(Photo by DB3 Imaging)
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (May 8, 2018) – Spencer Bayston was on pace to earn his career-best World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series result last Friday before a crash ended his night prematurely.
Bayston and car owner Kevin Swindell were fast out of the gate at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo., where they established a new track record during qualifying. A fourth-place finish in a heat race lined the Swindell Speed Lab sponsored car up on the outside of the fifth row for the A Main.
“We’ve had a ton of speed in the car and it showed,” Bayston said. “I was up to fourth when we had a caution and we restarted on the bottom. I got to the top and made a lot speed on the exit of turn two. I got to another driver really quick. At that point he was down on the straightaway. I assumed he was going to the bottom. He moved up as my run stalled out. We met halfway down the back straightaway and we met in a bad spot.”
Bayston was sandwiched between the other driver and the wall, which damaged the front end too much to return to action.
“It was very unfortunate,” he said. “I was so disappointed. It was exciting we were that good with those guys. It was such a good opportunity to have a good run with the best drivers in the country.”
The team was credited with a 19th-place result.
“We were going to run third at worst,” Swindell said. “To start 10th and drive through those guys like we did was really good. It was a shame we couldn’t finish.”
Similar misfortune hampered the team on Saturday at Knoxville Raceway, where Bayston qualified fifth quickest and ended sixth in a heat race to start the main event on the inside of the fourth row.
“We were running around eighth with about eight laps to go when a guy went in on the bottom in front of us and half spun,” Swindell said. “Spencer had to move up a lane to avoid him and when he went up it was pretty narrow. Another driver’s momentum was bringing him back to us. It spun us out and someone clobbered us. It was just a cluster, but it wasn’t anyone’s true fault.”
The night ended early with a 19th-place finish for the second straight race.
The team will join the World of Outlaws for a trio of races this weekend. The action includes a doubleheader at Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio, on Friday and Saturday before a show on Sunday at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind.
“Coming into this weekend I’d say Eldora is a place I’ve had success in the midget, but in a winged sprint car it’s a new place for me even though I’ve been there before,” Bayston said. “The car has been good and we have a fresh motor going in. Everything should be right. I’m hoping we can carry on the success we’ve had in qualifying and make the night easier for ourselves.”
QUICK RESULTS –
May 4 – Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo. – Qualifying: 1; Heat race: 4 (1); Feature: 19 (10).
May 5 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 5; Heat race: 6 (5); Feature: 19 (7).
SEASON STATS –
6 races, 0 wins, 1 top five, 3 top 10s, 4 top 15s, 6 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio, and Sunday at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind., with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.KevinSwindellRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KevinSwindell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KevinSwindellRacing
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Tim Walker Real Estate
Tim Walker is a real estate agent who is a big racing fan. For more information, visit http://www.TWRentToOwn.com.
“Tim Walker came on board with us this year,” Swindell said. “He’s a big fan of racing and we’re excited to have him as part of our team.”
Swindell would also like to thank Mike Curb and Curb Records, John Christner Trucking, DKW Transport, Rossie Feed & Grain, TWRentToOwn.com, Premier Truck Group, High Performance Lubricants, MPI Steering Wheels, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Racing Optics, Arai Helmets, Maxim Chassis, DMI, Hoosier Racing Tires, Sweet Manufacturing, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Kenny’s Components and Swindell Speed Lab 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 by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on May 08, 2018
- Article Date: 5/8/2018 by Inside Line Promotions