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Swanson Prevails In Hoosier 100 Overtime Win

Fast qualifier and race winner Kody Swanson in turn one. [Joe Jennings Photo]

Fast qualifier and race winner Kody Swanson in turn one. [Joe Jennings Photo]

Indianapolis, Ind. – Kody Swanson prevailed in the 62nd running of the Hoosier 100, a USAC Silver Crown Series thriller on Thursday evening at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Holding a commanding lead, the Californian saw his lead disappear when a yellow flag came out with two laps to go, bunching the field and sending the race into overtime.

With Aaron Pierce and Brian Tyler in hot pursuit, Swanson reached back and pulled away, winning the legendary race for the second-consecutive time.

Choking with emotion, Swanson said, “It is hard enough to win this race once, so twice is very special. That last yellow was not something I wanted to see, knowing how big of a lead I had. I just wanted to get it over with. I am thankful to hold on and win it. Going into the race, I thought I had a chance to win it as every time I drive this No. 63 car I feel I have a shot to win.”

The victor drove the DePalma Motorsports/Radio Hospital – Hampshire Racing Engines/Maxim/Chevy.

Swanson started from the pole but lost the lead going into the first turn to A. J. Fike, who led the initial 67 laps. On that lap, Swanson powered around the Illinois driver on the outside and quickly opened up a wide margin.

“After the red flag, I knew I had more tire than he did, so I knew I had a shot while he was thinking about his tires. If I could press him then, maybe I could take the lead and start saving my tires,” Swanson stated. “Luckily, I had enough and could hold whether my tires were good or not.”

Meanwhile behind Swanson, Pierce moved around Fike as did Tyler, who had the crowd on its feet after starting 27th in a car he had never driven until the race started.

The duo ended up second and third.

Said Pierce, “I had an awesome car and was trying to catch Kody but my tires were burned off.”

Veteran driver Tyler took on the ride just before race started. “They let me change a couple of things and we tweaked on it a little bit,” he said. “I was just in right place at right time. I have been around this race track a bunch of times, so I knew what to expect, but I got higher than I expected. I had hoped for a top-ten.’

Fike came in fourth ahead of Justin Grant, Shane Cockrum, ageless Rickey Hood, Patrick Lawson, Jacob Wilson and Brady Bacon.

Dave Darland came home 11th after being penalized a lap for changing a tire during the red flag.

The red flag was displayed on lap 55 when Steve Buckwalter flipped in turn two. The Pennsylvanian was uninjured.

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