Kody Swanson

Kody Swanson Earns First USAC National Midget Series Feature Win
Saturday, April 12, 2008 Kenly, N.C.

L aguna Beach, California—Kody Swanson jumped to the front of the pack from his starting position on the outside of the front row immediately at the start of the USAC National Midget Series race at Southern National Raceway Park, in
Kenly, North Carolina, on Saturday, April 12, to win the feature event. Driving the #19 Team ASE/Oakley/Ed Pink Toyota for Nine Racing, Kody led all 40 laps to earn the team’s first victory of the 2008 USAC race season and Kody’s first
USAC National Midget Series victory. Teammate Dave Darland finished in 10th place, thereby giving the Team ASE/Oakley/Ed Pink Toyotas two top-10 finishes.

“The track was pretty hard to pass on just because the track is high-banked and it was a fast-paced track,” said Kody. “What was important for us was to get the lead right off the bat. I tried to get a good run right at the start and take
the lead on the first lap, that way I could have valuable track position.”

Kody credited the Nine Racing team, led by crew chief Kelly Drake, for the victory. “Earlier in the day, we had practice but then it rained and the track really changed. Just going off the heat race we made some big changes on the
car for the feature to make it just right and the team made great changes and it worked out for us. I was really thankful for what the crew did.”

As a result of this win, Kody now stands in 6th place in the USAC National Midget Series points, while Dave is close behind in 8th. The team’s next race will be at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, Wisconsin, on May 16.

Swanson Triumphs Midgets in Kenly Tonight!
Saturday, April 12, 2008 Kenly, N.C.

Kody Swanson of Kingsburg, Calif. earned his first Mopar USAC National Midget triumph Saturday night, winning the 40-lap feature race at Southern National Raceway Park. The event was the first for USAC National Midgets at the 4/10-mile paved oval and the first in the Tarheel State in two years.

Swanson grabbed the lead at the start of the race and led all the way in his Nine Racing Toyota/Oakley Beast/ Pink Toyota. The 2005 USAC Western Sprint Car Champion was followed at the checkered flag by Dakoda Armstrong, Cole Whitt, Darren Hagen and Tracy Hines.

Brad Loyet was the fastest qualifier, while heats went to Kevin Swindell, Bobby East and Levi Jones.

Whitt and Hines emerged in a virtual tie for the series point lead going into a May 16 race at the LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, Wisc.

Laguna Beach, CA
January 18th, 2008

Kody Swanson, 19, of Kingsburg, California, has been hired to compete in a full season of the USAC National Midget Series in 2008 by Nine Racing, according to Steve Lewis, team owner. He’ll be driving the famous #19 Team ASE/Oakley/Pink Toyota for Nine Racing.

Swanson is the 2005 USAC Western States Sprint Car Series Champion, and winner of the sprint car portion of the 2006 MOPAR-PRI Sprint & Midget Classic. In 2007, Swanson swept the USAC Midget/Sprint "doubleheader" in September at Altamont Motorsports Park. He also won the 50-lap Lucas Oil USAC Western - USAC/SLVRA Young Automotive Rocky Mountain Sprint feature at Rocky Mountain Raceways. Swanson attends Fresno State University and will continue his education while he assumes his full-time responsibilities driving for Nine Racing.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with a team like Nine Racing, and this is really an honor for me,” said Kody. “I am also looking forward to next year. I think it can be a good year for both me and the team. I really consider this to be a great opportunity in my career, and will always be thankful for what I had at Nine Racing.”

“Kody is a very talented young driver and we’re excited to have him competing full time for us next year in the USAC National Midget Series,” said Lewis. “It’s one of the most competitive racing series in the country, and we believe we have put together a formidable package for 2008 with Swanson behind the wheel, and a Toyota engine developed by the master, Ed Pink.”

“It has been a pleasure to work with Toyota,” added Kody, “especially with the people at TRD like Gary Reed and Toyota team members who have been at the races.” He also emphasized how much he enjoys working with famed engine builder Ed Pink and his crew at Ed Pink Racing Engines. “Ed Pink and his team do a great job on the motors, and they are a really good asset to the race team.”

Nine Racing scored two huge victories at the end of the 2007 racing season, winning the Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway with Dave Steele, and the Turkey Night Grand Prix with Dave Darland.

Nine Racing has won 10 USAC National Midget Series Championships. Such great NASCAR drivers as Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, JJ Yeley, Jason Leffler, Kenny Irwin Jr. and Mike Bliss have driven for Nine Racing.