From Dick Jordan
Saturday night’s penultimate round of the 2014 USAC Silver Crown Series concludes the 33rd “4-Crown Nationals” at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
Three drivers enter the race separated by just 54 points with a total of 66 available. Leader Kody Swanson of Kingsburg, Calif. has a 27-point lead over runner-up Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind. Third-place Bobby East of Brownsburg, Ind. is the defending series champion and he and Hines are still without a victory this year.
One of the primary reasons for Hines and East being unable to find victory lane so far is Swanson’s proficiency on the dirt. He has won all but one of the five dirt races contested so far. Only the “Ted Horn 100” at DuQuoin, Ill. slipped from his grasp, a race won by Shane Cockrum.
Chris Windom, fourth in the series points, is the defending winner of the “4-Crown Nationals” Silver Crown race but he too is seeking his first 2014 win. Windom’s best finish in eight starts has been fifth in the Hoosier Hundred in Indianapolis, Ind. and at Springfield, Ill. September 7.
Hines has been close with four seconds, a third and two fourths in eight starts. East’s best finishes have been a second, a pair of thirds and a pair of fourths.
Saturday’s 50-lap Silver Crown feature will follow a 25-lap Honda USAC National Midget race and a 30-lap AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car race, plus complete prelims for all series.
2014 USAC Silver Crown Standings:1-Kody Swanson-483, 2-Tracy Hines-456, 3-Bobby East-429, 4-Chris Windom-361, 5-Jerry Coons Jr.-303, 6-Jacob Wilson-269, 7-A.J. Fike-263, 8-Dave Darland-233, 9-Caleb Armstrong-228, 10-Shane Cockrum-213.