worked the tail of the field.
The pace continued after the lap 19 caution, with Hines taking quick advantage to take the lead by ducking underneath a Coons' push exiting turn four on the 27th lap.
Meanwhile, Swindell turned up the jets after slipping behind Kuhn and then Jones. "I tried to slow down a time or two and slowed down too much."
Stepping up the pace, Swindell quickly negated Jones' move and took to the top side of the track, blasting by Kuhn, then Coons and then Hines on successive laps to take command on the 34th circuit.
"I wanted to have a car that was good the second half, I was just waiting for everyone to get comfortable on the bottom and it left me the top open," Swindell explained. "I just caught it right at the right time, I played my cards good."
Despite narrowly missing a Donnie Ray Crawford spin on the 37th lap, surviving a perilous trip into the cushion on the 47th lap and three late cautions, Swindell raced to Roger Slack's checkered flag without challenge over the final 17 rounds.
Hines and Coons battled for runner-up honors behind the lapped cars separating them from Swindell in the final rounds, with 2005 Chili Bowl king Hines finally taking runner-up honors in Tony Stewart's Kistler-powered Chevy/Bass Pro Shops No. 21 Spike.
"Basically, we just didn't tighten the race car up enough," Hines explained afterward. "We did exactly what we wanted to do, it just wasn't enough."
Salt was added to the Coons wound when Brad Kuhn battled by in the final corner to take the show position in the Toyota-powered RW Motorsports No. 17b Beast, bettering his previous best Chili Bowl finish of fourth in 2006.
Coons settled for fourth in the Toyota-powered Wilke-PAK Motorports Speedway Motors No. 11 Spike, his best career Chili Bowl finish in a dozen tries.
J.J. Yeley rounded out the top five in Cruz Pedregon's Toyota-powered Odyssey Batteries No. 1J Spike by nipping Dave Darland at the line by inches. Darland settled for sixth, with Chris Windom charging from 23rd to seventh in his second Chili Bowl championship feature start.
Cole Whitt climbed from 17th to eighth, with Steve Buckwalter edging Brad Loyet at the line for ninth.
Loyet's tenth-place showing aboard one of three Loyet Motorsports entries in the finale was the best of a handful of drivers that made the cut for their first career Chili Bowl championship feature event including Gary Taylor (12th), Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (14th), Thomas Meseraull (16th) and Chad Kemenah (25th).
Saturday's 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire Championship Feature Results
A Main (50 laps) 1. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 2. #21 Tracy Hines, Greenfield, IN; 3. #17B Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 4. #11 Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, AZ; 5. #1J J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 6. #5 Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 7. #17 Chris Windom, Canton, IL; 8. #71 Cole Whitt, Alpine, CA; 9. #25 Steve Buckwalter, Royersford, PA; 10. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 11. #37X Casey Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 12. #5* Gary Taylor, Sapulpa, OK; 13. #05S Jon Stanbrough, Avon, IN; 14. #132 Ricky Stenhouse, Olive Branch, MS; 15. #4 Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN; 16. #2A Thomas Meseraull, San Jose, CA; 17. #55 Donnie Ray Crawford, Tulsa, OK; 18. #05H Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO; 19. #2S Damion Gardner, Pittsboro, IN; 20. #21P Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK; 21. #86 Justin Allgaier, Cornelius, NC; 22. #73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 23. #1S Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 24. #20 Levi Jones, Olney, IL; 25. #8K Chad Kemenah, Alvada, OH
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SWINDELL; NEXT AUSTRALIAN SPEEDCAR CHAMPION?
By Murray Bridge PR
Set to make his Australian Speedcar debut at Murray Bridge Speedway, Tennessee's Kevin Swindell has today confirmed his entry in the 08/09 Speedcar Championship over the Australia Day long weekend!
Scheduled to compete in the Chili Bowl in mid-January, Swindell will then head Down Under to take on Australia and New Zealand's best in the immaculate Barry Graham Hawk powered machinery of ex-Australian Speedcar Champion, Steven Graham; on January 24th & 25th.
"We're excited to have Kevin coming back to Australia" says Graham on their plans. "Both Kevin and Sammy have run for us before in the Sprintcars, and now we have the opportunity to give Kevin a run in the Australian Speedcar Title. It's an important race for us and we want to be there".
Kevin, son of three-time National Sprint Car Champion Sammy Swindell, is certainly a 'name' in his own right having scored a number of major wins and accolades in his short career including his first World of Outlaws feature win at the record-breaking age of 17; plus numerous USAC Midget & Non-Wing Sprint feature wins, such as his 2-night clean sweep of the 'Cornhusker Midget Challenge' at Junction Motor Speedway Nebraksa in July 2008.
But fans this season no doubt love to recall Swindell's hard-charge during the final event of the 2008 Belleville Midget Nationals which saw Swindell begin an unbelievable run from 19th starting position, to challenge eventual winner Brad Sweet for the lead mid-race, before unfortunately cutting down a tire forcing his retirement. This no-holds barred driving style will certainly be something to watch when he hits the almost-Speedcar perfected soil of Murray Bridge Speedway!
"He'll definitely add a bit of spice to this year's Speedcar Title" finishes Steven Graham, on the young-gun American who could be Australia's next National Speedcar Champion!
Get all the latest news on the Australian Speedcar Championship (JAN 24 & 25) by visiting Murray Bridge Speedway " Racin By The River " or Speedcarworld - Australian Speedcar Racing (Midget Racing)!
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KEVIN SWINDELL "SWEEPS" WESTERN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Phoenix, AZ (November 10, 2008) - Kevin Swindell completed a clean sweep of the 41st NAPA Auto Pars/Budweiser/Parker Stores "Western World" Championship at Manzanita Speedway with Saturday night's 40-lap feature victory on the storied half mile oval.
The race was poised for a great battle, with the top six in points inverted for the start. Kevin, starting 6th, had accumulated a near perfect score from Friday night's events, qualifying 2nd out of 67 cars, winning his heat from the rear of the field, passing cars in the feature event to score the win in impressive fashion on the very tricky and slick race track. "I got a good start, got to third on the first lap, then raced hard to get to the lead," said Swindell. "I wanted to make sure we had a great starting spot for the Championship race on Saturday."
The history of this race goes back many years, actually being a triple crown race which included the Knoxville Nationals and Pacific Coast Nationals at Ascot Park. Kevin's father won his first "Western World" in 1980, which gave Kevin even more reason to get the victory.
At the drop of the green, Tracy Hines led from the front for 28 laps, with Jerry Coons, Hockett, and Kevin racing hard for positions. Swindell led twice for 7 laps, while the top four spots changed virtually every lap. Kevin took the lead on lap 36 and beat Coons to the line by three car lengths. "This was probably the most satisfying win of my career in the sprint cars. It is just so tough tobeat these guys that run these cars every week all year. I was able to run up on the cushion as well as tight around the bottom whenever I needed to tonight. We raced hard through trafic, and it was a heck of a race! I am so proud of my team, coming into these USAC events, and winning both nights," said an emotional Swindell. "I am very proud to stand on the same stage as champion that my dad stood 28 years ago. My thanks go out to Tom Rolfe, my car owner, for giving me such a great team to run this western swing of races."
Kevin made his own personal mark on this race, as he became the youngest winner at age 19 to win the Championship event.
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KEVIN SWINDELL IMPRESSIVE AT "OVAL NATIONALS"
Scores Podium Finish
California (Nov. 3, 2008) - The game plan was simple, pass cars and be patient. It sounds easy, but in USAC Sprint car racing, nothing is simple. Saturday night's "Budweiser Oval Nationals" at Perris Auto Speedway proved that sometimes pre-race strategy can work.
Starting 23rd on the grid, Kevin Swindell knew getting to the front would take a little of everything sprint car racing offers, luck, missing the crashes, and passing a lot of cars. Kevin drove his no. 10K, Tom Rolfe Trucking sponsored Maxim, to an incredible 3rd place finish at the conclusion of the 40 lap, nearly two hour event, which included numerous caution periods and red flags for accidents.
At the half-way point in the event, Swindell had advanced to 12th place when the red flag was thrown. Kevin and his crew made an event changing decision on that open red flag, choosing to make a rear-end gear change, which sent him to the back of the field on lap 20. Restarting in 19th place and with 20 laps to get to the front, Swindell marched through the field, passing car after car, and found himself in 4th with 3 laps to go. He moved to third on the white flag lap, tried a "slide job" on second, but settled for a terrific third place at the checkered.
"Our car was just perfect those last 20 laps," said an elated Swindell, "we changed the car each time we could on the red flags, but that last call of changing the gear was huge. I could run the cushion or pass cars off the bottom of turn two. I just adjusted the shocks during the race, and the crew made great changes. I want to thank everyone on the team and especially Tom Rolfe for giving me such a great car."
The next event for the team is the "Western World Championship" at ManZanita Speedway in Phoenix, Friday and Saturday night, November 7th and 8th, in conjunction with the Nascar weekend.
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KEVIN SWINDELL'S STRONG STAFFORD RACE MARRED BY LATE ACCIDENT
By Alan Claffie
Stafford Springs, Conn. (Oct. 12, 2008) - Kevin Swindell's second NASCAR Camping World East Series race was going to be even better than his impressive debut back in August. Sunday's race at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway saw the Germantown, Tennessee driver run even better than he did in his series debut at Mansfield (Ohio) MotorsportsPark, where he finished thirteenth. At Stafford, Swindell qualified third and was running fourth before an accident damaged his Gilette-Evernham Motorsports Dodge, leaving him to finish sixteenth.
Swindell's initial reaction to Stafford's low-banked half-mile track was positive. In Saturday's single practice session, he spent the majority of the time with his No. 9 Dodge near the top of the speed charts even without the Dave Davis Motorsports crew trying a mock qualifying run. When time trials were run later in the day, Swindell put the car in the field with the third-fastest time.
"Everything went really smooth today," said the nineteen year-old driver. "For most of practice we were at the top of the board until some guys made some qualifying runs at the end. We have a better car to race than we do to qualify, and we qualified third, so I think we've got a pretty good shot."
In the opening laps, Swindell ran fourth until the first caution, and found that the outside lane was not the place to be on restarts. He slipped to sixth, but came up to run fifth at the start of a 63-lap green-flag run. During that stretch he battled Trevor Bayne for position in a race that tested the young driver's ability to race hard and clean. He finally got by Bayne just after the halfway point of the race.
"He couldn't get into the corner or get through the center quite as well as I could, but he pinched me off and I couldn't get under him to get by," Swindell explained. "It took me a good fifteen laps to figure out where I could get a run and make a move on him, and I had to go through my bag of tricks until I finally found one that worked and I could get by him."
He took the lap 108 restart in fourth place, but was hit from behind going into the first turn. He spun into the low groove, then slid up across traffic and backed into the outside wall. Caution flew as he drove away with damage to his car's right rear corner.
"I thought being in the top four was going to keep us away from people being stupid, but that became an issue on the restart," he said. "I just got into one right with the guy in front of me, I didn't check up any harder or anything, but I got run over."
The car was hurt, and Swindell could only make sure he finished the race on the lead lap. He did so with a sixteenth place finish.
"The car was really good," he said. "As we were making that long run it was definitely coming around to us. It was improving as the race went on and we were actually running a couple of tenths faster than the leaders. We were running them down before we got that caution.
"We had a car that could definitely have raced for the win, and with the way the race ended, we easily could have been right there to take advantage of the situation that developed there," Swindell continued.
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SWINDELL ON THE MOVE AS HE TRIES TO GET A FIRM FOOTHOLD
Future Star: Future uncertain for GEM development driver
By Raygan Swan, NASCAR.COM
September 30, 2008 - Twice, Kevin Swindell's racing career has taken him away from his family's house in Germantown, Tenn., but the sport he loves has yet to provide a permanent home.
Swindell, a 19-year-old development driver for Gillett Evernham Motorsports, moved to North Carolina in January to be close to NASCAR's hub in Mooresville, near rows and rows of top-notch race shops.
The year prior, Swindell moved to Indiana to be close to the Kasey Kahne Racing shop in Brownsburg as he competed in the USAC Series as part of his development program with GEM.
Racing go-karts and Quarter Midgets since he was 5, Swindell is accustomed to life on the road but admits a home base would be nice. However, the teenager is uncertain if he will find a permanent address as his racing plans for the 2009 season have yet to be established.
"It's not great, I don't have a lot of control over my future right now," Swindell said. "You can go out, do all you can do when you get the opportunities, but when they are few and far between it doesn't make you sleep better at night. You're waiting to decide if someone thinks you're good enough to move forward."
Signed by GEM in 2006, Swindell said setbacks have occurred in his program, a program that seemingly has dwindled to one last race: NASCAR's Camping World East race Oct. 12 at Stafford Motor Speedway.
Swindell made his Camping World Series debut in August at Mansfield Motorsports Park in the No. 9 Evernham/Gillette Motorsports Dodge. He qualified seventh and finished 13th.
"The finish didn't show as good as we were ... we ran in the top five all day. The race was different, I expected a lot more patience," Swindell said. "The pace was a lot faster and rougher than I thought. I'm just looking forward to Stafford. I'll be a lot more prepared."
Preparation is something this driver has never lacked; he's the son of well-known World of Outlaws racer Sammy Swindell, a three-time National Sprint Car champion. The father-son team has raced together before Kevin Swindell could even ride a bike -- the youngster went straight to a go-kart instead.
"A lot of the things I've learned have come from my dad," Swindell said. "He knows about racecars, setups, tracks, as much as anyone I know and he has good answers for anything I can come up with."
In 2006, Swindell, then 17, became the youngest driver in World of Outlaws history to win a feature event. The win came at The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway. In addition, Swindell finished 14th in his first ARCA Series race at Salem Speedway.
Racing for his father's World of Outlaws team during Speedweeks 2006 at Daytona was where Swindell first met Ray Evernham, who intended on creating a stock-car program around the young driver. Struggles with GEM's Cup car program and driver changes prevented that from happening, Swindell said.
"If stuff doesn't work out I'm not sure where I'd go," Swindell said. "Hopefully, something in USAC or Outlaw cars, but I enjoy the stock-car stuff a lot because it's a different challenge. I like to challenge myself and not get into a rut. It takes effort to be better at different types of racing, but I think the strategies of stock-car racing suit me the best."
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KEVIN SWINDELL MAKES CAMPING WORLD SERIES DEBUT AT MANSFIELD
(From www.eastseries.com)
Mansfield, Ohio (Aug. 23, 2008) - Nineteen year-old Kevin Swindell made his first start in the NASCAR Camping World Series on Saturday night when he started seventh and finished thirteenth in the Mansfield 150, held at the half-mile Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Park. Swindell, son of World of Outlaws legend Sammy Swindell, raced a No. 9 Dodge Charger for Gillett-Evernham Motorsports, prepared by Dave Davis Motorsports of Denver, North Carolina.
Swindell, who's raced both dirt and asphalt sprint cars after an impressive run through the karting ranks, got his first start in NASCAR competition with practice at the Mansfield oval. He posted the seventh-best practice time in Saturday morning's session and was also seventh-fastest in qualifying.
"The day's gone fairly smoothly," said the Germantown, Tennessee driver. "Off the trailer we were competitive. It's the first time any of us has worked together so we got comfortable with each other and with the car. It's only the second time that car's been on the racetrack. I think we have a better car to race than we qualified, so we should have a good day. Seventh isn't bad, but I think we could have been a little better than we wound up. Overall, I'm happy with my first start and we'll work from there."
Swindell raced like a veteran through the early stages of the Mansfield 150, although the style of racing in closed-wheel cars was not what he was used to.
"It's definitely a whole different world," he said after the race. "The race pace was a little higher than what I expected. I thought there would be a little more of a patience factor to it, but overall it's a big learning experience seeing these guys really use each other up and use their fenders knowing the fact that they're not going to get a wheel up on another wheel. It's something I have to learn from and learn to deal with."
Racing in the top ten throughout the event, Swindell was poised for a great finish in his debut race but ran into trouble just thirty laps from the end. Traffic jumbled ahead of him and he got into the back of another car, sending that car spinning. NASCAR officials send Swindell to the rear of the field as a penalty. In the few remaining laps, he raced back from twentieth place to finish thirteenth.
"We had an awesome car," he said. "We deserved to finish in the top five, and maybe we should have been in the top three racing for the win at the end. We ran into a bad situation and that kept me from being there at the end to show just how good we could have been.
"I have to thank Gillette-Evernham and Dave Davis for giving me this opportunity and a car as good as this one. I found out who I can race with and who I can't, and that'll help in future races," Swindell continued.
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WIESZ DENIED SIXTH VICTORY BY OUTLAWS' SAMMY SWINDELL IN PLACERVILLE SHOOTOUT
By Bill Sullivan
Placerville, CA (8/23/08) - After outlasting Outlaw racer Danny Lasoski last Saturday night, Colfax point leader Colby Wiesz was on a mission Saturday night with two goals in mind. Number one; become the winningest driver of the year here and win his sixth feature at Placerville Speedway in the John Taylor Motorsports #35 sprint car. Number two; hold off three time World of Outlaws’ Champion Sammy Swindell of Germantown, TN while performing goal number one. Although he led nearly every lap of the event, Wiesz will have to wait one more week to accomplish his goal and he can thank winner Swindell for the set back.
Swindell made a rare visit to Placerville Saturday night as he prepares for the upcoming Gold Cup Race of Champions in two weeks at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico. Driving the Tom Rolfe Trucking #10, Swindell made his first Placerville Speedway appearance in more than 16-years here and walked away with his first win on the action packed bullring.
“It’s been a long time since I have been here, that’s for sure,” said Swindell. “And during that time this track has changed a lot. These guys gave me a really good car. We wanted to shake things down, we didn’t qualify really well. We could have tightened it up a bit but I wasn’t sure what the track was going to do and once I got myself some room out there it was alright. It’s nice to come back here and get a win for this team, we’ve given a couple away lately that we should have won so this is good for them.”
Swindell started deep in the field Saturday, lining up in the 11th position for the 25-lap feature event. With one lap complete he drove his way into the top 10 and three laps later raced several laps with Placerville’s James Sweeney for the sixth position before passing Sweeney, Placerville Jimmy Trulli and intial race leader Justin Johnson of Shingle Springs in a single move on the 10th circuit.
Once Swindell reached the fourth position, he remained there until lap 22 when a late race charge sent him ahead of third place runner Kyle Hirst. One lap later Swindell drove below second place driver Andy Forsberg of Auburn and continued to push to the front as the lap count neared the white flag. With 24-laps complete, Swindell drove into the fourth corner and slid below Wiesz to pass for the lead just as a red flag came out when Tyler Walker of Los Angeles flipped in turn four and reverted the line up back to the previous lap. The restart set the stage for a classic scenario with the best of the west attempting to hold of one of the best in the world for the win on his hometown track
“During the red flag I parked next to Forsberg and we talked,” said Wiesz. “I asked him how Swindell passed him and he told me he did it on the bottom so I knew when we restarted I had to protect the bottom.”
Wiesz was referring the restart that had the fans on their feet for the two lap sprint to the finish. The green flag flew, Wiesz moved to the bottom where Swindell had been running well and Swindell shot to the top of turns one and two and powered his way around Wiesz for the lead as they advanced to the back stretch.
“After talking to Andy I was sure he would try me on the bottom like he did before,” added Wiesz. “So I went down there in one and two and I look to my right and there he was passing me on the high side. I did everything I could tonight to bring home another one but I just couldn’t hold him.”
Wiesz finished second Saturday night ahead of Forsberg, Hirst, Placerville’s Scott Russell and Sweeney. With his second place finish, Wiesz clinched the championship title, his first at Placerville and the third consecutive for Taylor.
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KAEDING SWEEPS TRIBUTE AS ALLARD WINS CHAMPIONSHIP
by Troy Hennig
CHICO, CA (7-26-08) - It was a night that those in attendance will not soon forget. Tim Kaeding was a highlight film again. Kaeding started the night off by turning the fastest lap in qualifying. He went on to come from his sixth starting spot in heat one to win the race. By virtue of a pill draw, Kaeding started on the pole of the dash and won the six lap race. However, to clean sweep this night, he needed a little help. That help came in the form of a tricky rut in turn four that leader Tyler Walker hit on lap 28. Coming down to the white flag, Kaeding was able to pass Walker for the lead. Kaeding went on to lead the last lap to clean sweep the night and bring the capacity crowd to their feet. “I still can't believe it,” said Kaeding in victory lane with Gary Thomas. “To clean sweep this night with this kind of competition is awesome. I have to thank the Roth family for the opportunity to drive this car.” A somber Walker pulled onto the front straight but to his credit he told it like it was. “I did everything I could to win,” said Walker. “ I don't know what else to say. He just beat me tonight. Not much else I can say.” For his effort, Walker did have a great weekend. He won the Friday night main event picking up $4,000. Tonight he finished second. He added to the winnings by earning the most points for the weekend. By doing so, he pocketed an extra $1,000 from Cherry St. Mini Storage. For the weekend, Walker won $6500. Not a bad trip to the race track. Finishing third was Sammy Swindell in the Tom Rolfe Trucking #10. It was the second night Swindell ended up on the podium. The whole night was a tribute to Gary Patterson. It was a night that even Patterson surely had to love.
Pulling onto the front straight was the overall 2008 King of California Golden State Series Champion Jonathan Allard. It was his second crown. His first was in 2006. “I'm just glad it's over,” said a relived Allard. “It's been a trying couple of weeks. It's all about my car owners Morrie and Katie Williams and my team led by Ashley Smith and Bob.” Even though the wins might have not been there for the team this year, they ended with one, the consistency of their program is what ultimately won the battle. Allard is a total professional when it comes to being a full-time sprint car driver. Congratulations to him and the while zero hero's.
A total of 32 cars entered the final night of racing. The night got off to a terrible start in qualifying when Chico's Brad Bumgarner flipped in turn four. It took a while to get him from his car. Bumgarner was in terrible back pain and it was later reported by his grandfather that Brad had broke his back. Surgery was scheduled for later that night or on the following morning. Fans were gracious enough to add some money for a roll over fund and Tim Kaeding announced he was donating the money he won from qualifying to Bumgarner. Kaeding earned $250 courtesy of the Thomas family.
Kaeding start the race as the leader by virtue of starting from the pole. On lap eight it was Sammy Swindell's turn to lead. Swindell was a dominant factor all weekend and now was the leader. On lap ten, Kaeding slid off the back stretch and Walker slid him going into turn three. Walker moved into the second spot. On the following lap the first caution waived when Kyle Hirst spun in turn two. Two laps later Brett Miller jumped a right rear and tumbled in turn one. On lap 15 another red slowed the event when Mark Workentine ended upside down in turn two.
Swindell continued as the leader but on lap 19 Walker closed in. On the next lap, Walker slid Swindell and took the lead. Swindell faltered once again and Kaeding moved around him for second. This set up the unbelievable finish. On lap 26 Andy Gregg slowed in front Walker. To avoid Gregg, Walker almost stalled the car. Somehow he kept the motor alive but in doing so Kaeding drove by. However, on the next lap it was Stephen Allard flipping and Brent Bjork was involved. With the red in the air the officials reverted back to the previous lap scored. That placed Walker back into the lead. The announcement was greeted with a mixed reaction from the crowd.
Walker resumed as the leader and had a clear track ahead of him. As the laps wound down Walker seemed to have dodged a bullet and would go on to win. Yet, going through turn four and coming down for the white flag, Walker's car bounced around a rut and he lost momentum. Kaeding charged to the bottom and took the lead. Kaeding led the final lap to clean sweep the event. He did his customary victory 360's on the front stretch and jumped out of the car with a ton of emotion. It felt like he truly could not believe what had just happened. “I want to congratulate Tyler on a heck of a season and Jonathan for his well deserved Championship,” said Kaeding.
Brent Kaeding won the 12-lap B main event. He held off Andy Gregg for the win. Mark Tabor Jr. was the show during this race and moved from tenth to fifth and earned the transfer.
Tim Kaeding won the first heat. During the night ManCamp Motorsports and Twin Cities Trophy's donated heat race trophy's for the winners to give into the grandstand for the young fans in attendance. Jason York, Mike Henry and Bud Kaeding each won their heat races.
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KEVIN SWINDELL STARS IN DODGE CHILI BOWL NATIONALS
Tulsa, Okla (Jan. 12, 2008) - Before a packed house and a worldwide television audience on HBO Pay-Per-View, Gillette/Evernham Motorsports Development Driver Kevin Swindell, made the Mopar camp proud coming from 14th starting position in the 50-lap Championship Main Event at Tulsa Expo Raceway's 22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, to finish an impressive 6th place on Saturday night.
A star-studded field, which included Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart, is regarded as one of the premier dirt midget races in the country. With over 275 cars entered, making the 24 car starting field is a huge accomlishment on its own. Kevin was able to advance through his qualifying events on Friday night, accumulating points and passing points in each event, passing 22 cars in four races. He finshed up the night with a 5th place run in the main event, coming from 15th starting position.
"Our Mopar motor really took off and ran great all night. I was able to work the bottom of the race track, and we passed a lot of cars. We had the car perfect to roll the corners and keep in the throttle. I knew we had a fast car and I just kept passing cars. I looked up at the end and was behind Kasey for fourth. It was a really good night for us," said Kevin.
Saturday night began with one more qualifying race to make the field for the National Championship race. Only 12 cars had been locked in, Kevin, along with Tony Stewart, were able to win their respective "B" main events and joined the field in row seven. When the green flag dropped, Kevin found his way to eighth by the half way mark, once again using the bottom of the race track.
"Kasey and Tony were working the top, and I used the bottom to pass until the last caution. Pretty much after that, the track moved to the top. The last few laps, it was follow the leader. We were really proud of the 6th place finish we got tonight. My team, Spike Chassis, MOPAR, thanks!," said Kevin. "This race is really special to all of us."
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WALKER GETS HIS FIRST CHICO WIN
by Troy Hennig
CHICO, CA (7-25-08) - Tyler Walker earned his first career main event win at Silver Dollar Speedway on Friday night. Walker was about as excited as a driver could be in victory lane. He did his traditional back flip on the front stretch and was very emotional with his post race victory interview. “A few races ago I made the biggest mistake in the history of racing in turn one when I spun off the track with the lead,” said Walker. “That night I thought 'man am I ever going to win here'. Walker not only won but he did it in exciting fashion. With five laps to go, Walker passed Sammy Swindell for the lead in turn one. Walker held his line and led the final five laps to earn his fifth King of California main event of the year. Infield reporter Gary Thomas asked Walker about the next night's finale and the point battle between himself and Jonathan Allard. “We are going to approach like we have all year and just go out there and win the race,” said Walker. Unofficially, Allard holds a 20-point lead going into the Saturday night finale. Walker, driving the NMI Industrial Contractors #24, grabbed $4,000 for the win. The extra money was supplied by Specialized Parts Planet / U-Pull & Save with locations in Chico, Stockton and Antelope.
Sammy Swindell held on to finish in the second spot. This weekend Swindell is driving the Tom Rolfe Trucking #10. Defending King of California Brent Kaeding finished third. Championship point leader Jonathan Allard finished in the sixth spot. A total of 39 King of California Golden State Series drivers competed during point race #21. Fast Time went to Allard, who blistered the track with an 11.452. Qualifying produced 24 drivers in the eleven-second bracket. Just two weeks ago when the King of California were at Chico only three drivers were in the eleven-second bracket.
The start of the 30-lap main event struggled from the get-go. Australian Danny Reidy's car stopped on the track. He was unable to restart so the first alternate from the B-main Greg DeCaires got the position. A series of yellow slowed the first few laps. Andy Gregg spun off turn two on the next start. Jason Statler slowed off turn four on the first lap. Statler restarted and a lap later was involved in a scary wreck. Andy Forsberg was running fourth on lap two when he hit a rut, spun around and came to a stop coming out of turn four. Most of the field came by and narrowly missed Forsberg. However, Statler was engaged in a battle with two other cars and must not have seen Forsberg. Statler tried to swerve at the last moment but was not able to do so. Heavy contact ensued and Statler flipped upside down. It took awhile for Statler to get out of the cockpit and he limped off to the pit area. Both cars were done for the night.
Tim Kaeding had an eventful night. On lap two he parked the #83jr in turn two. This would set up an unbelievable charge to the front. Kaeding was on a mission and brought the crowd to their feet with electrifying passes. It was hard to watch both the battle for the lead and Kaeding's charge but it was all worth it in the end. Kaeding's charge brought him back to a fourth place finish.
Racing began to get some consecutive put together and it provided some good interesting moments. Swindell led while Sean Becker closed in. On lap 10 Becker moved to the outside of Swindell and seemed to take the lead. Yet, Swindell moved up a line and over-took Becker for the lead. The move seemed to shake up Becker and he lost momentum which allowed Walker to pass for the second spot. As things heated up Kevin Sharrah spun off turn two to bring out the caution.
The race resumed with Swindell holding off Walker while the two had an open track. As laps wound down the leaders moved into slower cars and the race intensified for the lead. On lap 24, Swindell got a little out of shape entering turn one. Walker took the opportunity to go low and the two raced side by side for the lead. Out of turn two it was all Walker. He stretched out the lead for the final five laps and crossed the line with a few car lengths advantage. Walker was visibly excited and jumped from the car to a thunderous applause from the packed house.
Stephen Allard passed his brother Jonathan for the lead of the B-main event and went on to win the 12-lap race. The event went non-stop with the Allard brothers up front. Kyle Hirst finished third while Christian Stover was fourth. Bud Kaeding ran in the fifth spot.
Mike Stalling led all six laps to win the C main event.
Chico boys won the first two heat races. Jason York led all 10-laps to win the first heat. Kevin Sharrah dominated the second heat race. Rookie driver Colby Copeland won the third heat and Sacramento masher Mike Henry won heat four.
Sammy Swindell won the six-lap dash that earned him the right to start from the pole position on the main event.
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KEVIN SWINDELL’S ROOKIE SEASON EARNS TWO TOP TEN’S IN NATIONAL POINT STANDINGS
Memphis, TN (11/23/07) - Starting the 2007 season with goals of top 10 finishes, Gillett Evernham Motorsports development driver, Kevin Swindell, was able to achieve that with a 6th place finish in the USAC National Midget series and 8th in the Nationals Sprint Car point standings.
Kevin’s USAC midget season consisted of 24 races on the schedule, bringing home 10 top ten finishes and 8 top 5’s for his Kasey Kahne Racing, Mopar powered machine, along with two wins and a second place finish in the Indiana Speedweek Midget Championship. The highlight of the season came with a win at the most prestigious race of the year, “The Night Before the 500”, at O’Reilly Raceway Park. Kevin took the lead at the green flag and lead wire-to-wire to bring KKR their first pavement win as a team in 2007. “I was able to give Kasey a win here as a car owner to go along with his own win as a driver a few years back so I am very proud,” said Kevin. The second win came on the quarter- mile dirt track in Lawrenceburg, IN, during Speedweek. Mechanical issues were the cause of 9 DNF’s during Kevin’s run in the national standings, six of which were motor related that took away top five finishes in those main events.
Having never driven a non-wing sprint car before this year, Kevin raced to twelve top 10 runs out of 28 races to finish the year eighth in the national standings, ahead of such veterans as Jerry Coons, Jr. and Jon Stanbrough. A crowd thrilling photo finish run at Lawrenceburg and another strong second place run at the Oval Nationals ended the season with great results.
“I gave it everything I had this entire year, learning so much along the way and working with a new team for the first time. It’s so tough on the new guys, coming into a series full of veterans and established teams. We all have to learn, make a few mistakes, and improve. That’s what I tried to do,” said Kevin. “I have a lot of guys to thank for working so hard for me all year. I was so proud to give Kasey and the crew the wins for his team, and I sincerely thank him for giving me the chance to drive his cars.”
Kevin’s next dirt race will be the 22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Indoor Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, January 8 – 12.
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CLOSE FINISH NETS KEVIN SWINDELL SECOND PLACE
Lawrenceburg, IN (October 6, 2007). It was close. It was real close. So close that his team was not sure. Kevin Swindell, Gillett Evernham Motorsports Development Driver, stood waiting. His team, Kasey Kahne Racing, had joined him and declared it was the greatest race they had ever seen him drive. It was just too bad when he had to tell them he finished second.
With an open weekend in their USAC sprint schedule, KKR decided to compete in the Midwest Sprint Car Series race at Lawrenceburg, Indiana on Saturday night. It was a race that demanded smart racing and a little good luck. With 72 cars on hand, and no qualifying, the draw for your heat race spot was probably the most important move all night. “We had to start 8th in our heat and run the top 2. It was a huge hurdle right off the bat. Our car was fast, the track was fast, and I got us to second in that heat,” said Kevin. “That gave us a fourth row starting spot in the 50 lap feature.”
An amazingly tacky and fast racetrack had its challenges, but by lap 20, Kevin was in 3rd place and closing fast. Many cautions slowed the field, and each time he made the move for the lead, the yellow flag moved him back. The final three-lap shootout was one that the huge crowd will not soon forget. Taking his Mopar powered JEI chassis up through the thick cushion that was so heavy, it had packed the front of the chassis, Kevin knew it was the move he had to make. It proved to be the right one, even though his competitor forced him further out into the cushion, the drag race that resulted, left the crowd, and his team thinking the eighteen year old had pulled off the win!
“I gave it all I had, the yellow flags were killing us. Every time I got to him, and once had him passed, the caution would come out. It was a great race for our team, Davy Jones, Jessup, and my guys gave me a really fast car tonight, and I also want to thank Speedway Engineering for giving me great horsepower.”
Kevin’s Kasey Kahne Racing, Mopar team heads to the west coast to complete their National USAC sprint and midget schedule during November. Las Vegas, Perris Oval Nationals, Perris, California, and the Copper World Classic in Phoenix are the final races before ending the year at the Annual Turkey Night event in Irwindale, California.
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KEVIN SWINDELL SCORES PODIUM FINISH AT FOUR CROWN NATIONALS
Rossburg, OH (September 22, 2007) Gillett Evernham Motorsports Development Driver, Kevin Swindell, grabbed another podium finish on Saturdaynight at Tony Stewart's famed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
Driving his Kasey Kahne owner, Mopar/Spike midget, Kevin drove through the field from his 21st starting position to score an impressive 3rd place finish in the United States Auto Club Four Crown Nationals. "We missed the stagger with the tires in qualifying, I just couldn't drive it as straight as I needed to. We got it right for the heat race and worked on it some more to get it really good during the feature," said Kevin. "We knew we had to get going quick to get to the front. The car was fast and we passed a lot of cars. I just hate we didn't start further up."
The schedule for the USAC midgets slows for a few weeks until Kevin takes to the pavement at Phoenix International Speedway for the Copper World Classic November 8th.
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SWINDELL #1 AT LAWRENCEBURG
08/12/07 Lawrenceburg, IN - Kevin Swindell of Germantown, Tenn. outran Darren Hagen to win Saturday night's 30-lap Torco Racing Fuels "Indiana Midget Week" feature at the Lawrenceburg Speedway presented by Pro Source Consultants.
Swindell led the final 11 laps in his Kasey Kahne Racing Mopar/Team ASE Spike/Mopar to beat Hagen, Jerry Coons, Jr., Brent Beauchamp and Brad Sweet. Beauchamp led the first two laps, then Hagen moved to the front. He and Swindell traded the lead back and forth until Swindell's final charge on lap 20. Coons has bolted to a 26-point IMW lead over Swindell and Brady Bacon going into Sunday's finale at Kokomo Speedway. Defending two-time IMW Champ Shane Cottle escaped injury in a vicious barrel-roll during the third heat race.
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SWINDELL TACKLES TOLEDO SPEEDWAY
Evernham Motorsports Development driver, Kevin Swindell, proved once again Friday night that the age-old saying of “never give up” works for him. Having the challenge of back to back races at Toledo Motor Speedway in his Kasey Kahne owned Mopar USAC midget and sprint cars, he came from 17th starting spot in the 30-lap midget race to finish 3rd in an action-packed race.
Using the outside line to his advantage, Swindell was able to gain positions on each restart and drive his way towards the front before the checkered flag fell.
“With us starting so deep in the field, I knew my best chance was to use the high line of the race track and run, really where the rest were not. Falling in line and following wasn’t going to gain us any positions. The car worked really good for me and we passed a lot of cars,” Kevin said. “It keeps us close in the points and that is what we are working towards.”
An 8th place finish in the 30-lap sprint car race was the finale of the evening and gained Kevin valuable experience on the 1/2-mile pavement tracks.
“Every lap I run on these type tracks teaches me something. I’m really enjoying the pavement part of the series, so I was looking forward to this race,” Swindell stated. “I would have liked to finish higher in the sprint car, but the way the race played out there was not much passing. I want to say thanks again to my team for all they do for me.”
Kevin currently sits third in the USAC National Midget Series Points and fifth in the National Sprint Car Series in his first year.
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SWINDELL WINS 62ND TOYOTA “NIGHT BEFORE THE 500”
Indianapolis, IN - Kevin Swindell of Germantown, Tenn. scored the biggest victory of his USAC racing career Staurday night, leading all 50 laps to win the 62nd Toyota "Night Before the 500" National Midget race at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. Swindell started on the pole in his Kasey Kahne Racing Mopar/Team ASE Beast/Mopar and drove away from the field before the first yellow flew on lap 33. He proceeded to do the same after ensuring yellows and was never really challenged all night long. Western Speed teammates Bobby Santos III and Billy Weast took second and third ahead of Bobby East and Kyle Nicholas.
"It's nice to give Kasey Kahne his first "Night Before the 500" win as a car owner," said Swindell after the race. Kahne also drove to victory in tonight's NASCAR Busch Series race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.
"This is the biggest Midget race of the year and to put his team together in less than a year is remarkable."
Brady Bacon was the fastest qualifier, but retired near the finish when his engine expired while running sixth. Heats went to Wease, Bradly Galedrige, Bryan Clauson and Swindell. Brian Olson and Josh Wise won semis.
Kasey Kahne Racing cars now rank 1-2 in the updated Toyota Challenge standings going into the June 16 finale at O’Reilly Raceway Park.
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EVERNHAM ADDS SWINDELL TO DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
STATESVILLE, N.C. -- Evernham Motorsports has named Kevin Swindell as the newest member of its Driver Development Program.
The 17-year-old from Germantown, Tenn., is the son of legendary three-time National Sprint Car champion Sammy Swindell.
Kevin is quickly making a name for himself on the track. He has enjoyed 65 wins over the course of his 12-year career.
Swindell spent the last two years racing in the United Sprint Car Series and World of Outlaw Series, where he has accumulated two distinct records. In 2006, at the age of 16, he became the youngest driver to win a World of Outlaws feature event. A year prior, he became the youngest driver to finish in the top 10 in a World of Outlaws feature event.
"As our organization evolves, we are constantly scouting and researching young drivers," said Ray Evernham, team owner and CEO of Evernham Motorsports. "Kevin has displayed a tremendous amount of talent in the years he has been racing. Evernham Motorsports will offer the resources and mentoring to assist him in further developing his already impressive driving skills."
Swindell has piloted over five different types of racecars including sprints, karts, midgets and stock cars. In 2005, Swindell blasted his way to nine track records in the USCS Asphalt Thunder Series en route to rookie of the year honors in both the 360 and 410 National Sprint Car poll.
"Becoming a part of Evernham Motorsports is a dream come true for me," said Swindell. "I have seen the type of talent that Ray has been able to groom, and for him to select me into the Driver Development Program is an absolute honor. So far in my career, I have had some great mentors. My dad taught me early to learn about each race car and then go out and drive it to the best of my ability. At Evernham Motorsports, I will benefit from having even more people to learn from. I'm looking forward to this next step in my career."
Swindell's 2007 schedule has not been released at this time, but he will be running a number of races under the Evernham banner for Kasey Kahne Racing.
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