Race Rearview: '24 USAC Silver Crown at Toledo

Kody Swanson’s 2024 USAC Silver Crown Series Championship kicked off with a victory at Toledo Speedway, but his entire season was in doubt after a Swanson broke his left foot in an accident athis family’s home on Christmas morning in 2023.

Swanson overcame a slight limp as he climbed into the #77 car to not only take the win but also lead all 100 laps en-route to Victory Lane, the eighth time Swanson had visited Toledo’s Victory Lane.

The feverish pace was slowed only once by caution, as Jackson Macenko spun the #124 exiting turn 4 early in the going, from there it was all clean and green, but that didn’t mean the Hemelgarn Racing/Super Fitness Rollie Beale Classic Presented by Marco’s Pizza was a parade by any means. Drivers slicing and dicing, sometimes battling three-wide on the high banks of Toledo Speedway.

Swanson fought lapped traffic for much of the 100 laps, passing them high and low and rarely losing pace in doing so. CJ Leary, Tyler Roahrig, Justin Grant and Bobby Santos kept the fans on their feet as they closed in on Swanson numerous times during the 100 laps but nobody challenged Kody Swanson this day.

What about the Silver Crown Championship?

Kody Swanson used the Toledo victory as a launching pad for his 2024 USAC Silver Crown Series Championship, his eighth as well. In addition, wins at Winchester, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Jennerstown and Springfield propelled the 36 year old to the Championship.

The USAC Silver Crown Series returns to Toledo Speedway on Saturday, April 19th, the Hemelgarn / SuperFitness USAC Silver Crown Rollie Beale Classic 100 will server as the asphalt opener for the the USAC Silver Crown Series and the second race of the season. In addition to the USAC Silver Crown Series, the JEGS CRA All Star Tour will take to the high banks for a 100 lap feature event. Doubleheader Action: Two premier series, two 100-lap races, one ticket.

“Opening Day at Toledo Speedway is always a special occasion, but this year’s doubleheader is truly something spectacular,” said Ron Drager, Owner of Toledo Speedway. “We’re proud to kick off the season for both the USAC Silver Crown Series and CRA JEGS All-Star Tour at Toledo. It is a big event track and it’s hard to get any bigger than this to start the year.”

FEATURE: (100 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Kody Swanson (1), 2. C.J. Leary (3), 3. Tyler Roahrig (2), 4. Justin Grant (5), 5. Bobby Santos (4), 6. Mario Clouser (9), 7. Logan Seavey (6), 8. Taylor Ferns (11), 9. Jerry Coons Jr. (14), 10. Davey Hamilton Jr. (10), 11. Kaylee Bryson (18), 12. Kyle Steffens (15), 13. Gregg Cory (12), 14. Jackson Macenko (7), 15. Travis Welpott (16), 16. Trey Burke (13), 17. Dakoda Armstrong (8), 18. Dave Berkheimer (17), 19. Nathan Moore (19).