Sammy Swindell

Sammy Swindell

Swindell in the 1980s
Born (1955-10-26) October 26, 1955
Bartlett, Tennessee, U.S.
Achievements 1981, 1982, 1997 World of Outlaws Champion
1983 Knoxville Nationals Winner
1989, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2009 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Winner
1992, 1999, 2012 Eldora Kings Royal Winner
1981 Ascot Pacific Coast Nationals Winner
2016 Knoxville 360 Nationals Winner
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career
2 races run over 2 years
Best finish 85th (1985)
First race 1985 Atlanta Journal 500 (Atlanta)
Last race 1991 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
10 races run over 4 years
Best finish 55th (1993)
First race 1984 Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Last race 1993 Kroger 200 (IRP)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career
20 races run over 1 year
Best finish 12th (1995)
First race 1995 Skoal Bandit Copper World Classic (Phoenix)
Last race 1995 GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 200 (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 5 0
Champ Car career
3 races run over 2 years
Years active 1985–1986
Team(s) Patrick Racing
A.J. Foyt Racing
Best finish 29th (1985)
First race 1985 Michigan 500 (Michigan)
Last race 1986 Domino's Pizza 500 (Pocono)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 0 0

Samuel Alan "Slammin Sammy" Swindell (born October 26, 1955 in Bartlett, Tennessee) 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.

Career

Swindell racing in the World of Outlaws

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 294 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 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. 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.

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 partional 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.

Motorsports career results

World of Outlaws

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

Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1991 Moroso Racing Oldsmobile 32 41

Busch Series

SuperTruck Series

Trans-Am Championship

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.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Steve Kinser		 World of Outlaws Champion
1981, 1982 		Succeeded by
Steve Kinser
Preceded by
Mark Kinser		 World of Outlaws Champion
1997 		Succeeded by
Steve Kinser
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