INDIANAPOLIS – Six-time and defending USAC Silver Crown champion Kody Swanson will compete for an unprecedented seventh title next year with a dual team effort that includes Doran Racing’s No. 77 on pavement and Chris Dyson Racing’s No. 9 on dirt.
The Californian raced to a season-high four victories this past year in a triple-threat effort, winning three times for Doran on the pavement of Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park twice and the finale at Toledo (Ohio) Speedway, while also scoring on the dirt at the Illinois State Fairgrounds for Dyson.
The owner of 34 career Silver Crown victories and 36 poles, Swanson leads almost all major series statistical categories. Last year’s championship was mostly unexpected for Swanson, as he began the season without a full-time dirt ride.
By midseason, Swanson found himself in the lead of the point standings and, despite missing a race early in the year, he held strong as the point leader all the to the end.
Prior to Swanson this year, no driver had ever won the championship while competing for three different teams. Next year year appears to be less stressful in that department as the series’ all-time king enters the new season with two excellent rides on both surfaces.
“I’m excited for the 2022 USAC Silver Crown season,” Swanson said. “These are two great teams, and I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
Both the Ohio-based Doran Racing and the New York-based Dyson team – operated out of crew chief Sean Michael’s Pennsylvania shop – won for the first time in Silver Crown competition this past year.
Dyson’s first victory came with driver Tyler Courtney at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway this year, then captured victory once more with Swanson at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
Eleven point-awarding events – six on pavement and five on dirt – are on the USAC Silver Crown National Championship tour along with an additional special dash race.
The season kicks off May 1 with the 19th running of the Sumar Classic at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track. The first of three visits to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park are on tap May 27 for the Carb Night Classic.
Also on tap is the Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pa., a half-mile clay oval, for the first time on June 18. Wisconsin’s Madison Int’l Speedway brings the series to the Dairyland 100 for the third time on June 24.
The first Silver Crown exhibition special event since 1996 is headed to IRP for the USAC Silver Crown Shootout on June 30, which will feature a 10-car field fighting for the prize in a 25-lap sprint.
Winchester Speedway’s blazing fast and high-banked track in eastern Indiana is back on the docket for the second time with the Rich Vogler Classic on July 21.
The Glass City of Toledo, Ohio, routinely proves pivotal for the series, and Toledo Speedway’s ninth appearance on the USAC Silver Crown schedule is set for Aug. 6 with the Rollie Beale Classic.
It’s back to the pavement of World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill., on Aug. 19, which, at 1.25 miles in length, is the largest track the series will compete on.
The two iconic Illinois mile dirt-tracks in Springfield and Du Quoin are a yearly staple of fair season during the late summer months.
The 59th running of the Bettenhausen 100 is slated for Aug. 20 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, while the 71st edition of the Ted Horn 100 is locked in for Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3.
Eldora Speedway welcomes the 40th edition of the 4-Crown Nationals on Sept. 23-24 for the dirt finale while the season concludes with a pavement stop on Oct. 22 for the Open-Wheel Championship that Saturday at IRP.