Swindell, Master At 19
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 - By John Burton, Murray Bridge PR

Forty Six Speedcars including four of America's best worked the Moore Engineering, Murray Bridge Speedway over the long weekend, and not a sole would have left the venue unimpressed!

In the end, it was the amicable American Youngster, Kevin Swindell who took out the top honours and is the 2009 Australian Speedcar Champion. Swindell, son of Sammy Swindell, the recent Chilli Bowl winner, holds the record for being the youngest ever WOO's Feature winner at 17 yrs of age, and the youngest ever to score a top 10 finish in WOO's at Parramatta Speedway, at the age of 15.

Going into the 40 lap final race, the 19 year old sat on 95 out of a possible 100 points, and from the minute a "shot was fired in anger" for the first round of heats on Saturday night, Swindell never looked like he was going to faulter. A "busy" driver by any standards, Swindell drives his midget by the absolute seat of his pants, and I don't think I have seen a world class competitor so busy behind the steering wheel.

It can be said that motor racing can come down to luck, which it does at times, but the Graham Team and Kevin Swindell made their own luck all weekend, by simply being very good.

A large crowd supported the event on both racing nights, and visitors came from every state in Australia, New Zealand and the USA, to witness the running of the 67th Australian Speedcar Title, and none were disappointed.

Following Kevin Swindell home was fellow American, Brad Kuhn, and legendary Aussie competitor "Big Rev Nev", Neville Lance. Fourth place went to another American in Jerry Coon's Jr. Mark "Browndog" Brown managed to salvage 5th spot, after being as high as 3rd at 3/4 race distance. The top Kiwi competitor home was Jimi Quinn in 12th position.

Defending Australian National Midget Champion, Davey Ray (USA SA/71) went into the "A" Main in his lonely position of 21st, (due to the fact that he (Ray) had recorded zero points,and was given the option to run off the back as defending champion), after a weekend I believe he would rather forget. Ray told me on the infield, after his car refused to take part in the 3rd round of heats.."I am really p....d over this. I came here for success and I don't go anywhere to make up numbers!".

Both Ray and Coon's Jr. commented on the track "not being like they had been told it would be", and both wanted to see more racing lines made available. Immediately prior to the "A" Main, drivers were invited to the pit gate by the chief steward and asked the question.."What do you want done with the track"? It was Todd Wanless that stated.." Nothing, leave it as it is, it will come on". And come on it did. The final race saw Swindell and Kuhns, Lance, Brown and Coon's Jr, "up-stairs and down-stairs" as they went through lapped traffic, almost totally unhindered.

Davey Ray, after coming out of position 21, made it to 5th by using the outside of the 390 mtr clay way, until he unceremoniously smacked the wall in turn 4.

Many patrons probably had no idea that the Murray Bridge venue was being used as a stage for some of the worlds best "Midget" drivers, and it wouldn't have taken them too long to realise that they were about to witness two nights of some of the best dirt track racing seen in Australia for a long time!

Fresh from the worlds most renowned speedcar event, The Chilli Bowl, a 1/4 mile, indoor event, held in Tulsa Oklahoma in the USA, where over 280 speedcar competitors were fighting it out, these likeable Americans showed our local and interstate drivers what being at a 'new level' was all about.

Local driver, Tim Crouch managed a win in the heats, then got caught up in a scuffle and rolled his car in heat 2. After missing heat 3, Crouch managed to claw his way into the "A" main by winning the "B" main. Sadly for Crouch, he took a shunt in the rear during the "A" main, and spun. Being a gentleman and not wanting to "get in their way", Crouch made the decision to withdraw.

All the "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi oi" in the world was not going to stop the American Invasion, although Neville Lance did his best to keep the title here in Oz.

The Americans were very complimentary towards the venue and its management, the fan's and the facilities, and after coming out of snowy conditions in the US, all enjoyed the "warmth" of Murray Bridge.

"Midget Racing" is certainly alive and well in Oz, and it would be great to have the calibre of Swindell and Co here more often!

Congratulations got to the Murray Bridge Club, SASA, Murray Bridge Glass,Bridge Motors, the officials and volunteers, and of course the supportive fans, who together, made this Australia Day Long Weekend, one to remember for a long time.