Joined by wife Allison and the winning team, Tanner Swanson enjoys victory lane. [Joe Jennings Photo]
Indianapolis, Ind. – Tanner Swanson scored a wire-to-wire victory in the “Day before the 500” USAC Silver Crown Championship race on the pavement at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis on Saturday afternoon.
Starting from the pole in the Bowman Racing/Banjo Liquid Handling Products – Bowman Elmore/Beast/Chevy, Swanson couldn’t be denied while leading all 100 laps around the famed oval.
“This whole Banjo team gave me an awesome race car,” the victor said. “I just had to hold on to the wheel and drive it around here while hoping there wouldn’t be a late race caution. I just love this race track, and it was fun to be here. Being a day race made it an unknown to us as we didn’t know how the tires would react. We just tried to save as much as we could, so hopefully we would have something left at the end. And it was fun to get to race with my brother, Kody.”
Kody Swanson, the older brother and the winner of Thursday’s Hoosier 100, ran second in the DePalma Motorsports – Hampshire Chevy.
“It was hot today and a tough 100 laps on a greasy track,” Swanson commented. “After starting sixth, it made it hard for me and getting to second was quite a workout. I don’t think I had anything for Tanner, as they continue to put it on us. My team gave me a great race car and second is good.”
According to the second place finisher, he has finished runner-up to his brother four times.
Third place went to pavement ace Bobby Santos.
Jerry Coons Jr. took fourth place with Aaron Pierce fifth.
Rounding out the top-10 finishers was A. J. Fike, Tracy Hines, David Byrne, C. J. Leary and Austin Nemire.
18 cars were on hand for the first-time event on a warm afternoon.
The Silver Crown’s next race will be at the Iowa Speedway on June 20.
