Inside Line Promotions
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (Aug. 18, 2015) – Sammy Swindell qualified for his 33rd career Knoxville Nationals A Main last Saturday during arguably the toughest weekend of his life.
Swindell piloted a CJB Motorsports sprint car to a 19th-place finish during the 55th edition of the premier sprint car event at Knoxville Raceway only two days after his son, Kevin, was severely injured in a wreck at the half-mile oval in Central Iowa.
“We made a family decision to race,” Sammy Swindell said. “We all decided that was the right thing to do at that time. I want to thank everybody from the track staff to everyone for giving me the space and respect to let me come do this job and get back to Kevin.”
The weekend began on a positive note as Swindell qualified fifth quickest out of more than 55 competitors during Thursday’s preliminary night. He was preparing for his heat race when Kevin’s crash prompted a lengthy delay and a trip to a hospital. Sammy Swindell elected to stay at the track after the urging of Kevin to continue racing.
“It was very difficult to do,” he said. “I’m not sure I did the best job, but I did the best I could under the circumstances. It was tough for me to let him go, but he asked me to stay. His mom was there to go with him. It was really difficult to concentrate.”
Once racing resumed Swindell powered from his eighth starting position to use a late-race move on Steve Kinser to win a heat race, which locked Swindell into the feature redraw. He started the 25-lap main event on the outside of the second row.
“We had a pretty good car and was running good there in the main until we had the motor issue,” he said. “I think we broke a part in the valve train. We’d had something like that happen at Eldora and it made it to the finish. I was hoping it was the same, but it didn’t make it. It broke right after we took back off (from an early caution). I thought maybe we could hang on. If I could hold on to a top 10 it might put me in the first three rows (for Saturday’s main event).”
Unfortunately, the mechanical problem forced Swindell into the pits on Lap 9. He was credited with a 23rd-place result.
Swindell lined up on the inside of the second row for Saturday’s B Main, which transferred the top four into the $150,000-to-win main event. He battled in the first three positions throughout the race before ending second, which earned a transfer into the 50-lap feature as the 21st starter.
“At times we made some good moves in the feature,” he said. “Some of the restarts I’d gain positions. We just didn’t have the car quite right. On the red (at the halfway point) we didn’t help it any and that’s where I lost three or four spots. I probably wasn’t 100 percent in the game so I’ll blame myself for a lot of it.”
Swindell ended 19th, which marked his best finish at the event since 2011.
He is tentatively scheduled to drive for Donnie Cooper this Sunday at Missouri State Fair Speedway in Sedalia, Mo., for the High Roller Classic with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.
Additionally, Swindell said anyone wanting to send cards or donations to Kevin Swindell who feel uncomfortable with third-party organizations can send to:
Swindell Motorsports
7540 Bartlett Corp Cove
Bartlett, TN 38133
QUICK RESULTS –
Aug. 13 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 5; Heat race: 1 (8); Feature: 23 (4).
Aug. 15 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – B Main: 2 (3); Feature: 19 (21).
SEASON STATS –
32 races, 2 wins, 13 top fives, 20 top 10s, 27 top 15s, 29 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Sunday at Missouri State Fair Speedway in Sedalia, Mo., for the High Roller Classic with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.SammySwindell1.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/1sam91
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Brown & Miller Racing Solutions
Brown & Miller Racing Solutions is a leader in lightweight hoses and fittings within the motor sports industry. For more information, visit http://www.BMRS.net.
“I’ve run Brown & Miller Racing Solutions products for quite a few years and they’ve always been first class,” Swindell said. “They are always innovating and trying to make their products better.”
Swindell would also like to thank John Christner Trucking, J. Davidson Scrap Metal Processors, Energy Release, Sweet Manufacturing, FK Rod Ends, High Performance Lubricants, Simpson Race Products, HRP Wings, Schoenfeld Headers, Kistler Racing Engines and Driver Websites 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.