Mechanical Problem Spoils Nolen Racing's Chances in Dave Steele Carb Night Classic

BROWNSBURG, Ind., May 25 —Nolen Racing’s Kody Swanson was well on his way to his third consecutive victory in the Dave Steele Carb Night Classic USAC Silver Crown race Friday night at Lucas Oil Raceway until he had to pit while leading shortly after the halfway point due to overheating problems with the team’s yellow No. 20.

Swanson, a native of Kingsburg, Calif. who now lives in Zionsville, Ind., was the star of the show before the mechanical woes hit. He won the Fatheadz Eyewear/EPA Photography qualifying award to earn the pole and a $1,000 bonus from Mac and Carol Steele with a time of 20.562 seconds for the 0.686-mile paved oval. His brother, Tanner, qualified second with a 20.678-second lap and eventual race winner Kyle Hamilton was third with a 20.812.

Kody Swanson got a great start in the 100-lap race with his car, which is powered by a Tranter-prepared Chevrolet engine. The team is sponsored in part by KECO Coatings, Goodridge, K&N Filters and Wilwood Brakes.

Swanson led every lap until he was forced to drop out following a restart with 55 laps complete. His official finishing position was 16th.

Prior to that he fought off all challengers, including everything Hamilton threw at him. Bobby Santos III passed Hamilton for second in Turn 1 working lap nine and applied strong pressure too, but Swanson kept the No. 20 ahead of them all. He steadily transformed his 0.2-second lead at one point to one of 1.731 seconds by lap 34. Two laps later Hamilton retook second from Santos, but Swanson still had a 0.734-second advantage over Hamilton on lap 46.

A yellow flew on lap 49 after Matt Goodnight stopped on the backstretch. On the restart on lap 54 Swanson slowed dramatically on the frontstretch due to the mechanical problem and he retired from the race with 55 laps completed.

He set his fastest lap of the race on lap 29 with a time of 21.262. That was the third-fastest time posted.

Tanner Swanson finished second in the race for the second consecutive year despite coming from the rear as he pursued bonus money. Santos finished third. Justin Grant and Eric Gordon rounded out the top five.

The race was broadcast live on a pay-per-view basis by FloRacing.com, which carries all of the series’ events.

Nolen Racing, which is based in Whiteland, Ind., is currently competing in the Pay Less Little 500 asphalt sprint car race tonight (Saturday) at Anderson Speedway in Anderson, Ind. The team finished first and third in that race last year. Swanson will start on the pole.

The next USAC Silver Crown race is on Flag Day, June 14, at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., which is a half-mile dirt oval.

For more information see the team’s website at NolenRacing.com and follow @NolenRacing on Facebook and @NolenRacing20 on Twitter. USAC’s website is at usacracing.com.