(Photo by Dusty Weigert, Dirtracing.us)
Inside Line Promotions – WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (April 13, 2014) – Kevin Swindell’s unrelenting speed was showcased once again last weekend during his first 410ci events of the season with the Blazing Racing team.
Competing with the Midwest Open Wheel Association during its season-opening weekend at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Ill., on Friday and at 34 Raceway on Saturday, Swindell nearly won his second feature and he notched his sixth top five of the season.
The action started on Friday with Swindell powering from fourth place to win his heat race at the tiny Jacksonville Speedway. He was tied for the points lead after heat races, but the six was pulled during the dash draw to start Swindell on the inside of the final row.
After placing sixth in the dash, Swindell started the main event on the outside of the third row.
“On the first start I got through a couple of them and those guys crashed,” he said. “On the restart I got run off the edge of the front straightaway. I managed to sneak around the top and got back to fourth. Then I got to third pretty quick.”
Swindell advanced into the runner-up position after a caution midway and then he quickly closed the gap on leader Jerrod Hull.
“I ran Jerrod down really quick,” Swindell said. “It was really hard to get by a guy. If you slid him he could cross you over really quickly. I tried to fill the hole between him and a lapped car. They almost got together and I had to lift. It sucked me in enough, whipped me around and laid the car on the side.”
Swindell’s charge to the lead was thwarted by his crash in turns three and four during the final third of the main event. He was unable to restart the race and was credited with a 13th-place finish.
“We were a lot faster than those guys,” he said. “I should have been more patient with as fast as we were. The problem was you really couldn’t be patient because there was no time. When that place is hooked up I bet it’s a 10-second track.”
The team headed to 34 Raceway the following night and Swindell kicked things off by qualifying second quickest. That started him on the outside of the second row of his heat race, which advanced the top-two finishers to the dash.
“I got to third off the start and then I slid (Ian) Madsen for second,” he said. “I kind of had to hustle the car. I caught the cushion wrong and it bounced me sideways. I did a 360 and still came out fourth.”
Swindell rallied to place third in the heat race, missing the dash by only one position. He then started the main event on the inside of the fifth row.
“We thought the track would go a little more than it did,” he said. “We got the car a little too tight. I couldn’t maneuver enough in traffic without some wing speed. It’s a good thing to learn.”
Swindell drove from ninth to a fourth-place finish, which marked his sixth top five of the season.
“Our cars in the feature have been really good this season,” he said. “I think we can go anywhere and if the night goes right we can win.”
Swindell and the Blazing Racing team will analyze the weather this week before deciding to race on Friday and Saturday at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, for the Texas Outlaw Nationals Presented by American Racing Custom Wheels with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series or on Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa.
QUICK RESULTS –
April 11 – Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Ill. – Heat race: 1 (4); Dash: 6 (5); Feature: 13 (6).
April 12 – 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa – Qualifying: 2; Heat race: 3 (4); Feature: 4 (9).
SEASON STATS –
13 races, 1 win, 6 top fives, 7 top 10s, 10 top 15s, 11 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, for the Texas Outlaw Nationals Presented by American Racing Custom Wheels with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series or Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.SwindellMotorsports.citymaker.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KevinSwindell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KevinSwindellRacing
UP NEXT –
Click on the link for highlights of Swindell’s first victory of the season at 81 Speedway on March 29: http://vimeo.com/90509051
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Racing Optics
Racing Optics is the world’s largest manufacturer of laminated tearoffs for auto racing helmets, motorcycle racing helmets and helmet shield protectors. For more information, visit http://www.RacingOptics.com.
“I really appreciate all of the support from everyone at Racing Optics,” Swindell said.
Swindell would also like to thank Mike Curb and Curb Records, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Arai Helmets and Todd and Susan LaHaise for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Apr 13, 2014
- Article Date: 4/13/2014 by Inside Line Promotions