Episode 108 May 29, 2016
Kody Swanson Dominates Weekend Competition In last week’s episode I told you about the busy four days of sprint car racing ahead for Kingsburg, California native currently living in Zionsville, Indiana, Kody Swanson. Swanson exceeded any of my predictions winning two of the three races and as of press time I do not know about his results at Fremont Speedway tonight for the Hensel Memorial in the BOSS non-winged sprint car race.There were 51 cars signed in late this afternoon. Late news Swanson wins at Fremont!
Swanson’s victory at the one mile dirt track vaulted him back into the points lead in the USAC Silver Crown standings where he is attempting to win his third national championship in a row. It was only a few years ago when Swanson moved from California to contest the sprint car circuits of the midwest that he was not considered a very proficient dirt track driver. Swanson admitted he was not comfortable on dirt until he got some laps under his belt. In one incident during that learning curve several years ago at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, Swanson had a gut wrenching moment tumbling almost the length of the frontstetch at the track. Now he has repeated as a three-time winner. I suspect he has learned well how to drive on dirt. The next night Kody joined his brother Tanner for the second USAC Silver Crown race in a row the Carb Night Classic at Lucas Oil Raceway in Claremont, Indiana. Tanner had won 4 of the last 5 races at the paved 5/8 mile oval.
After 100 laps at LOR Tanner made it 5 of 6 at the Claremont track. Older brother Kody finished second followed by Chris Windom, Robert Stout who was making his first Silver Crown race, and Aaron Pierce.
I asked Tanner about his dominance at Lucas Oil Raceway and this race. He said, “Yeah definitely. We have been really fortunate the last couple of years as a team to have the success there that we have had.” “We have been able to make small adjustments at the track and put ourselves in positions that have allowed us to capitalize and win some races. It is always fun to get to come back to Indiana and compete at such a high level with my brother.” The Swanson brothers packed up and drove about one hour north of Indianapolis to Anderson, Indiana for the Saturday night race at Anderson Raceway. The 68th Annual Payless Little 500 is one of the toughest asphalt races on the planet. Imagine 500 laps around a 1/4 mile high banked oval with 32 fellow competitors.
Tanner Swanson started from the second row and was the first out of the Little 500 with engine troubles. Kody, starting 14th meanwhile did what he is excellent at, picking off cars in front of him until lap 472 when he assumed the lead when leader Caleb Armstrong hit a lapped car which put Armstrong out of the race. Dave Steele finished second and Jerry Coons Jr. rounded out the podium.
Richmond Hosts County Kart Racers
County Racer Practices at Speedway Karting
Spud Speedway Ready for Kart Racing Season Several Northern Maine Karting Association (NMKA) members helped put the finishing touches on the kart track at Spud Speedway. The 10 race series get’s underway June 3rd at 6:30 pm. The complete schedule can be found on the Spud Speedway website. NMKA will be doing a demonstration event at the first Thursday Nights On Sweden Street in downtown Caribou this Thursday at 6 pm.
Three First Time 2016 Winners in Races Today
Martin Truex Jr. lead for 588 miles of the Coca Cola 600 in a dominant manner seldom seen in today’s Sprint Cup Series. Truex’s first win of the year followed several close finishes and hard luck finishes. The remarkable story of this one car team based in Denver, not Charlotte contained many sub-plots one of which had to be the relationship of Truex and his girlfriend Sherry Polliex whose hair was growing back after losing it during treatment for ovarian cancer. She was thrilled! In Formula One Lewis Hamilton won his first race of the 2016 season at Monaco where rain and dry conditions made tire choice and pit strategy a tough job. Pole sitter, Australian Daniel Ricciardo finished second when his plan did not play out the way he hoped. Sergio Perez of Force India finished on the podium in third. The busiest race weekend of the year is not quite over yet since Fort Kent’s Austin Theriault will be competing on Monday at Dominion Raceway in Spotsylvania, Virginia at 4 pm. Theriault will be in his Hattori Racing Toyota for the NASCAR K & N Pro Series East race. Weather appears to be an issue for the race. See you at the Thursday Night on Sweden Street Exhibition and/or the season Opener at Spud Speedway Friday. Let’s Go Racing. Tom Hale Soli Deo Gloria