These past few weeks have been very eventful and enjoyable for the Swanson Motorsports Team. The new VRA series at Ventura Raceway keeps us very busy week to week. Running the majority of the races this year at Ventura has proven a perfect testing ground to fine tune our Honda program.
Starting off the season in the USAC Series with a top 10 at Chico and a 2nd place at Ventura has given us tremendous momentum going into halfway through the season. The VRA Midget Series has run three races since then.
Each week we have gotten better, and that much closer to our first win for HPD and Honda Racing. Every race we've been able to have strong runs, and put the S2k Powered #05 Midget in the top ten.
The first VRA race was April 23rd. It was a hard fought battle coming from an extremely poor starting spot of 19th, to finish in the 7th position.
One week later we ran the second VRA race of the season. The Honda had a decent starting position, but not the luck. An accident up at the top of turn two occured right in the groove and in an attempt to avoid it, spun the car out. I once again had to come from last. We we're still able to salvage a solid 10th place, but it was still kind of a dissapointing night.
Finally, our most recent race, May 14th was back at the Ventura beach for the third VRA Series race of the season. We had been fast all year so far, and I was looking foward to a good run. A strong heat race finish put me starting on the front row. My goal was to get the Honda Power wound up on the top of the track where we had been the last 3 races at this place. The first laps of the race however, proved that tonight, the top wasn't the place to be. The bottom had the most bite, and missing the apron by a few inches would loose valuable positions. We battled for the lead for most of the race until the #2 of Robby Josett took charge to the lead. I lacked just a little side-bite in the center of both corners, and that hurt us. We fell back to a P4 finishing spot that night. It was a very solid run that puts us in 3rd for the overall VRA Points Chase.
2011 has been an exciting season so far, check in on the website once and awhile to stay updated! www.jakeswanson.com
Of course, the SM team wouldn't be having the success it's having today without our Partners, supporters, and sponsors. I would like to thank Goodwine Glass, Lucas Oil, Orange County Tank Testing, Crower Performance, HPD, K&N Filters, Oakley, One Day Signs, EgoTactics.net, and Zanzabuku Sports Lounge for their support.
Thanks,
Jake
3-19-11 Ventura Raceway
The first race of the VRA Midget season and the second USAC Western States event kicked off last Saturday night. For this race, and a four others throughout the year, USAC and VRA have teamed up to create an event called "Battle at the Beach." These events pay a whopping $2000 to win. Rain threatened to cut the night short quite a few times but luckily the Midgets were able to get their entire day of racing in.
Hot laps went by quick and after a few checks to make sure everything was running as it should, we focused on dialing in my car setup. Our new base-line setup was very good and I only wanted a few tweaks for the heat race. In the heat race I had to start last (7th). The top 4 finishers would go on to the A-main, the rest would be put in the semi. I got a great start and immediately jumped into the 3rd position behind the #19 of Tanner Swanson. A few laps later I was able to jump around the outside of Tanner and started to chase down the leader. I got to the bumper of the leader #15 of Connor Kassik, but I ran out of laps and settled for second.
My second place heat race finish put me in an excellent starting spot for the feature-outside second row. As the cars got all lined up it began to sprinkle and the track became extremely slick. There was a big cushion the sprint cars had made way up at the fence, I knew I'd have to run that line to get the bite I needed. The green dropped and I went straight to the top and jumped into 3rd in the first corner. I was able to pick off second place and then the yellow caution flag came out. This was going to be the perfect opportunity for me to make my move for the lead, if I could make it stick on this wet rainy surface. On the restart I got up a groove higher than the leader where I had just a little more bite, and timed it just right down the front straight to make the move at the top of the track. I cleared him at the top of turn 1. It felt good to be back out front in this car! I held onto the lead for about 10 laps until I hit lap traffic, and veteran Cory Kruseman got pass me while we both were passing a lapped car. From then on I stayed close but couldn't quite get in position to regain the top spot. The checkers flew with me in second.
I am very proud of our second place effort. I feel like we are really getting a handle on our Honda recipe. We definitely learn a lot last year. I think we've got a pretty good thing going right now, and not just with our Honda power plant, but our chassis tuning also. I can't wait to get back out there and battle for more wins this season and hopefully a Championship. We are only a few races into the 2011 season and I'm currently sitting in 2nd place in the VRA, USAC Western States Midgets, and USAC Focus Midget Series. My season has kick off very well thanks to all my sponsors. And I can't thank all my sponsors enough! Goodwine Glass, Lucas Oil, Orange County Tank Testing, Crower Performance, HPD, K&N Filters, Oakley, One Day Signs, EgoTactics.net, and Zanzabuku Sports Lounge.
Thanks, Jake
2010 Racing Season
Well the 2010 racing season has finally come to a close. No doubt this season has been full of hardships for the Swanson Motorsports Team but we we're still able to get a solid 5th place finish in the points standings with a best race finish of 2nd. And I still can't help being very excited for what is to come next year.
We have made great leaps and bounds on the #05 Honda Midget this year improving the power, torque, and durability of the engine thanks to the help of Dan Crower and Crower Performance. And we still have a lot of great new ideas for it for the 2011 season.
Here is a little glimpse into whats in store for next year. Obviously we cant give everyone the full scoop yet because a lot of things are still very much in the works. But what we can tell you is that we will be running the BCRA & USAC Series' and Ventura's new VRA Midget program as the schedules permit. The only difference with the new VRA Midget Series vs. USAC series is the new right rear tire that will be enforced. It is an extremely hard compound tire. This is to help give more of an even playing field for guys like us who are forced to run the lower horsepower engines since we have a duel over head cam engine. We are limited to a 2.0 Liter 122 cubic inch engine. The BCRA series permits up to a 2.5 liter so we may be putting more of a focus on that series with our larger engine.
The next thing in the works is a 360 sprint car. The plan is to run one of Cory Krusemans sprint cars at least a couple times next year as we transition the Schankerman families #88 Focus Midget into a 360 Sprint Car program. Im looking forward to seeing the Schankerman family back at the races and look forward to driving for them much more again.
Another really cool plan that is in the works is a pavement midget opportunity I have back in Indy. Thanks to Steve Lewis, he is helping me put together an opportunity to run two or three pavement races back in Indianapolis. I have some money that will need to be raised but I am excited and confident that I will be booking some trips to Indy in 2011.
Thats about all the insight I can give for now, but I'm extremely excited for next season and cannot wait to get it under way.
I've got to thank all of my fantastic sponsors; Goodwine Glass, Orange County Tank Testing, Lucas Oil, K&N Filters, Crower Performance, HPD Honda Racing, Oakley, One Day Signs, EgoTactics.net, Zanzabuku Sports Lounge, New York Upper Crust Pizza, and Socal Performance. Without all these great people and companies behind me there is no way we could do this. I am very fortunate to have their support.
Click on the Link is see complete 2011 USAC Western States results: http://www.usacracing.com/midget_index/western_m
Stay tuned for next year, and have a Merry Christmas!
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