Swanson Pounds The Winchester Pavement

WINCHESTER, Ind. — Veteran competitor Kody Swanson led the final 19 circuits to win the Tom Bigelow Showdown Sunday at Winchester Speedway.

It marked the first visit to the historic oval by the 500 Sprint Car Tour presented by Advance Auto Parts stores.

Davey Hamilton Jr. set fast time during qualifying and started from the pole position following the redraw for the top six drivers.

Hamilton jumped into the lead chased by Taylor Ferns, Dakoda Armstrong and Swanson.

On the third caution period on lap 19 when Donnie Adams Jr. made contact with the turn one wall, Hamilton’s day came to an end with an oil leak.

That put Ferns on the point, but Swanson powered to the front on lap 21 and pulled away from the pack.

Ferns, Armstrong, Bobby Santos III and Jackson Macenko were battling for the second spot when the final caution flag waved on lap 31 when Landon Butler made contact with the turn one wall after contact with Jake McElfresh.

That wiped out Swanson’s comfortable lead but on the final restart he pulled away to win by 3.4 seconds over Ferns with Armstrong, Tyler Roahrig and Nathan Byrd rounding out the top five.

Swanson swept the open wheel events at Winchester Speedway by winning the Rich Vogler Classic for the USAC Silver Crown Series on Friday.

“It’s quite the challenge here,” Swanson said. “It means a lot to win here and I want to thank the 500 Sprint Car Tour for getting the chance to come and run the high banks.”

Ferns said the team had been testing at Winchester since Thursday.

“The track changed a lot,” she said. “I’m disappointed, but to finish second to Kody (Swanson); who is one of the best.”

Armstrong said the team battled a tight race car during practice and was working to get some side bite for the race.

“We made a mistake on air pressures,” he said.

It was a race of attrition as only eight of the 24 starters were still running at the finish.

The finish:

1) Kody Swanson; 2) Taylor Ferns; 3) Dakoda Armstrong; 4) Tyler Roahrig; 5) Nathan Byrd; 6) Ryan Newman; 7) Bobby Santos III; 8) Tony Main; 9) Jackson Macenko; 10) Landon Butler; 11) Jake McElfresh; 12) Chase Locke; 13) Brian Vaughn; 14) Davey Hamilton Jr.; 15) Donnie Adams Jr.; 16) Brady Allum; 17) Kyle Robbins; 18) Rylan Gray; 19) Matt Dimitt; 20) Colton Bettis; 21) Justin Harper; 22) Brian Tyler; 23) Doug Fitzwater; 24) Cory Buttler