For more information:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
E-mail: LKMRestart@gmail.com
Cell: (317) 201-0729

 

Swanson Tops Qualifying at Madison Int’l Speedway
In Doran Binks Racing’s Mission Foods No. 77
And Still Leads Points Following 100-Lapper

OREGON, Wis., June 23 — Doran Binks Racing and driver Kody Swanson still lead the entrant and driver point standings in the USAC Silver Crown division following Friday night’s Bytec Dairyland 100 at Madison International Speedway, but their top rivals have drawn closer after a mechanical problem resulted in an 11th-place finish for the No. 77, which is sponsored by Mission Foods, Glenn Farms, and Wilke Orthodontics.

Earlier in the evening Swanson won the pole for the 100-lap race with a time of 17.062 seconds, extending his record as the driver with the most USAC Silver Crown poles in history to 51. C.J. Leary, Bobby Santos III, Dakoda Armstrong and Taylor Ferns rounded out the top five in qualifying.

Swanson led all 300 laps of the three previous pavement USAC Silver Crown races this year and he’s won this race three times (2018, 2019 and 2023).

But on Friday Leary was able to get around him on the outside going into Turn 1 of the half-mile paved oval on the first lap, and then Santos edged under him in the same spot on lap two to relegate him to third.

That set up one of the best battle of the evening, as Swanson hounded Santos for second while Ferns tried to get third away from Swanson as the trio played a highspeed game of cat and mouse.

Swanson eventually dropped to fourth but his drive came to an end when he suddenly slowed in Turn 3 to bring out the first of two cautions on lap 61 due to a mechanical issue that caused the No. 77 to lose fuel. He was pushed to the pits by a four-wheeler and the Doran Binks crew made quick repairs. Swanson was able to return to the rear of the field and run for about 10 more laps, and his official finishing position was 11th.

He wasn’t the only one who had their night come to an end prematurely. Ferns brought out the event’s only other yellow while running third working lap 75 when she stopped at about the same place Swanson had. Her car’s issue was a broken U-joint, and she ended up right behind Swanson in the final rundown, in 12th place.

And after leading from the start, Leary also ran into calamity in the same spot on lap 89, as he got a flat tire and had contact with Armstrong. He pitted for a new tire but he ended up ninth.

That gave the point to Armstrong, who went on to post his first USAC Silver Crown victory. Santos, Grant, rookie Trey Osborne and defending series champion Seavey rounded out the top five.

The race was streamed live by Flo Racing.

The next USAC Silver Crown race is the Sumar Classic on July 4 at the Terre Haute Action Track in Terre Haute, Ind. The series then travels to Salt City Speedway in Hutchinson, Kan. July 19-20 prior to four events in August. The complete schedule is posted on usacracing.com.

For more information see DoranRacing.com.

About Mission Foods:

The Gruma Corporation began in 1949 and is today the leading tortilla manufacturer worldwide. Mission Foods is a proud subsidiary of Gruma, and as the #1 tortilla company in the United States, manufactures a wide variety of authentic Mexican products. Five years ago it opened a state-of-the-art plant in Dallas, Texas, with the capacity to produce 30 million tortillas daily. Today Mission Foods is a global company, with special emphasis not only on the United States but also Mexico, Central America, Europe, China, Malaysia, and Australia. Its products include flour and corn tortillas; tostadas; low-carb, whole wheat, organic and gluten-free items; wraps; flatbreads such as naan, pita and roti; tortilla chips and organic chips; chicharrones; salsa, and dips. For more information see missionfoods.com

Linda Mansfield/Restart Communications for KECO
E-mail: LKMRestart@gmail.com
Cell: (317) 201-0729