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May 12, 2011

Swanson wins prize in USAC thriller

By Ken de la Bastide CNHI News Service

INDIANAPOLIS — Kody Swanson used both the high and low groove in the final four laps to win the USAC Sprint Car Thursday Night Thunder at Lucas Oil Raceway.

Swanson, his brother Tanner and Jacob Wilson staged a classic battle for the final 16 laps in a tight three-car pack for the lead.

Kody Swanson moved into the third spot on Lap 14 with a pass of Tracy Hines coming off the second corner and set his sights on Tanner Swanson and leader Wilson.

The two Swanson brothers raced side by side behind Wilson until the final four laps. Tanner Swanson went to the bottom which allowed his brother, Kody, to use the outside line to move into second.

With three laps remaining Kody Swanson got inside of Wilson entering the first corner to grab the win. Tanner Swanson finished second with Wilson grabbing the third spot.

Early in the race there was a three-car battle for the lead involving Hines, Wilson and Tanner Swanson. The three drivers jockeyed for position until lap 12 when Wilson used the inside line on the front straight and Tanner Swanson grabbed the second spot coming off the second corner.

“We had a great car all day,” Kody Swanson said. “I screwed up at the start and dropped back. I didn’t know if we would make it back, but this was the best race car here tonight.”

Wilson said he had a great car for the first 20 laps but didn’t have enough to hold on for the win.

Bobby Santos III came home fourth, followed by fast qualifier Kyle Larson. Hines faded to sixth with Aaron Pierce, Bobby East, Brian Gerster and pole sitter JoJo Helberg rounding out the top ten.

A.J. Fike led the entire distance to take the first of three heat races. Aaron Pierce got a good jump at the start moving from fourth to second and in the early stages attempted to get inside of Fike for the lead. Bobby Santos III finished third with Tanner Swanson finishing fourth.

New Castle’s Tracy Hines used the classic Lucas Oil Raceway slide job entering turn three on the second lap to pass Russ Gamester to win the second heat race.

Behind Hines, Bobby East used the low line exiting the fourth corner on lap three to pass Gamester, and Jacob Wilson used a similar move entering turn one to claim the third spot.

Wilson started sixth in the heat race.

California driver JoJo Helberg used a power move on the front straight to get inside of Mario Marietta and drove to a convincing win in the third heat race. Kody Swanson claimed the second spot on the fourth lap with Marietta holding off for third.

California driver Kyle Larson was the quick qualifier with a lap of 20.191 seconds around the .686-mile oval, which beat out Crawfordsville driver Jacob Wilson , who turned a lap at 20.319-seconds. Brothers Kody and Tanner Swanson were third and fourth quick with Fisher’s driver Brian Gerster rounding out the top five.

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