10-4-09

Cody Swanson’s race report for 10-3-09

                Cody was supposed to be returning to Kings Speedway in Hanford on the 3^rd of October and race his GOODWINE glass, K&N Engineering, LUCAS oil products Focus midget. “I was looking forward to going back to Kings” stated Cody, “We were able to bring home the win from there last time and I knew that we would be good going back!” Unfortunately USAC and the track had a disagreement and the Focus race was cancelled during the week. Cody planned on going up to help his cousin Jake in the Western States USAC midget race. That All changed late Friday when Tres Van Dyne called to ask Cody if he would like to drive his car in the “Cotton Classic midget race”  and make his Western States USAC midget debut. “I couldn’t say YES fast enough! I have been testing with the Van Dynes in their QTM brakes, Van Dyne BEAST pavement car in preparation to race it, but this was a surprise! Dad and I drove down Friday night so that I could get in the car and make sure I was fitted and comfortable” Cody said.

                The first laps at speed for Cody were “hot laps” and then it was time for qualifying. Cody qualified 13^th in the 21 car field, respectable for his first time! During the heat race Cody learned very quickly how aggressive the Western Sates drivers are and how good your car has to be. Cody started on pole in the 7 car field with Cousin Jake 2^nd. Jake quickly jumped to the lead and held it to the finish. Cody’s car was just loose to hold it down and as he would slide up the track and get passed. He finished the heat in 5^th position.

                Due to USAC’s rookie rule, Cody had to start the feature in last position. At the drop of the green he quickly started make his way up but each time he would get past a couple of cars, the caution flag would fly which meant that he would have to give the positions back for the restarts. During one of the red flag sessions, there were two! Tres talked to Cody and then made some adjustments to the car. Once the race got going again Cody raced his way up to tenth position. On lap 12 in turn one, as Cody slid up towards the cushion the car bicycled very hard and jumped the cushion. Upon landing the two bolts which secure the left rear hairpin to the bird cage sheared and Cody’s race was over.  

                “I want to say a huge thank you to Tres and Stewart Van Dyne for asking me to drive the Van Dyne/Drake-Offy, QTM brakes, Edmunds Auto Research #5 car. I wish we could have finished all of the laps but I still learned a lot and had a blast! Thanks also to my driving coach Wally Pankratz for the last minute tips and advice. Thanks also to my personal sponsors for helping me get in the position to be asked to drive for the Van Dynes, Phil Goodwine and GOODWINE glass, K&N Engineering Inc. and LUCAS oil products. The Van Dyne car runs Lucas racing oil and K&N breather and oil filters so it was a perfect fit. I look forward to being able to run with the Van Dynes some more.”

                Cody’s next Ford Focus race will be October 17^th at Ventura Speedway where he hopes to be able to secure 2^nd in year end points with one more race left in the season back at Ventura in November.

Stay Tuned

9-12-09           

Hanford Kings Speedway

Heat race start position 5^th, finished 2^nd

25 lap Feature start position 5^th, finished 1^st

                Saturday September 12th the Swanson Motorsports team headed back up to the central valley and Kings Speedway in Hanford Ca. The USAC Ford Focus cars would be running on the big 3/8ths mile track this time. “I was a little bummed about running on the big track “Cody stated. “I liked the tight racing on the small track and felt we had a good package heading back there. We talked to my driving coach Wally Pankratz before we headed up and got some last minute advice” During hot laps, it became evident that Cody’s GOODWINE Glass, K&N Engineering, LUCAS oil #71 had a pretty good set-up for the 3/8ths mile also!

                For the heat race, Cody would start in the 5^th position. The heat was a clean race with no real drama and he drove to a 2^nd place finish. Brody Roa, a former karting competitor of Cody finished 1^st in his #91 car.

                With the 6 car invert, Cody started the feature in 5^th position. Before the 1^st lap was complete, Cody had taken the lead coming out of turn four! “I couldn’t believe my eyes! It was like they all knew I was coming and just moved out of my way. I was in second by turn two and then passed my cousin Jake in the 88 car coming out of turn four” stated Cody. “ It must have been the horse power from My K&N filters and the Lucas oils in my car” Cody continued to set the pace until lap 11 when the 91 car was able to keep his car low going into turn one and take away the position. Cody continued to lose some time to the #91 as the track dried out more each lap. “At about lap 16 I was able to get my shocks adjusted enough to make my car better in the dry conditions, all I needed now was a caution!” On lap 20 the red came out for the flip of Walt Johnson in the #95. “During the red I was in my own personal battle to adjust my shocks more or not! Finally I decided to go for it and adjust them further” Cody  Said with a big smile. It turns out to be the best move he could have done. On the 1^st lap of the restart Cody turned his car under the 91 in turn 3 and never looked back taking the checkered with a 7 car lead!

“This is so awesome!” Cody said as he sprang from his car at the start finish line. “I have never seen a track that changed so much during a race.  I have so many people to thank for helping me get here. Phil Goodwine and family from GOODWINE Glass, without his support, I don’t know where we would be, K&N Engineering has provided the air filters, oil filters and breather filters for me since my early days of kart racing, Lucas oils officially came on board this year and it performs flawlessly,  Jeff Stiller & JTS Financial services. So many more, My driving coach Wally Pankratz who has taught me so much this year, Tres Van Dyne & Van Dyne Engineering,  my cousin Jake and Uncle Chris for all of their help, all of my family and friends, thank you everybody!”

                Cody and his Swanson Motorsports team will be headed back to Kings speedway on the 3^rd of October for the next USAC Ford Focus race, stay tuned.