4/21/2017
RacinBoys
Swearengin back in Late Model at I-44 Speedway
By Ronnie Williams (Lebanon, MO) -- For Veteran Tim Swearengin, getting back behind the wheel of a Pro Late Model makes the 5 time I-44 Track Champion smile. After an outstanding season in The "Ground-Pounding" Modified in which Swearengin not only defended his Modified title, but tied the record for I-44 track titles at 5 placing his name with Ken Essary( during the early dirt years of I-44) and NASCAR 5-Time Whelen Series National Champion Larry Phillips.
Swearengin who won I-44 Late Model titles in 2000-2002 was away from the short-track action for over 10 years. After I-44 went to dirt for the 2003 season, Swearengin was making the trip to Odessa and the I-70 Speedway to compete. After a couple of hard crashes which destroyed his car and suffering some minor injuries he was on the sidelines. When I-44 went back to Asphalt in 2010, Tim was a spectator before starting to lend a helping hand to friend Jimmy Van Zandt and then Brian Brown as Tim was helping spot for Brian.
I-44 announced the relationship back to the Nascar Series right after the end of the 2012 season. Modified car owner and driver Brian Lewis then offered Tim a ride in one of his Modifieds placing Swearengin back in the saddle again putting an extra step in his walk.
The results in the tough Modified class, he won on night number 2 in the feature and gave 2013 Champion Stephen Counterman a run for the title just coming-up short. In 2014, despite being shut out of victory lane, Swearengin hounded the competition with constant top 3 finishes and a his 4th track championship. Hooking back-up with long time sponsor MJ Kelly Insurance and several others purchased Counterman's car and wheeled to his record tying 5th track title.
The strong performance attracted the eye of Kansas City's Adam Carmichael as Carmichael put Tim in his ride for 4 races with a strong average finish of 7th.
" These Pro Late Models are different than the off-set type cars we drove in the early 2000 seasons. This was an ex Jenny White car and we put a GM 604 Crate in it and worked hard. Mr. Carmichael was really pleased with our limited race results and got excited for 2017." quoted Swearengin
Swearengin knows the competition is tough weekly, but feels that they will be in the winners circle before long. "When you chased Larry Phillips for a few seasons, you learned alot not only about the car, but how to race smart."
Swearengin grew-up around the tough Southwest Missouri Racing ranks as father and best friend Don used to own a car drove by Frankie Davis with the famous 14 on it. Tim started in the Street Stock class around the mid 90's and jumped into Late Models quickly. When the tracks changed the motor rules in 1997, Tim had chased and raced some of the best around and hard work was getting ready to pay off. Swearengin recorded his biggest win defeating Phillips in a 50 lapper in 98. Chasing Kenny Dickinson in the 1999 title chase, The 2000 season saw Tim upgrading his equipment, listening and learning and would always be in the top 3 each Saturday night capturing his 1st I-44 and NASCAR Championship. The 2002 season saw Tim on a roll as he and a rookie named Tony Jackson Jr. thrilled the crowds each night. Perhaps his biggest win was the 1st ever Larry Phillips Race. a 125 lap feature paying $3,000 to win as he played the patient game during the early parts, then battling Jackson and Dickinson for the win with drivers from over 5 different states on hand.
Tim is a proud member of the NASCAR Whelen Series, supporting the Weekly Series Championship helemt during one of his title runs. "He got out to win each night and plan on letting point fall where they do, but to be placed with Essary and Phillips is pretty special as I grew-up watching both of the and racing weekly against Larry. For the 2016 season, Tim brought back longtime friend and crew chief and spotter Wayne Lewis. He plans to run the Modified and Lewis will be driving a Modified out of the Swearengin shop this season.
Tim will begin his chase in the NASCAR Season at I-44 on Saturday April 29th when the Pro Late Models will kick-off the season with a 50 lapc feature paying $1200 to win and a full show for Modifieds,Street Stock and Chargers at 7:30.
Fans can keep u pwith the action with Tim on Social Media through Facebook and I-44 at WWW.I44Speedway.Net and also through Facebook
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott