American Racing News Vol 1, Issue 2 Issue 6 | Page 13

SWANSON’S SPECTACULAR IN SALEM'S
"JOE JAMES/PAT O'CONNOR MEMORIAL"

NEIL CAVANAH PHOTO
On a night in which every person at Salem Speedway
was mindful of Bryan Clauson, how fitting it was that
a car adorned with number 63 "parked it" in victory
lane in Saturday night's 57th running of the "Joe
James/Pat O'Connor Memorial."
Kingsburg, California's Kody Swanson took over the
race lead on lap 61 after Aaron Pierce spun out of
the top spot between turns three and four. Swanson
went virtually unchallenged throughout the final 15
laps of the USAC Silver Crown series' first visit to the
track since 1988 to take his 15th career USAC Silver
Crown victory, tying him for fourth all-time with J.J.
Yeley.
Earlier in the night, Swanson became the first driver
ever to break into the 15-second bracket in a Silver
Crown car around Salem's high banks on his way to a
new track record and ProSource Fast Qualifying time,

which put him on the pole position for the night's
75-lap event.
After amazingly avoiding the rain all throughout the
afternoon, the skies opened up just prior to the start
of the main event. The brief shower moistened the
track, but, 20 minutes later, through the efforts of
the track crew, the track was dry and drivers were
called to their cars.
"This means a lot," Kody said. "It's a pleasure to drive
for these DePalma Motorports guys anywhere, but
especially at a place like Salem. This is a place where
it's usually the braver you are, the faster you go.
That's not my style. We got a little lucky. Don't get
me wrong; these guys prepare to win, but we were
close enough to be able to capitalize on a couple
things late in the race. I never have "parked it." I've
never felt like I'm worthy enough to use that term,
but we "parked it" tonight for BC (Bryan Clauson)."