(Photo: Over the Wall Photography)
By Aaron Bearden
Over the past decade, Kody Swanson has proven himself to be one of the all-time greats in USAC competition. He’s stayed humble along the way, making the most of every opportunity while working a full-time job on the side.
He’s proven himself as a competitor. Now Swanson just wants an opportunity to showcase what he can do at the next level.
“I’d just like a chance,” Swanson told Motorsports Beat. “That’s all.”
Swanson had a year to remember in 2018. The Californian-turned-Hoosier claimed May’s Little 500 at Anderson Speedway, and won five-straight USAC Silver Crown races to pass the legendary Jack Hewitt and become the tour’s all-time wins leader with 24 victories. The final three races didn’t go to plan, but Swanson’s summer run proved enough to deliver DePalma Motorsports its fifth-consecutive series title at year’s end.
“It was obviously such a special year, but I felt like it was something that we had been working on for a while with the DePalma team,” Swanson said. “Not only did I get them their fifth title in a row, but to break the all-time win record and do it together, since they’ve been such a big part of it for me, 21 of the 24 came in their car. It was really neat to kind of cap all of that off together.”
The result was memorable for Swanson – not just because of the record and title, but because it served as a fitting end of an era. DePalma announced at year’s end that it was shuttering operations, closing up shop after a half-decade of dominance with the series.
“It’s bittersweet, you know?” Swanson said. “I’m going to miss racing with them – not only for how competitive we were, but for the friends and family that we had become. But also it’s kind of neat that we had such a special record to know that the pressure’s off and we’re not going to tarnish that.”
DePalma’s closure led Swanson to new beginnings at Nolen Racing.
A stalwart of the dirt community, Gene Nolen has owned cars in Silver Crown for decades. The 2019 season will mark Nolen’s 29th year with an entry on the tour, with a host of wins and strong runs along the way. After fielding two cars for the veteran Jerry Coons Jr. and Chris Windom in 2018, Nolen is slimming down to one full-time entry with Swanson this year.
The move makes sense for both parties. Swanson has recent experience with Nolen, having won the Little 500 for the organization in May. He lives closer to Nolen than he did to DePalma, and he’s already comfortable with the Indiana-based organization, lessening the learning curve associated with the move.
Nolen provides Swanson and opportunity to continue competing at a high level. In return the four-time Silver Crown champion gives Gene Nolen an opportunity to accomplish the one thing he’s failed to secure in Silver Crown – a championship.
That’s the team’s primary goal for 2019.
“I think the meeting for the goals and what we wanted to accomplish was pretty short,” Swanson said. “Gene’s never won a Silver Crown championship, so that’s at the top of the list, I’d say. Beyond that we just want to win every Silver Crown race we can, and try to repeat for them at Little 500.”
Swanson has spent most of the offseason with Nolen, working to help prepare the team’s Silver Crown machines for the upcoming season. Already knowing the team helped Swanson complete a smooth transition, but the work involved has made for a busy winter.
“Trying to step it up to the Silver Crown level does have its challenges,” Swanson said. “It’s been busy – I think this has been my busiest offseason in quite some time. I’ve been down at the race shop, trying to help get everything sorted out.
“As you go from team to team the equipment is mostly the same, but everything’s a little bit different. Just trying to get everything lined up and familiar as possible before the first race has been something we’ve all been working really hard towards.”
While he hopes to bring Nolen his first Silver Crown championship, Swanson has additional plans beyond Silver Crown. He’ll make a few additional dirt starts throughout the year, and could potentially run other events. .
But more than anything else, Swanson intends to search for an opportunity to reach the next level – whether it be in stock cars or open wheel.
“I want to be able to advance, and I’m wanting to put more time and effort beyond my usual output,” Swanson said. “I’m obviously committed to the Silver Crown title, and I have some other races. I’m scheduled to run some dirt sprint car races for my friend Kent Walters out of Ohio.
“Beyond that I really want to put more effort into trying to sneak through a crack to at least get a chance at the next level. Whether that be at the stock car level, or even the IndyCar and open wheel route. I just get so busy with life, racing and working a full-time job. That seems to slip through the cracks, and I need to do a better job of letting people know that’s where I want to go.”
Now a veteran of the sport, Swanson has spent the majority of his career watching his fellow competitors under the USAC umbrella get chances in NASCAR, the NTT IndyCar Series and elsewhere. Drivers like the late Bryan Clauson and Chris Windom have scored opportunities to participate in the Month of May in some aspect, while others like Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Rico Abreu and recently Logan Seavey have parlayed talent and proper connections to NASCAR opportunities as part of Toyota Racing or elsewhere.
Some might assume that Swanson’s given up on joining them – that’s he’s content to spend the rest of his life attempting to dominate the grassroots tours where he found success.
But that isn’t the case. Swanson has waited for that same call up, but it hasn’t happened.
That’s been motivating at the best of times. At worst it’s been downright frustrating. But through it all Swanson has tried to keep a level head, and cherish the opportunities he does have.
“It’s something that really bothered me more before, when I was younger and that was really my only goal and focus,” Swanson said. “But in the meantime, perspective is a valuable thing. I try to have that perspective.
“I do consider myself really lucky to have made it this far, to be able to compete in the highest levels of USAC racing, let alone have my own little mark on history. To have a wife and two sons, a beautiful family. I don’t want to be ungrateful for what I do have, because I’ve been blessed for sure.”
While he cherished the opportunities he’s been given, Swanson dreams of securing an opportunity to compete with one of America’s top tours.
He isn’t particular on the exact series. It could be in IndyCar, where the end goal “would be to run the Indy 500.” Or perhaps the chance could come within stock cars – in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series or elsewhere.
Swanson is uniquely suited for either discipline, with more asphalt experience than most grassroots dirt competitors. By making his name in Silver Crown — where teams compete on both dirt and paved tracks — Swanson has gained the feel and intuition of dirt and paired it with the patience of asphalt.
“A lot of the open wheel guys have gone on and had success,” Swanson said. “But they really had to adapt completely because they weren’t really comfortable with the pavement before they moved on to these bigger pavement series
“I feel like myself and my brother (Tanner Swanson, a part-time Silver Crown competitor) not only have that dirt background and feel, but also would really transition well into the pavement divisions of open wheel.”
At 31 years old, Swanson has passed the age most teams look for in an upcoming prospect or star. But he hasn’t given up on his dreams and ambitions.
In the short term he’ll continue to work toward his usual goals – excelling at his day job, bringing home a Silver Crown championship and making the most of every opportunity behind the wheel.
But Swanson’s long-term plans extend elsewhere. He’ll be visiting team shops, trying to show up at race tracks and reminding people from America’s top racing tours that he’s talented and willing to make the leap up.
Swanson feels he’s ready to compete at the next level.
All he needs is a chance.
