500 Sprint Car Tour Champion Set to be Crowned
This Saturday, October 22nd, the inaugural 500 Sprint Car Tour presented by Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Parts Stores season comes to an end. The tour will make their final visit to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park along with the USAC Silver Crown and Pavement Midgets series for a championship weekend unlike any other. With only 17 points separating championship leader, Kody Swanson (Kingsburg, California) and second place contender, Dakoda Armstrong (New Castle, Indiana) every turn of the 40-lap race will be crucial in determining the Inaugural 500 Sprint Car Tour Champion.
The 2022 season for the 500 Sprint Car Tour presented by Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Parts Stores has been a constant pendulum, swinging back and forth between known and unknown. The season began with four different winners taking victory in the first four events, none of whom solidified themselves as championship contenders until the latter part of the season. In fact, for the majority of the season the championship was controlled by consistency. Dakoda Armstrong took the points lead after the fourth race of the season, the Glen Niebel Classic at Anderson Speedway, on July 9th. Armstrong has not visited victory lane this year but has secured his spot in the top two by being consistent, finishing in the top five in eight of the nine races. He will look for his first win, and the championship, when he hits the track this Saturday at 5pm.
The current leader in the points standings, Kody Swanson, has already proven to be a championship caliber driver over the course of his career. Having won championships in multiple disciplines, including six USAC Silver Crown championships, he will look to add “500 Sprint Car Tour Champion” to his resume. Swanson will not only be defending his points lead in his non-wing sprint car, but he will also be chasing his seventh USAC Silver Crown championship trailing Logan Seavey by only three points. Swanson won the inaugural 500 Sprint Car Tour event at Plymouth Motor Speedway and visited victory lane again at Anderson Speedway for the Gene Nolan Classic. His two victories on the season put him just short of Tyler Roahrig’s (Plymouth, Indiana) three wins for most wins this season. Roahrig saw the checkered flag first in the last trip to Lucas Oil IRP and has two victories in two trips to Berlin Raceway. Both Swanson and Roahrig will be heavy favorites to claim victory again going into Saturday Night.
The final race of the 2022 season will also see the return of some familiar faces, and the addition of some new faces. Davey Hamilton Jr. (Boise, Idaho) will return to his number 14 Morgan Exteriors car for his first event with the 500 Sprint Car Tour since August 1st, the last time the series visited Lucas Oil IRP. Bryan Gossel (Fort Collins, Colorado), who competed in this year’s 74th Annual Lucas Oil Little 500 will make his first points earning start with the 500 Sprint Car Tour. New faces to the paddock include Wayne Johnson (Tuttle, Oklahoma), Joey Vallone (Chicago, Illinois), Jake Trainor (Midway, Massachusetts), and Brian Vaugh (Shirley, Indiana), all of whom will be making their first start with the 500 Sprint Car Tour.
Other notable entries include: Nathan Byrd (Goodyear, Arizona), Cory Butler (Baltimore, Ohio), CJ Leary (Greenfield, Indiana), Kyle Robbins (New Castle, Indiana), Travis Welpott (Pendleton, Indiana), Bobby Santos III (Franklin, Massachusetts), Tanner Swanson (Kingsburg, California), Derek Bischak (Angola, Indiana), Russ Gamester (Peru, Indiana), Justin Harper (Denver, Indiana), Taylor Ferns (Shelby Township, Michigan), Kyle O’Gara (Camby, Indiana), and Billy Wease (Fishers, Indiana).
Howard Companies Championship Saturday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is this Saturday, October 22nd. Gates will open at 12pm for spectators and rotating practice will begin at 12:30pm. Qualifying is set to begin at 3:10pm and open ceremonies will kick off at 4:45pm. Green flag for the 500 Sprint Car Tour Presented by Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Parts Stores will drop at 5:05pm for a 40-lap feature. MAVTV on Floracing will cover the entire night of racing for those wishing to stream the event. The 500 Sprint Car Tour’s feature can also be seen LIVE on MAVTV Network beginning at 5pm. Tickets are on sale now with all kids 12 and under gaining access for free, and adult tickets will be $25. Pit passes are $35 and pit gates will open at 9am.