7/13/2014
Inside Line Promotions
Kevin Swindell Equals Career-Best Kings Royal Result With Fourth-Place Finish
(Photo by DB3 Imaging)
Inside Line Promotions – ROSSBURG, Ohio (July 13, 2014) – Kevin Swindell registered an impressive feat on Saturday at Eldora Speedway, where he tied a career best with a fourth-place finish at the 31st annual Kings Royal.
It also marked his first top five with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series in approximately a dozen events since his fourth-place result at the $50,000-to-win event in 2006.
“I think we were really good,” he said. “I had a shot at getting by (Donny) Schatz at one point. It was good especially for the way it started on Friday. With the way things have been going it’s been tough on my confidence at times.”
The top-five result capped what had been a frustrating week up to that point for Swindell and the Bernie Stuebgen owned Indy Race Parts team.
After qualifying 15th quickest and finishing second in a heat race last Wednesday during the 26th annual Brad Doty Classic at Limaland Motorsports Park in Lima, Ohio, Swindell was caught up in a crash in the opening laps of the main event.
“(James) McFadden went in on the top,” he said. “I went down on the bottom behind Joey (Saldana). The next thing I knew I heard McFadden’s motor coming wide open and his left rear came across my right front and spun me around. Then Sheldon Haudenschild got into me. It folded the left front axle around.”
Swindell, whose car had a special paint scheme to honor Brad Doty, was unable to restart the race and he was credited with a 26th-place result.
On Friday, the Indy Race Parts team tackled Eldora Speedway for the Knight Before the Kings Royal. Swindell qualified 26th quickest and he was in contention for a lock-in position during his heat race before he ended sixth.
“I got next to Joey (Saldana) for fourth in the heat race and he was able to protect,” he said. “That killed my run and Rob Chaney got by me.”
Swindell capped the night by finishing ninth in the Last Chance Showdown.
However, the team rebounded at the half-mile oval on Saturday. Swindell qualified 14th quickest, which started him on the outside of the front row of a Kings Royal heat race.
“They reworked the race track and got it to where the bottom was so good,” he said. “I was able to stay with (Greg) Wilson the first lap, but the bottom was too good and the top was too far around. I survived that and got a good starting spot for the feature.”
After placing second in his heat race, Swindell lined up on the outside of the fourth row for the 40-lap main event.
“I had a good opening start to the feature and got out of the mess and into some clean air,” he said. “I got into the fence pretty good one time in turns three and four. Nobody else was running where I was in turns three and four and I thought maybe I shouldn’t be up there either and I moved down for a couple of laps. Those guys pulled away so I got back up there and got going.”
Swindell maintained a top five throughout the first half of the race before the heim popped out of the bottom of the left rear shock.
“That definitely hurt getting the car to settle down and drive, especially when you bounce off the cushion,” he said. “Whenever that shock came off it definitely hindered it.”
Swindell remained committed to the top as he powered to the fourth-place finish.
“To run up there with those guys is good for us, especially if we’re going to go straight into everything at Knoxville,” he said.
Swindell said he isn’t sure whether he and the Indy Race Parts team will compete between now and the 360 Knoxville Nationals opener at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, on July 31.
“I want to thank Bernie for this opportunity and I look forward to more performances like we had during the Kings Royal,” he said. “I also want to say thanks to John Christner, who has helped my racing career for a while. I really appreciate his support.”
QUICK RESULTS –
July 9 – Limaland Motorsports Park in Lima, Ohio – Qualifying: 15; Heat race: 2 (1); Feature: DNF (15).
July 11 – Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio – Qualifying: 26; Heat race: 6 (6); B Main: 9 (8).
July 12 – Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio – Qualifying: 14; Heat race: 2 (2); Feature: 4 (8).
SEASON STATS –
22 races, 1 win, 8 top fives, 10 top 10s, 15 top 15s, 17 top 20s
UP NEXT –
TBD
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.SwindellMotorsports.citymaker.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KevinSwindell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KevinSwindellRacing
VIDEO –
Click on the link for highlights of Swindell’s first victory of the season at 81 Speedway on March 29: http://vimeo.com/90509051
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Mike Curb and Curb Records
Curb Records, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, is one of the world’s leading independent music companies. Owned and operated by Mike Curb since 1962, Curb Records has achieved more than 425 No. 1 records, more than 1,500 top-10 records and charged more than 4,500 total records. Mike Curb has competed within the motor sports industry for more than 40 years, including teams on the NASCAR, IndyCar, World of Outlaws and USAC circuits. For more information about Curb Records, visit http://www.CurbRecords.com. To learn more about Mike Curb, visit http://www.MikeCurb.com.
“I’m very grateful for the support of Mike Curb and everyone at Curb Records throughout the years,” Swindell said. “Mike and Curb Records have done a lot for drivers in the racing industry for a long time.”
Swindell would also like to thank ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Arai Helmets, Racing Optics, John Christner Trucking and Indy Race Parts 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 and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
Article Credit: Inside Line Promotions
Submitted By: Shawn Miller
