Team Platinum Signs Swanson For 2021 Super & Pro Late Model Races

INDIANAPOLIS, March 19 — After winning the pro late model championship at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway last month in their first collaboration, Team Platinum has signed Kody Swanson to drive for it in additional super and pro late model races this year, including selected ARCA/CRA Super Series and CRA/JEGS All-Star Series events, along with other premier late model races.

The Dayton, Ohio-based team and the Indianapolis-based driver will finalize their schedule soon, working races in between Swanson’s previous commitment with another Ohio-based team, Doran Racing, to compete in the pavement USAC Silver Crown events and selected asphalt sprint car races in 2021. The latter includes the Little 500 at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway and the Hoosier Classic and other events at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis.

“I’m thankful for everyone at Team Platinum, and for this opportunity,” said Swanson, a native of Kingsburg, Calif., who is a five-time USAC Silver Crown champion, the winningest driver in that series’ history, and a three-time Little 500 winner. “I really enjoyed working with the team in New Smyrna, and appreciate all of their efforts during a grueling Speedweeks schedule. I’m encouraged by how we ran there, and grateful for the chance to continue with this team; they are a top-notch group. I’m excited about our schedule this season, and am looking forward to competing together at some tracks that I’m already familiar with.”

“We were very pleased with how things went at New Smyrna, and we hope to expand upon that success going forward,” said Marc Metz, Team Platinum’s crew chief. Among the team’s many accomplishments are winning the championship in the JEGS/All-Star CRA series in 2015; the Winchester 400 at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway in 2016, and the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla. in 2019.

Despite never driving at New Smyrna before and being new to the team and the cars, Swanson turned heads there last month in stock cars sponsored by Fatheadz Eyewear, Platinum Express, Brands Truck Insurance, Radio Hospital, Rosewood Machine and Tool, Wooten Automotive, Duncan Oil and other partners.

He had one feature victory and three second-place finishes enroute to the pro late model championship. Swanson also displayed solid qualifying performances. He earned two poles and never qualified outside of the top six.

Swanson and the team are in the process of finalizing their schedule and look forward to continuing the season soon.

For more information:

Team Platinum

Website: PlatinumExpressInc.com

Facebook: Team-Platinum

Doran Racing’s Swanson Wins Dave Steele Memorial At Showtime Speedway for the Second Year in a Row

CLEARWATER, Fla., Feb. 28 — Doran Racing and Kody Swanson got their 2021 asphalt sprint car season off to an excellent start Saturday night by winning the “Dave Steele Memorial World Non-Winged Championship 125” at Showtime Speedway for the second year in a row.

Swanson, of Zionsville, Ind., drove the Lebanon, Ohio-based team’s No. 77 beast chassis sponsored by Glenn Farms of Woodland, Ga., to a 4.220-second victory on the three-eighths-mile asphalt oval for the $5,000 top prize.

The victory came after a hard-fought battle with Kyle O’Gara, who started on the pole and led the first 100 laps before Swanson passed him on lap 101 of the 125-lap event with a move to the inside as the pair flew down the frontstretch. The handling of O’Gara’s car started to go away with about 20 laps to go, resulting in Swanson’s large margin of victory. Prior to that the pair duked it out for about 55 intense laps, with Swanson running directly behind O’Gara or alongside him before he was able to make a pass stick.

L.J. Grimm, Shane Butler and Tyler Roahrig rounded out the top five in the 17-car field that featured many of the same drivers Swanson will face in the PayLess Little 500 at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway on May 29.

Swanson was the fastest qualifier with a time of 13.566 seconds, earning a bonus from the parents of the late Dave Steele, Mac and Carol Steele. Due to the luck of the draw he started fourth behind O’Gara, Joe Ligouri and Dakota Armstrong.

He moved into third on lap five by passing Ligouri. He took second on lap 22 when he passed Armstrong in Turns 1 and 2, and then set his sights on O’Gara.

There were seven yellows and two reds in the first part of the race, but the last 34 laps went non-stop.

The yellow and subsequent red on lap 24 could have been disastrous. First two cars running in the back of the field spun in Turn 4 to bring out the caution flag. As the field proceeded around the track, Armstrong launched himself over Shane Butler’s car, becoming airborne but landing on all four wheels. At that point the red flag waved for oil on the speedway.

Butler, who was running right behind Swanson, didn’t slow down and went up and into Swanson’s car on the backstretch. Butler’s car was hooked into the right side of Swanson’s car when they stopped. Luckily they got unhooked and both drivers were able to continue.

O’Gara set the fastest lap of the race on lap 45 with a time of 13.322 seconds. Swanson set the second-fastest lap of the race on lap 107 with a time of 13.331 seconds. Roahrig was third-fastest with a 13.460 on lap 63.

“It means a lot to win this race in honor of Dave Steele, and to race in memory of a friend,” Swanson said in victory lane. “Thanks to the entire Doran Racing team for busting their tails, and to everyone who supports us. It takes many hands.

“I was trying very hard; Kyle is a great racer,” Swanson continued. “He is tough here at Showtime for sure. The longer the race goes, the hourglass is running out of sand, and I tried to pass him for many laps. He developed a little push, and that allowed us to get around him.”

On Friday night at Showtime Swanson overcame involvement in a pre-race crash to finish fourth in the 30-lap, 18-car non-wing sprint car feature, which O’Gara won. The accident occurred when Butler spun during the initial start and collected the cars of Swanson, Grimm, Johnny Gilbertson and Ronnie Wuerdeman on the backstretch near Turn 2 with no laps down. Luckily Swanson was able to continue for the fourth-place finish.

It was a dramatic rally even though his car’s right-front tire was losing air. On lap 29 Swanson moved into fifth by passing Armstrong, and on the last lap both he and Armstrong passed Liguori to allow Swanson to finish fourth.

Both Friday and Saturday’s races were broadcast live on Speed51.tv.

For more information on Doran Racing see DoranRacing.com.

Swanson & Team Platinum Claim World Series of Asphalt Championship

Feb., 12, 2021 - By virtue of an eighth-place run Friday night, Kody Swanson was crowned the 2021 Pro Late Model champion. The five-time USAC Silver Crown champion and three-time Little 500 winner had never been in a Pro Late Model prior to making the trip to New Smyrna with Team Platinum, but one win and strong finishes throughout the week would put him on top at the end of the week.

“it sure means a lot, there’s so many wonderful people in my life, from my family, my wife and kids, and this team. The chance to meet them and for them to take a chance on me and bring me down here to one of the toughest racetracks for one of the toughest weeks to run Late Models and try to learn,” Swanson said. “To come away with the success we had and to win a championship is wonderful.

“I know it was anti-climatic but it was a battle to survive to the end. We had a lot of moments where we were dodging guys around us and I’m thankful to bring it home and finish it for them. Those guys deserve it, I’m thankful for Team Platinum for all their effort.”

Fans can follow Speed51’s on-location coverage presented by BMR Drivers Academy throughout the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. Live updates are available on Race Day Now by clicking here. Fans can also enjoy all of Speed51.TV’s on-demand video content from the World Series with a free seven-day trial by clicking here.

-Story by: Koty Geyer, Speed51 National Correspondent – Twitter: @kgeyer3

USAC Champ Snags Elusive Late Model Triumph

Feb., 11, 2021 - Kody Swanson has been knocking on the door of a Pro Late Model victory at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. On Thursday night, the five-time USAC Silver Crown champion knocked the door down.

Swanson started on the pole for the 35-lap feature and led nearly flag to flag, surviving a late restart to score the victory. It was a win Swanson wanted desperately throughout the course of the World Series after coming close on several occasions.

“It’s hard to put into words,” said an emotional Swanson on the NBC Track Pass broadcast. “I’ve had some opportunities to win and be close, some second-place finishes. I want to win if I can but do it the right way. Thankful to Team Platinum for all their effort, hanging with us all week and all the hard work. They’ve been working like crazy to get me some experience and make this car better. I'm really happy to put it in victory lane for them.”

Swanson had come close to victory on several occasions throughout the week, starting on opening night with a second-place finish to Jett Noland. Thursday night was Swanson’s night to finally capitalize and visit victory lane.

“We came so close the first night. It seems like nothing but circumstances have gone against us lately, but we never gave up. Thank you to everyone who works on it and stepped up to get us here. I think we’ll have a chance to get another one tomorrow night.”

On a restart with six laps to go, Conner Jones pulled ahead of Swanson in search of his third win of the week. However, Jones was forced to relinquish the lead at the request of race control due to a restart violation and settled for a second-place finish. “In my opinion, I didn’t jump it,” said Jones. “When I heard his motor go, I went. I didn’t think I jumped it, but they called it, so I gave the position back.”

Hunter Wright completed the podium, another driver searching for his first win in this World Series. Wright felt he had a fast enough car to compete for the win over the long run, but lacked speed at the start of the race.

“We’ve had a pretty good car after five laps. We just haven’t had enough in the first five laps to get going and get up there with the 26 [of Swanson] to compete for the win. We kept up, hung right there with him, just not enough in the first few laps.”

-Story by: Zach Evans, Speed51 Content Supervisor – Twitter: @ztevans

-Photo credit: Speed51 Photo / Will Bellamy

Noland denies Swanson in World Series PLM Opener

Feb., 5, 2021 - For the first 33 laps, Jett Noland was glued to the bumper of five-time USAC Silver Crown champion Kody Swanson waiting to make his move. With the white flag waving, the Florida teenager played his cards right. Noland made the pass on race-long leader Swanson coming to the white flag to steal the Pro Late Model win on night one of the World Series of Asphalt. It was his third World Series Pro Late Model win, and first with Anthony Campi Racing at the Florida half-mile.

“We just needed a win under our belt to start off the week right. He was a little bit faster and I was struggling so i couldn’t run with him down the back straightaway but we were keeping up with him in the corners,” Noland said on the NBC TrackPass broadcast. “That’s how it ended.”

After scoring his first World Series win last year on Saturday, his first victory lane trip comes on the opening night of the event in 2021. A strong run to kick off the World Series is key to an overall points championship, and Noland is flying high after starting off the week with a win. “It puts my confidence up pretty good. I’m hoping to win a few more of them, maybe even all of them. We’ll see how it goes.”

Kody Swanson’s first career Pro Late Model race was nearly flawless. After setting fast time in qualifying, he led all but the last lap in the Team Platinum No.26. He would lose the lead on the frontstretch taking the white flag and was relegated to a second-place finish by inches over William Cox III.

“Team Platinum brought a rookie to a gunfight and we were pretty close. I’m just so thankful they brought one whale of a race car with this Pro car,” said Swanson. “We put together a really good race here, we just got too tight with the run. I didn’t leave him a lot of room but I felt it was appropriate. When it came down to the end I just wasn’t fast enough.”

After a strong run on the opening night of the World Series, Swanson is ready for what the rest of the week has to throw at him. He already has his mind on what to do to find victory lane at New Smyrna.

“We just have to be a little bit better. We’ve been working hard at it and I’ve been learning a lot, this is the first time I’ve driven cars like this. We still have a few days to go so we’ll keep after it and give it our best shot and be thankful for everything we can get.”

Cox finished third in the Donnie Wilson Motorsports Pro Late Model, while former Big 8 Series champion Jeremy Miller and Conner Jones rounded out the top-five.

Swanson Gets Hype’d For The World Series

February 3, 2021 – Kody Swanson, is kicking off the 55th Annual World Series of Asphalt in a big way, by signing with Hype Motorsports to showcase his jump to full-fendered Stock Cars. The Five-Time USAC Silver Crown Champion will be competing in eight nights of racing with Team Platinum February 4th through the 13th at New Smyrna Speedway, and Hype Motorsports marketing team will ride with him for every lap of action.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Kody as he climbs aboard the Team Platinum Pro and Super Late Models at the World Series of Asphalt presented by Hype,” said Allick Jorgensen, Hype Motorsports Director of Sales and Marketing. “Kody has proven he’s an ace in an open-wheel ride, now he has nine nights to show the racing world he can make the leap to full-fendered stock cars. There’s a lot of pressure there, but Kody seems to thrive in those kinds of situations.”

Hype Motorsports cameras will follow Kody through the pits and behind the wheel for every night of action at New Smyrna Speedway, documenting each time he gets behind the wheel and sharing it with fans over his social media channels.

“I am really excited for the opportunity to learn, and race with Team Platinum at New Smyrna,” said Swanson. “I have been fortunate to have a great career in open-wheel cars, but I’ve been working hard to make the leap into new types of racing. I certainly haven’t made it this far it alone, and I’m thankful for the people that God has put in my life, who have believed in me, and are helping to continue on this journey together. I’ve always been focused on the racing itself & doing my job for the crew, but something I want to improve with, is doing the best job I can for the entire team, including the sponsors and people who support us, and applying the marketing & opportunities available within our sport. I’m looking forward to working with the Hype Motorsports team, and utilizing their talents & experience to make a measurable difference for our Team Platinum partners like Fatheadz Eyewear, Brands Truck Insurance, Radio Hospital, Rosewood Machine & Tool, and everyone who is supporting our program. I know this is going to be a tough week, but I’m thankful for the effort of our partners and the members of Team Platinum to give me a chance to learn and improve over the course of Speedweeks. It is a great opportunity to gain a lot of experience in a short amount of time, and I’m ready to get started.”

Follow Hype Motorsports and Kody Swanson on major Social Media platforms to see all the action.

Hype Motorsports Press Release

Photo Credit: Jim Fisher Photo

About Hype Motorsports:

Based out of Clermont, Florida, Hype Motorsports is Partnership Marketing, Content Creation, Brand Management, and Merchandising. We are the one stop shop for developing motorsports athletes to tune their craft and deliver what it takes in the boardroom in order to be successful on the racetrack. #GetHyped Hype-Motorsports.com

About Kody Swanson:

Kingsburg, California’s own Kody Swanson is a Five-Time USAC Silver Crown Champion with than 30 Career wins and 31 poles to his name. With three Payless Little 500 trophies on the shelf and a 2020 Freedom 90 victory to his credit, Swanson is a threat to win anytime he hits the racetrack. Learn more about Kody at kodyswansonracing.com.