The Left Turn
By: Ron Burt
Saturday the USAC Silver Crown Cars ran the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fair. After 100 laps, Kody Swanson joined the exclusive four-time Bettenhausen 100 winners club. Swanson took the lead early, then lost it only to regain it again on lap 58, then led the final 42 laps enroute to victory. The win puts him in an elite club. Only five drivers have won four Bettenhausen 100’s in their career, led by Chuck Gurney’s seven, while A.J. Foyt, Jack Hewitt, Brian Tyler and now Swanson have all tallied four apiece. Swanson, who had previously won 100-mile USAC Silver Crown race victories at the Springfield Mile in 2014, 2015 and 2021. This was the first time he raced the Springfield Mile since 2021. Swanson had a 1.374 second margin of victory over Ohio’s, Matt Westfall, who came up just short of his first career USAC Silver Crown win, but instead grabbed his fifth career runner-up finish with the series. Mario Clouser took third with point leader Justin Grant scoring fourth while nursing a broken left foot. C.J. Leary rounded out the top five.
Saturday night the USAC Thunder Midgets were at Montpelier Speedway in Indiana. 22 cars made the trip. Tyler Nelson led all qualifiers receiving the VMS Motorsports ‘Quick Time!!’ Award with a 14.822 in sec lap. He also won the first heat race, Matt Lux, won the second and Ottoville’s Abby Holbein found victory lane in the 3rd heat. The rain poured down during intermission and track officials will set a new date to run the features, The UMP Modified. Terry Hull Memorial feature will pay $2040.00 to win. The non-wing 410 sprints will make up their race.
The All Star Circuit of Champions 410 winged sprints ran Friday and Saturday. Friday at Bloomington Speedway for the Kelly Kinser Classic, Tim Shaffer (the Steel City Outlaw) made the trip to Victory Lane. It was his 69th Career All Star Win Kalib Henry and Max Guilford made the podium. This was the All Star’s first visit to red clay at Bloomington Speedway in 26 years. On Saturday night the series went to Paragon Speedway. A track that hasn’t been on their schedule since 1992. During qualifying the crowd rose to their feet as Darin Naida set a new track record with 12.801! In the feature for the second time this season with the All Star Circuit of Champions Paker Price-Miller took the checkered flag with Cale Thomas and Kalib Henry close behind.
The American Late Model Iron Man Series had races Friday and Saturday. Many local racing fans were interested because McClure’s Rusty Schlenk went into the weekend on top the series points. At intermission Friday at Moler Raceway Park, he was presented with a banner celebrating his 40th win with the series. After his win last weekend, he now moves to the top of the list in the all-time win column. He’s also the six time and defending series champion (2006, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2024). However, at Moler Raceway Park he got behind slower cars and fought all night to move up. Jason Jameson won the feature with Adam Stricker 2nd and Schlenk 3rd. Saturday the series went south to the Blue Grass State for the 38th annual Paul “Butterball” Wooldridge Memorial at Richmond Raceway. Josh Rice won followed by Michael Chilton and Camaron Marlar. Schlenk finished 9th and still on the lead lap.
Attica Raceway Park came back to life last Friday. The track takes a month off so the local 410 Sprint Car drivers can travel and compete at big money events. Cap Henry found victory lane after a tough week at the Knoxville Nationals. Cap traveled to Sharon Speedway Saturday and won that feature. Late Model Ace, Devin Shiels won his first A Main at Attica in 2025 and in the 305 Sprints, Seth Schneider won.
At Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon on Saturday, your feature winners were, UMP Late Models Colin Shipley, Dylan Jessen Late Model Sportsman Feature. Adam Lantz Dominator Super Stock and Jeff Wells Sport Compacts.
The Great Lakes Super Sprints had a busy weekend. They raced Friday and Saturday. Friday at I-96 Speedway in Michigan, Jared Horstman started 7th and worked his way to first in the feature. He also won his heat race. The race had one red flag. Chase Dunham and Chase Ridenour tangled, and the cars flipped. Both drivers were ok, but not the same for their cars. On Saturday night, Jett Mann won his first feature in the GLSS at Butler Motor Speedway.
Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron Out!
