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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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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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KEVIN SWINDELL SWEEPS POLE, FEATURE IN MOPAR VIRTUAL ‘DUEL IN THE DIRT’ AT PRI SHOW
From www.moparspeed.com
Orlando, FL (12/10/07) - Team Mopar driver Kevin Swindell took the pole and the event win in the 2007 Mopar Virtual “Duel in the Dirt” simulator contest on Friday, December 7, besting a line-up of 48 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show attendees and motorsports stars as he seized the $1,000 first-place prize.
Swindell, who scored a big win in his Kasey Kahne Racing Mopar-powered Midget in the “Night Before the 500” USAC event in May, was one of eight pro drivers to compete in the contest, which took place near the Mopar Image Center Stage at the PRI Trade Show. The simulators were provided by Tim’s Dirt Track Simulators. Team Mopar drivers Allen Johnson, Gary Scelzi, Ron Capps and Darrin Bolton also jumped behind the wheel of dirt track simulators. World of Outlaws Sprint star Danny Lasoski, 2007 USAC Spring Champion Levi Jones, and driver Matt McCarl rounded out the pro/celebrity drivers.
Swindell took the A-Main pole with a lap of 14.42 in qualifying on Thursday, December 6. Chris Ferguson, the top qualifying PRI Trade Show attendee with a lap time of 14.43, also started on the front row of the A-Main. Capps was the only other professional/celebrity driver to advance to the A-Main, transferring from the B-Main to the last spot on the starting grid, but was unable to gain much ground with his back-of-the pack starting spot.
Jason Wilkey, a PRI Show attendee from Batesville, Ark., finished second and took home the $500 runner-up award. Curt Barnett, from El Paso, Texas, earned the $250 “Hard Charger” award, starting in the first H-Main Feature and advancing all the way up to the D-Main.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Swindell of the event. “I’ve competed in these kinds of events before, but I’ve never won. I’ve got to thank Mopar for putting this on.”
“This was awesome,” said runner-up Wilkey. “This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen, much less had the chance to take part in. It’s great that Mopar does this, trying to get the fans involved in dirt racing.”
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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 National 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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SWINDELL GRABS MIDGET LOOT IN LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas, NV (10/28/07) - Sammy Swindell of Germantown, TN and car owner Cruz Pedregon teamed up to win Saturday night's 20-lap USAC Western Midget race at the Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Swindell and his Advance Auto Parts Toyota caught Hunter Scheurenberg on lap six and led the rest of the way to beat Darren Hagen, Michael Faccinto and Alfred Galedrige to the checkered flag on the 1/2-mile dirt oval. Western Midget point leader Johnny Rodriguez finished 11th. Brad Sweet was the fastest of 37 qualifiers.
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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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| SAMMY SWINDELL TO PILOT CRUZ PEDREGON RACING'S TOYOTA-POWERED MIDGET AT CHILI BOWL NATIONALS
Tune-up Race Slated for Ventura Raceway on September 29
INDIANAPOLIS (September 21, 2007) -- Cruz Pedregon Racing today announced that legendary, Sammy Swindell, a four-time Chili Bowl Midget Nationals champion and three-time World of Outlaws champion, will join Cruz Pedregon Racing’s midget team for the 22nd Annual Chili Bowl Nationals at the Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla., January 8-12, 2008. Swindell will round out the trio that includes rising NASCAR star, Josh Wise and NHRA Champion, Cruz Pedregon. As a tune-up for the Chili Bowl Nationals, Swindell, Wise and Pedregon will compete in the USAC Western Midget Series race at Ventura Raceway on Sept. 29, 2007.
For Pedregon, a former NHRA World Funny Car Champion, it’s a dream come true to have auto racing icon, Sammy Swindell, in the seat of his Toyota-powered, Advance Auto Parts sponsored USAC midget.
“I am honored to have Sammy drive one of my cars,” said Pedregon. “I’ve wanted Sammy to drive for me for a couple of years now, but he’s an elusive guy to get to drive your car. This is really a dream come true for me. With Josh Wise and now with the addition of Sammy Swindell, we’ll have a great one-two punch at the Chili Bowl.”
Swindell brings an unmatched Chili Bowl win record to Pedregon Racing and looks forward to the tune-up race at Ventura Raceway.
“Ventura Raceway is a new venue for me,” said Swindell. “Getting in a different car that I don’t normally run and being at a different track with different drivers will definitely be a challenge. I hope I can give the team some good feedback on the cars, set-up and the motors. We’ll use this race at Ventura to check things out and make sure everyone is on the same page so when we get to the Chili Bowl in Tulsa we’ll be ready.”
The Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is, perhaps, the greatest midget race in the world. Despite his four championships at this event, Swindell has a great respect for the event, the competition and the race format.
“I’ve won the Chili Bowl four times and there’s probably another four or five I could have won,” said Swindell. “And I’ve had some second and third place finishes there. Everything has to go right. It’s a tough event because the track is so tight and there are so many cars running. You have to be in the right position just to make it to the A Main.
“It is a big challenge for me and some other guys because it’s the only midget race I do for the whole year. We are probably a little disadvantaged, compared to the others as that’s all they do is run the midgets. It’s great that I’ve been competitive over the years, but to put it together for one race and come out with a good result is really rewarding. That’s what we hope to do with Cruz Pedregon Racing starting with the USAC event at Ventura Raceway.”
Cruz Pedregon is no stranger to sliding into the corners on dirt. The 2008 Chili Bowl marks Pedregon’s fourth year competing on the famous, ¼ mile banked Tulsa Expo Raceway oval. In June of this year, he raced the 800 hp, Advance Auto Parts Late Model in Tony Stewart’s Prelude to the Dream Late Model race at the famed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Racing against many of the top stars in NASCAR, Pedregon finished a respectable 19th.
“The Ventura Midget race will be Chili Bowl tune up for me,” said Pedregon. “Last year, I ran the Chili Bowl without any seat time in the car so I really got a work out. Every year, I feel like I’m more competitive and the USAC race at Ventura Raceway will help with my conditioning program and get me some valuable seat time in the midget.”
Cruz Pedregon Racing has the talent and the mechanical package-- which includes Toyota engines-- necessary to find victory lane.
“When Cruz told me there was a chance that Sammy might drive one of his Toyota-powered midgets at Ventura and the Chili bowl, I thought he was joking!,” said Gary Reed, Vice President of Special Racing Projects, TRD, U.S.A., (Toyota Racing Development). “But when I realized that he was serious, I couldn't help but think how fast our Toyota midget engine program has progressed. Not much more than a year and a half ago, there was no such thing as a Toyota-powered midget, and now we have one of the greatest open wheel dirt drivers of all time trusting us to give him the power he needs to win races. Trust me. Sammy is not doing this for the PR. He doesn't need it. He's doing it because he wants to win, and the crew at TRD will do everything we can do to help make that happen!”
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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.
(Photo of Kevin Swindell and Gary Reed, VP, Special Projects, Toyota Racing Development by John Mahoney.)
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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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