Brownsburg , Indian - Despite winning ten races and a pair of championships over the course of the last two-and-ahalf seasons , Kody Swanson consistently played second fiddle to his brother , Tanner , each time the USAC Silver Crown division came to Lucas Oil Raceway .
But on Thursday night , Kody finally became first chair , ending Tanner ' s stranglehold of the . 686-mile paved oval and his run of five wins in the last six races at the track , dominating all 100 laps from the pole in a new ( to him ) racecar in the " Rich Vogler / USAC Hall of Fame Classic ."
Kody , of Kingsburg , California , hit the track in a different machine than he usually pilots , which also sported different colors . The DePalma Motorsports team recently acquired the former RFMS Motorsports car , driven by A . J . Fike in recent years , after irreparably damaging the primary , familiar white # 63 at Gateway Motorsports Park in June . On this night , though , Kody ' s car was completely black , except for the red lettering that adorned the nose
and tail tank of the machine . " The Man in Black ," as Kody would be known throughout the night , was on a rail from the get-go , setting ProSource Fast Qualifying time to earn the pole starting position .
The pomp and circumstance prior to the start of the main event was abundant with 12 new members joining the class of 2016 during a ceremony held on the front straightaway . Steve Butler , Russ Clendenen , Jimmy Davies , Willie Davis , Bob Higman , Tommy Hinnershitz , Dick King , Rick Mears , Pat O ' Connor , Kevin Olson , Tony Stewart and Bob Tattersall all joined the immortal list of those who have been enshrined as one of the legends for their contributions to USAC throughout their careers .
After the fifth annual USAC Hall of Fame induction ceremony concluded , it was time to get down to business . At the drop of the green flag , Kody spurted out front to take the advantage on the opening lap . Tanner , who started fourth , was not
Story & Photo | ARCA . COM