USAC brings different brand of racing to Iowa Speedway

Kody Swanson set the Iowa Speedway USAC Silver Crown track record with an average lap speed of 146.212 mph in 2012. Swanson and the USAC Silver Crown Series return to Iowa Speedway Saturday for the first time since 2012.

The Casey’s General Stores 100 features the sprint cars of the United States Auto Club Silver Crown Series. It is a 2 p.m. start time for the race Saturday.

The Silver Crown drivers compete in 11 races — four on pavement and seven on dirt.

Swanson, who is from Kingsburg, Calif., is the 2014 USAC Silver Crown Series champion and has two wins in the first three races of the season. The other victory belongs to his younger brother, Tanner, who is not racing at Iowa.

“I’m excited to come back to Iowa,” Swanson said. “Iowa Speedway is one of the bigger payment tracks we go to, and it’s the fastest one we’ve ever been on. The high speeds we can achieve and the progressive banking in the turns make Iowa Speedway very challenging.”

Swanson said as wide as the surface of the track is and the high banks allows the open-wheel sprint cars to put on a show with a lot of side-by-side racing. He said the Silver Crown cars have a lot of horsepower, but not the same type of grip on the track.

The cars will be capable of reaching speeds of 180 miles per hour. The maximum speeds of 180 mph happen generally toward the end of the straightaways.

Drivers accelerate all the way down the straight, reaching top speed just before braking to enter the turn. It’s anticipated that all-time USAC speed records will be shattered as the cars take on “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet.”

“Iowa Speedway is one of the premier facilities in motorsports and having it as part of our list of Silver Crown venues is the next step as we continue to elevate the series profile,” said series coordinator Andy Hillenburg. “The past USAC races at Iowa Speedway are a big part of USAC’s history in the Hawkeye State, and the races there have always been competitive and memorable.”

Hillenburg said before 1971, USAC racing was part of IndyCar racing with dirt and pavement series. He said USAC and the Silver Crown Series has evolved into what it is today. Some of the former USAC drivers include Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Jeff Gordon and Don White, of Keokuk.

“You won’t see these sprint cars get sideways on payment and sliding like those at Knoxville (Raceway) on the dirt, but it is a different type of racing than fans at Iowa Speedway are used to seeing there,” Hillenburg said.

When USAC last appeared at the 7/8-mile asphalt paved tri-oval, Bobby East thrilled fans when he took the checkered flag for the third time at Iowa Speedway.

There will be two practices sessions Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. The qualifying laps for the race begin at 12:30 p.m. followed by the driver introductions at 1:30 p.m.

Swanson holds a 33-point lead over Aaron Pierce in the Silver Crown Series. A.J. Fike, who is from Galesburg, Ill., is third, and he won at Iowa in 2010. Davey Ray, of Davenport, races in the series.

Ticketholders for the USAC Silver Crown Series at Iowa Speedway may redeem their USAC Silver Crown Series ticket for admission to the Lucas Oil Championship Cup Series at Knoxville Raceway Saturday night. This opportunity is also available to Iowa Speedway Season Ticket Holders and fans that purchase race weekend tickets.

Fans attending the USAC Silver Crown™ Series at Iowa Speedway Saturday, must hold on to their tickets to redeem them for admission at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville later that night.

The combo ticket package is available at www.iowaspeedway.com, or by phone at 866-787-8946.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com