INDIANAPOLIS — The sprint car rolled to a stop on the front straightaway at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and the engine fell silent. As people rushed toward the car, Tyler Roahrig shook his head slightly, his beaming smile visible through the visor on his helmet.
With a deft move to the outside of Kody Swanson, Roahrig swept to victory in the 40-lap Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial on Oct. 15 and clinched the 500 Sprint Car Tour championship.
Going into the weekend Roahrig and Swanson were locked in a close fight for the title, with three other drivers — Kyle O’Gara, Dakota Armstrong and Bobby Santos III — also having an outside shot at the crown. After setting quick time, Roahrig held an 18-point margin over Swanson.
Roahrig blew away any and all suspense when he powered to the front from his third-row starting spot. When he swept past Swanson in the early going, it was not just a pass for the lead, but a statement: I’m here, I’m ready, and I’m going to settle this thing by winning the race.
Which is exactly what he did.
The 500 Sprint Car Tour is a new entity, finishing its second full season of racing this past year. The brainchild of Rick Dawson and Jared Owen of Anderson (Ind.) Speedway, the goal was to create a series supporting the teams and drivers of the Little 500.
It has been a success by any measure. Pavement sprint car racing is something of a niche, and short fields have been an unfortunate reality in recent years. But over the past 24 months, the 500 Sprint Car Tour has built a strong enough following that a B main has become a necessity at many races.
A key element of the series has been the development of stars they can readily promote.
At the center has been Kody Swanson, the 2022 series champion. Swanson is a bona fide superstar in contemporary open-wheel racing, one of the best of all time. He and his Doran Racing teammates are a formidable combination, and that is something of an understatement.
Perhaps that’s what made this year’s title all the more special for Roahrig, who fosters an old-school racing mindset. Roahrig owns his own stuff, with help from his father and a number of volunteers. He is sharp on suspension dynamics and is something of a shock guru, with a thriving one-man business that occupies much of his time.
Roahrig and Swanson have been the most successful players thus far with the series, and they have developed a healthy rivalry. Both are excellent racers, with contrasting styles and personalities. Each is outspoken in their respect for the other, but there is a burning intensity within both.
Swanson has performed at the top level of the sport for several years, while Roahrig’s star has risen more recently. Swanson has tasted victory at the Little 500 three times; Roahrig, twice. Roahrig owns seven 500 Sprint Tour wins thus far; Swanson, four. One of Roahrig’s strengths is his uncanny skill at qualifying; of the 18 tour races, Roahrig set fast time on 10 occasions.
Roahrig and Swanson are joined by a number of other key players. O’Gara won three races this year and has established himself as a genuine rising star. Santos III had his struggles this past season, but boasts a stellar résumé. Armstrong, a full-time farmer and part-time racer, is another exciting piece of the puzzle. Billy Wease won at the Nashville Fairgrounds during the summer and continues to make his presence known. Michigan’s Taylor Ferns continues her rise, while Jackson Macenko made an impressive debut and scored rookie-of-the-year honors with the series.
This past season introduced some travel for the series, venturing for the first time to Nashville and Ohio’s Lorain County Speedway. It will be interesting going forward as series officials search for the right travel radius — and the right number of events — for their teams.
What has driven the success of the series so far has been exciting, clean racing. The product on the track has been very good and it’s been fun to watch as the drivers and teams develop their respective identities.
Of all the drivers with the series, perhaps Roahrig is in the best position to thrive in the immediate future. He has developed a strong fan following and his rivalry with Swanson could be something really good for the sport.
The 2024 season opener comes April 6 at Anderson Speedway. It can’t get here soon enough.
