8 Questions with Kody Swanson

500 Sprint Car Tour Media sat down with Kody Swanson for a Q&A session. This was a fun chance for fans to hear from Kody Swanson out of the driver seat.

Kody Swanson is coming off another Hall of Fame worthy year. The Kingsburg, California native won his 2nd 500 Sprint Car Tour Championship and 8th USAC Silver Crown Championship.

Q: If you could do any race over again, which race would you choose?

To pick just one race to do over, it would be very hard to narrow it down. I seem to remember more races that I ran second or races that got away, better than some that I won. Historically, I think about the Turkey Night Grand Prix in 2006 when my teammate, Billy Wease, passed me in lapped traffic and I ran second. I know that was almost 20 years ago, but I never did win Turkey Night, so I still remember a lot of that race.

Q: Some drivers keep a payback list in their minds. Do you also have a list for drivers who have done you a favor on the track?

I definitely don't keep a list. I usually try to stay square with everyone. If I do have a real problem at the race track, I would like to address that. It may not happen that night, but I prefer to try and talk at some point, at least to have some mutual understanding.

I do recognize that everyone races differently. There are some people that are going to race you really really hard and really close every time. That is fine, you know that and learn that. There are some drivers that I know will cut you a break, so I try to return the favor when it is appropriate. The Little 500 is so long, that there can be give and take during the race. I know there have been years where either Tyler Roahrig or I have had tough luck early in the race and gotten trapped a lap down or two. I feel like each of us have returned the favor to one another at different times, showing that respect to the leaders and cutting them a break when it’s not your night.

Tyler Roahrig (#56) and Kody Swanson (#77) during the 2024 Little 500 at Anderson Speedway. - Rick Kimball Photo

Q: How often do you think about racing?

Well, it has been a sport that I have loved since I was a kid. I grew up watching my dad race everything from supermodifieds to late models, so I was really a race fan first. I do enjoy it in so many layers: everything about it from driving, to being part of a team that is competing for it, to a fan enjoying others’ success. So I’d say it is pretty often that I am thinking about racing.

Q: What is a food you would not recommend eating right before a race and are you speaking with personal experience with this recommendation?

I try to be pretty careful on what I eat leading up to a race. I think it is important to be aware of what works for you before you are stuck in a driving suit or in the car for a long time. But I do think on race day, or any day really, you should try to have something from Mission Foods.

Q: What do drivers talk about when they’re standing around at driver intros before a race?

I guess it depends who the drivers are... and probably really depends on if Scotty Hampton is around, haha. Sometimes you talk about the race ahead or the race from the night before. Sometimes it is just shooting the breeze to get your mind off the next race and just try to help pass the time. Also, as I have gotten older it can be how each other's drivers kids are doing or what sports they are into. You just find a way to carry on small talk, but know you are preparing to do your job the best you can and you're going to be competitors again in a few moments once your helmets are on.

Q: Do you have any pre-race superstitions or rituals? 

I’m not real superstitious but I am a little ‘stitious… I think that’s how the Office tagline goes. I don’t think a lot of those typical things bother me, but I don't shave on race day. I don't know that I really think it matters, but I have had enough weird things happen on days that I did shave, that I’d rather not ‘risk it’ anymore just to prove that it doesn’t.

Q: What's a TV show you're really into right now?

Jordan (Kody’s wife) and I just finished watching the current season of the Lincoln Lawyer.

Q:  If you could team up with any driver who would it be?

Somehow I would have to talk to my brother, Tanner, about coming out of retirement. I had a lot of fun racing with him when we were younger, but we were both probably too competitive to really appreciate it in the right way at the time. I know my thoughts might be skewed, him being my brother, but I think he is really good at so many things naturally and is capable of so much. He would be fun to race with.

Brothers Tanner (Left) & Kody (Right) Swanson talk during the 2023 Little 500 drivers meeting - Jack Kessler Photo.