Kingsburg’s Kody Swanson claimed the 32nd Annual Vukovich Classic Presented by Inside Lines Apparel & Graphics at the speedy 1/3-mile Madera Speedway on Saturday, May 9th.
After catapulting past early race leader Jerome Rodela on lap 24, Swanson never looked back, leading the final seven laps aboard the DMS Race Products #11d Beast/Esslinger, capturing his second consecutive BCRA/USAC triumph at Madera.
Swanson took the checkers over Rodela, brother Tanner Swanson aboard Dallen McKenney’s #88 TCR/Goewens Mopar, Arizona’s Alex Bowman in the DMS Race Products #21d Beats/Esslinger, with Colorado’s Levi Roberts rounding out the top five aboard his #2.
Only two cautions marred the super fast pace, the first coming when Redding’s Alex Schutte spun in Turn 1 on lap 21, retiring to the infield with mechanical problems aboard Cory Kruseman’s #12k Beats/Esslinger, the second coming after the white unfurled when San Jose’s “Young Lion” Nick Foster, Jr. spun in Turn 2, concluding the race under yellow-checkers
K. Swanson also was victorious at the 100-lap Gerhardt Classic on April 25.
K. Swanson had earlier blistered the Madera track record, with a new track record time of 13.728.
Schutte claimed Heat 1 over Bowman, K. Swanson, Scott Pierovich and Roberts.
Tanner Swanson claimed Heat 2 over Chad Nichols, Garrett Hansen, Rodela and Bobby Grewohl.
The Vukovich Classic is held annually at Madera Speedway in honor of the legendary Bill Vukovich, a two-time winner (1953 and 1954) of the Indianapolis 500 from Central California and three generations of the racing Vukovich family. Bill's son Bill, Jr. and grandson, Billy III all ran in the Indy 500, each earning Rookie of the Year awards at the Brickyard. Tragically, Bill Vukovich, Sr. was killed in the 1955 Indy 500 while leading and Billy Vukovich III lost his life in a Sprint Car incident in 1990. Bill Vukovich Jr. won the BCRA Midget championship in 1966, as well as winning the 1967 BCRA Indoor Midget championship.
Foster, the 2008 BCRA champion continues leading the 2009 BCRA Midget point standings.
The BCRA Midgets continue their 66th season of racing on Saturday, May 16 in the USAC co-sanctioned “California Clash” at King’s Speedway in Hanford. Visit www.bcraracing.com for additional information on the BCRA Midgets.
Summary:
Qualifications:
1. Kody Swanson, 11d, DMS, 13.728 (NTR), 2. Garrett Hansen, 70, Hansen, 13.894, 3. Levi Roberts, 2, Roberts, 13.939, 4. Tanner Swanson, 88, McKenney, 13.961, 5. Alex Bowman, 21d, DMS, 14.019, 6. Bobby Grewohl, 10c, Eskesen, 14.081, 7. Scott Pierovich, 35, Pierovich, 14.099, 8. Jerome Rodela, 25, Rodela, 14.212, 9. Alex Schutte, 12k, Kruseman, 14.232, 10. Chad Nichols, 17, Nichols, 14.234, 11. David Prickett, 15, Neverlift Mtspts., 14.334, 12. Nick Foster, Jr., 1, Fowler, 14.341
Heat 1: 1. Schutte, 2. Bowman, 3. K. Swanson, 4. Pierovich, 5. Roberts, 6. Prickett 1.53.03
Heat 2: 1. T. Swanson, 2. Nichols, 3. Hansen, 4. Rodela, 5. Grewohl, 6. Foster 1.52.15
Feature: 1. K. Swanson, 2. Rodela, 3. T. Swanson, 4. Bowman, 5. Roberts, 6. Pierovich, 7. Hansen, 8. Nichols, 9. Grewohl, 10. Prickett, 11. Foster (28 laps), 12. Schutte (20 laps) NT
Lap leaders: 1 Nichols, 2-23 Rodela, 24-30 K. Swanson
