Sammy Swindell

Last updated
Sammy Swindell
SammySwindell0.jpg
Swindell in the 1980s
Born (1955-10-26) October 26, 1955 (age 68)
Bartlett, Tennessee, U.S.
Achievements1981, 1982, 1997 World of Outlaws Champion
1981 Ascot Pacific Coast Nationals Winner
1982, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1991 Super DIRT Week Sprint Nationals Winner
1983 Knoxville Nationals Winner
1989, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2009 Chili Bowl Nationals Winner
1992, 1999, 2012 Kings Royal Winner
2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 Vacuworx Invitational Race of Champions Winner
2016 Knoxville 360 Nationals Winner
NASCAR Cup Series career
2 races run over 2 years
Best finish85th (1985)
First race 1985 Atlanta Journal 500 (Atlanta)
Last race 1991 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
WinsTop tens Poles
000
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
10 races run over 4 years
Best finish55th (1993)
First race 1984 Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Last race 1993 Kroger 200 (IRP)
WinsTop tens Poles
000
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
20 races run over 1 year
Best finish12th (1995)
First race 1995 Skoal Bandit Copper World Classic (Phoenix)
Last race 1995 GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 200 (Phoenix)
WinsTop tens Poles
050
Champ Car career
3 races run over 2 years
Years active1985–1986
Team(s)Patrick Racing
A.J. Foyt Racing
Best finish29th (1985)
First race 1985 Michigan 500 (Michigan)
Last race 1986 Domino's Pizza 500 (Pocono)
WinsPodiums Poles
000

Samuel Alan "Slammin Sammy" Swindell (born October 26, 1955) is an American sprint car driver. He is a three-time champion and four-time runner-up in the World of Outlaws series; he has also competed in NASCAR and Champ Car competition and attempted to qualify for the 1987 Indianapolis 500.

Contents

Career

Swindell racing in the World of Outlaws SammySwindellSprintCar1Kodiak.jpg
Swindell racing in the World of Outlaws
Swindell taking the checkered flag at the Syracuse Mile in 1984 SammySwindell1984SyracuseDirtNationals.jpg
Swindell taking the checkered flag at the Syracuse Mile in 1984

Swindell is a three-time World of Outlaws champion. He won his first two titles in 1981 and 1982 driving the famous Nance Speed Equipment #1n house car. He won his third title in 1997 driving his own Channel Lock sponsored No. 1 team car. Sammy has 394 World of Outlaws A-main victories to his credit. He also competed in the CART series in 1985 and 1986 and failed to qualify for the 1987 Indianapolis 500 in a March-Pontiac. Swindell took off the wings in 1981, to win the prestigious Pacific Coast Nationals at Ascot.

Swindell made his debut in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in the 1985 Atlanta Journal 500; in 1991, he planned to move full-time to the Winston Cup Series, competing for Rookie of the Year for Moroso Racing, [1] but he was fired by the team following several spins during Speedweeks and crashing again in qualifying for the second race of the year at Richmond International Raceway. [2] Following his release he returned to sprint car racing. [3]

Swindell ran a limited schedule in the NASCAR Busch Series in 1993; [4] the team closed mid-season, [5] and he returned to sprint car racing once more. [6] Swindell also competed in a full season of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 1995, [7] driving for Akins-Sutton Motorsports; [8] he finished 12th in points, scoring five top-ten finishes in the series' inaugural season.

2007 was his 35th consecutive year as a race car driver, racing beside his 18-year-old son Kevin. He's a five-time winner of the prestigious Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, the only driver to win it more than three times, until his son Kevin won his fourth straight race in 2013.[ citation needed ] During the 2008 season he raced in northern California winning a main event in the California Civil War Series in Placerville and also at the famed Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California. Swindell is considered one of the best driver/setup men in the business. He is known for experimenting with innovative technology.

His father Sam, was a successful driver and his brother Jeff, is still an active and successful sprint car driver.

Sammy's 2013 car in the pits at the Beaver Dam Raceway. Sammy Swindell 2013.JPG
Sammy's 2013 car in the pits at the Beaver Dam Raceway.

On August 25, 2014, Swindell announced he was retiring from racing, though he intends to race in the Chili Bowl Nationals. [9]

In 2015 Swindell made short work of retirement and signed with Chad and Jenn Clemens owners of CJB Motorsports out of Telford, PA. Sammy ran a partial schedule and will do the same in 2016. Sam stated he has no intention of running a full schedule anymore, but picks and chooses the races he wants to run. This benefits the team with testing and keeps him active in the sport he loves. As of September 2020, he has 394 World of Outlaws Sprint Car wins. [10]

Motorsports career results

World of Outlaws

Indy Car World Series

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

YearTeam1234567891011121314151617RankPointsRef
1985 Patrick Racing LBH
INDY
MIL
POR
MEA
CLE
MCH
23		 ROA
POC
25		 MDO
SAN
MCH
LAG
PHX
MIA
53rd0 [11]
1986 A. J. Foyt Racing PHX LBH INDY MIL POR MEA CLE TOR MIC POC
9		 MDO SAN MIC ROA LAG PHX MIA 29th4 [12]
1987 Machinists Union Racing LBH PHX INDY
DNQ		 MIL POR MEA CLE TOR MIC POC ROA MDO NAZ LAG MIA NC- [13]

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829NWCCPtsRef
1985 Blue Max Racing 72 Pontiac DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL
30		 RSD 100th73 [14]
1991 Moroso Racing 20 Olds DAY
41		 RCH
Wth†		 CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 90th40 [15]
† - Fired after first round qualifying and replaced by Bobby Hillin Jr.
Daytona 500
YearTeamManufacturerStartFinish
1991 Moroso Racing Oldsmobile 3241

Busch Series

NASCAR Busch Series results
YearTeamNo.Make12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031NBGNCPtsRef
1984 Blue Max Racing 27 Pontiac DAY
12		 RCH CAR HCY MAR DAR ROU NSV LGY MLW DOV 69th200 [16]
Olds CLT
30		 SBO HCY ROU SBO ROU HCY IRP LGY SBO BRI DAR RCH NWS CLT HCY CAR MAR
1985 Pontiac DAY
20		 CAR HCY BRI MAR DAR SBO LGY DOV CLT
32		 SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO LGY HCY MLW BRI DAR RCH NWS ROU 61st216 [17]
77 CLT
39		 HCY CAR MAR
1986 Barcomb Racing 51 Pontiac DAY
17		 CAR HCY MAR BRI DAR SBO LGY JFC DOV CLT SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO RAL OXF SBO HCY LGY ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR ROU CLT CAR MAR 91st112 [18]
1993 TMC Racing Team 26 Ford DAY CAR RCH DAR
21		 BRI HCY ROU MAR NZH CLT DOV
19		 MYB GLN MLW
20		 TAL IRP
34		 MCH NHA BRI DAR RCH DOV ROU CLT MAR CAR HCY ATL 56th370 [19]

SuperTruck Series

NASCAR SuperTruck Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920NSTSCPtsRef
1995 Akins-Sutton Motorsports 38 Ford PHO
17		 TUS
7		 SGS
24		 MMR
10		 POR
13		 EVG
17		 I70
24		 LVL
13		 BRI
4*		 MLW
12		 CNS
26		 HPT
21		 IRP
33		 FLM
10		 RCH
17		 MAR
36		 NWS
24		 SON
10		 MMR
32		 PHO
39		12th2109 [20]

Trans-Am Championship

SCCA Trans Am Championship results
YearTeamNo.Make123456789101112PosPts
1987 Rocketsports 81 Oldsmobile Toronado LBX SON PIR DET MDO BIR LRP ROA MEM
6		 MSP RAT SPG 31st10

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References

  1. ↑ Pyke, David (November 1, 1990). "Swindell's career path to be paved next year". The Dallas Morning News . Dallas, TX. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
  2. ↑ Mackena, Joe (February 24, 1991). "Moroso fires Swindell, hires Hillin". Spartanburg Herald-Journal . Spartanburg, SC. p. D6. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
  3. ↑ Pyke, David (March 24, 1991). "Swindell returns to sprint cars with sweep at Springnationals". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
  4. ↑ McKee, Sandra (June 5, 1993). "Sprint's Swindell has grand plans for switch to Grand National". The Baltimore Sun . Baltimore, MD. p. 13C. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  5. ↑ Beattie, Leal (August 12, 1993). "Swindell plans sprint return for The Historical Big One". Dayton Daily News . Dayton, OH. p. 3D. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  6. ↑ Kallmann, Dave (June 11, 1994). "Swindell back on feet with Outlaws". The Milwaukee Sentinel . Milwaukee, WI. p. 2B. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  7. ↑ "Pickups enjoying super debut season". The Charlotte Observer . Charlotte, NC. September 10, 1995. p. 7H. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  8. ↑ Pearce, Al (November 22, 1994). "Auto Racing: Awards Given Out At Langley Banquet". Daily Press . Newport News, VA. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  9. ↑ "Sammy Swindell Retiring From Full-Time Racing Effective Immediately". Inside Line Promotions. August 25, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Governor's Reign". Eldora Speedway. September 22, 2020. Event occurs at 20:10. FloRacing.
  11. ↑ "Sammy Swindell – 1985 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Sammy Swindell – 1986 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Sammy Swindell – 1987 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Sammy Swindell – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Sammy Swindell – 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Sammy Swindell – 1984 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Sammy Swindell – 1985 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Sammy Swindell – 1986 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Sammy Swindell – 1993 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Sammy Swindell – 1995 NASCAR SuperTruck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
Sporting positions
Preceded by World of Outlaws Champion
1981, 1982		Succeeded by
Preceded by World of Outlaws Champion
1997		Succeeded by
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