USAC Ford Focus Teen Racer Happy to be Part of Legendary Turkey Night at Irwindale
- Dec 22, 2008
K&N sponsored teen Cody Swanson had a good 2008 racing season. In fact, it was a lot better than he could have imagined, especially on the dirt circuit.
Turkey Night Grand Prix line-up at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, California
USAC Ford Focus Series Racer Cody Swanson
“The highlight of the year was my second place finish at Oildale Speedway in Bakersfield, California,” said Swanson. “We also had one 5th place finish and four 6th place finishes. Two were on dirt and two were on asphalt.”
K&N Sponsored Ford Focus Midget Racer Cody Swanson promoting K&N on Turkey Night
Brake Problems put a damper on Turkey Night for teen racer Cody Swanson
There was also his 17th place finish in the annual Turkey Night Grand Prix at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, California. “It was a great night of racing with the USAC Midgets, Sprint Cars and Ford Focus Midgets. The full Midgets ran a 98 lap race and both the Sprint Cars and Ford Focus Midgets ran a 40 lap main.”
Swanson ran his Ford Focus Midget and by the end of the 3rd practice session was the 6th fastest on the track. Things were looking good for Swanson Motorsports. “The qualifying format was one that I had never done before,” said Swanson. “Usually when we qualify we go out in groups for five laps, with the best lap being the timed lap. On Turkey Night it was single car, two lap sessions.”
The pressure was on and Swanson qualified 11th out of 31 cars on a very close field. For the first 20 laps Swanson swapped positions with about six different cars. “Everyone had to be on top of their game and consistently hit our marks,” he said. “If you missed your mark, you got passed.”
On lap 23, Swanson’s brakes started to get overheated and got worse until he had no brakes at all. “I slipped back in the field and ended up in 17th place at the finish,” he said. “I was very disappointed because I knew we had a fast car and the results could have been better.”
Overall, Swanson said it was very cool being part of the legendary Turkey Night. “Looking back on the race, we put forth a great effort,” he said. “Things were going great throughout the whole day and for a major part of the race, unfortunately the result does not show our efforts or how well we were doing.”
Swanson finished the season 6th place in points in the USAC Ford Focus Series and said he will be coming back in 2009 with even more determination.
Swanson Motorsports uses K&N products. “K&N protects our engines and allows them to breathe,” said Swanson. “Dirt is never a problem on the track with K&N.”
Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.
Turkey Night Grand Prix line-up at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, California
USAC Ford Focus Series Racer Cody Swanson
K&N Sponsored Ford Focus Midget Racer Cody Swanson promoting K&N on Turkey Night
Brake Problems put a damper on Turkey Night for teen racer Cody Swanson
There was also his 17th place finish in the annual Turkey Night Grand Prix at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, California. “It was a great night of racing with the USAC Midgets, Sprint Cars and Ford Focus Midgets. The full Midgets ran a 98 lap race and both the Sprint Cars and Ford Focus Midgets ran a 40 lap main.”
Swanson ran his Ford Focus Midget and by the end of the 3rd practice session was the 6th fastest on the track. Things were looking good for Swanson Motorsports. “The qualifying format was one that I had never done before,” said Swanson. “Usually when we qualify we go out in groups for five laps, with the best lap being the timed lap. On Turkey Night it was single car, two lap sessions.”
The pressure was on and Swanson qualified 11th out of 31 cars on a very close field. For the first 20 laps Swanson swapped positions with about six different cars. “Everyone had to be on top of their game and consistently hit our marks,” he said. “If you missed your mark, you got passed.”
On lap 23, Swanson’s brakes started to get overheated and got worse until he had no brakes at all. “I slipped back in the field and ended up in 17th place at the finish,” he said. “I was very disappointed because I knew we had a fast car and the results could have been better.”
Overall, Swanson said it was very cool being part of the legendary Turkey Night. “Looking back on the race, we put forth a great effort,” he said. “Things were going great throughout the whole day and for a major part of the race, unfortunately the result does not show our efforts or how well we were doing.”
Swanson finished the season 6th place in points in the USAC Ford Focus Series and said he will be coming back in 2009 with even more determination.
Swanson Motorsports uses K&N products. “K&N protects our engines and allows them to breathe,” said Swanson. “Dirt is never a problem on the track with K&N.”
Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.
