(Photo by Knoxville Raceway)
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (Aug. 4, 2014) – Big Game Motorsports pilot Sammy Swindell scored his third podium finish in as many attempts at the 360 Knoxville Nationals last weekend.
Using a borrowed 360ci engine, Swindell started the 24th annual Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway by charging to a victory during his preliminary night last Friday at the half-mile oval.
“We kept finding things with the motor since we haven’t had that one before,” he said. “It was a borrowed one from some guys in Texas. We made some changes and it got better and better all night. Everything went pretty well.”
After qualifying ninth quickest, Swindell powered the Big Game Treestands car from fifth to third place in his heat race. That lined him up on the outside of the second row for the main event.
“I was trying to be conservative at first and just run with them because we weren’t in traffic,” he said. “They had the red so I knew it was going to be open track for a while. I went down to the bottom and ran a lap or two down there and it didn’t feel bad.”
Swindell took the lead following a restart on Lap 9 and he was cruising until a late caution bunched the field up again. That allowed another driver to close the gap during the ensuing laps.
“We got bunched up again and the bottom was going away,” Swindell said. “I heard him out there going into turn one and I saw him out there going into turn three. I had to make a good corner and was able to beat him into turn three and go to the top. When you’re leading you keep doing the same thing until there’s a reason to change.”
Once Swindell moved to the outside lane he sailed to the win, which was his third of the season. That put him third in overall points out of the 103 competitors and started the Big Game Treestands car on the inside of the second row for Saturday’s $10,000-to-win main event.
“We ran the car the same and I thought the bottom was going to be there and it wasn’t,” Swindell said. “They had a bigger curb at the top and we were way too tight on the top. About three times I jumped over the cushion in turns one and two. We probably should have freed it up a little bit. If there was something to run on the bottom I think we had an advantage over the other guys.”
After advancing into the runner-up position in the early stage of the race, Swindell held on for a third-place finish.
His weekend wrapped up on Sunday at the Capitani Classic, which featured 71 sprints cars at Knoxville Raceway in a final race before this week’s 54th annual FVP Knoxville Nationals Presented by Casey’s General Stores.
Swindell qualified seventh quickest, which started him on the inside of the third row of a heat race that only transferred the top-three finishers.
“Being in the first heat the bottom was still a bit greasy,” he said. “I made a good start, but then got bumped into the infield and had to avoid the other car. It was kind of an uphill battle from there.”
After placing sixth in his heat race, Swindell started a B Main on the outside of the second row.
“I tried a few things that I hadn’t tried and it wasn’t that good,” he said after finishing the consolation race sixth.
Swindell and the Big Game Treestands team will return to Knoxville Raceway this Wednesday night for a qualifying night.
“I don’t feel 100 percent confident, but we’re not far off,” he said. “You never know how it’s going to play out. It depends on where you go out and how things stack up. We’ve been qualifying well so I think that bodes well for us. It’s about rolling everything together we’ve learned the last couple of weeks.”
QUICK RESULTS –
Aug. 1 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 9; Heat race: 3 (5); Feature: 1 (4).
Aug. 2 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Feature: 3 (3).
Aug. 3 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 7; Heat race: 6 (5); B Main: 6 (4).
SEASON STATS –
55 races, 3 wins, 14 top fives, 23 top 10s, 33 top 15s, 44 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, for the 54th annual FVP Knoxville Nationals Presented by Casey’s General Stores
LIVE AUDIO –
Keep up with Big Game Motorsports via free, live audio from DIRTVision at every World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event throughout the season. Select events also include live Pay-Per-View video. For more information, click http://www.DIRTVision.com.
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.BigGameTreestands.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigGameMotorspt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Game-Treestands/251832101535076?fref=ts
BIG GAME TREESTANDS –
Established in 1977 in Windom, Minn., Big Game Treestands® has grown to be a leading company in the outdoor industry. Big Game Treestands® offers a Rock Solid™ line of field tested, safety certified above TMA requirements, welded steel stands & free standing elevated platforms that gives you not only a safe and extremely sturdy vantage point, but also reliable all-day comfort at a great value. Large, non-slip standing platforms, top-notch fastening systems, and our innovative pinned, sleeved ladder sections provide the Rock Solid™ stance, twist free climbing, and all around silence that Big Game Treestands® is known for. Non-glare, powder coat finish keeps our products hidden from nature’s wary eye.
For over 30 years, it has been our goal and our philosophy to provide the most innovative and practical treestands and hunting accessories in the field. As tradition continues, we are Exceeding Limitations and once again providing new models that challenge Mother Nature. In 2012 Big Game extended the line into Trail Cameras known for the easy to set, great picture quality, and over all great camera. Eyecon Trail Cameras® exceeds the expectations of consumers. Big Game Treestands® and Eyecon Trail Cameras® offers undeniable quality on time-tested favorites as well as new innovations for 2013.
For more information on Big Game Treestands®, visit http://www.BigGameTreestands.com.
TRAIL CAMERAS –
Big Game Treestands® offers a variety of trail camera options that are user-friendly with exceptional imaging as well as a 120 degree pivoting head. New and improved cameras include the Jag, Mantis II, Frenzy, Storm II, Black Widow and Quick Shot. To learn more about or to purchase a trail camera, visit http://www.BigGameTreestands.com.
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 Aug 04, 2014
- Article Date: 8/4/2014 by Inside Line Promotions