He did it for the first time. He did it at his home track. He did it in maybe the most dramatic fashion possible.
Jake Swanson is a USAC National Sprint Car tour winner and he had a lot to say.
“I’m speechless,” Swanson said on FloRacing during his victory lane celebration. “My race team is absolutely incredible. It sounds cliche, but these guys are the best. I’m so glad to finally get this done for them. To do it at our home track – how sweet is that, you know?”
Swanson was able to win a drag race off of the last corner and clip Kevin Thomas Jr. at the last possible moment to take home the checkered flag.
The finish was one to see.
The finish to tonight's USAC Non-Wing Sprint Car race, where Jake Swanson took the checkered flag by inches over Kevin Thomas Jr.
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— Always Race Day (@AlwaysRaceDay) November 5, 2021
In victory lane, he dedicated the victory to his late grandfather.
“This win is dedicated to my grandpa,” Swanson said on FloRacing. “He passed away. I couldn’t even go to his funeral because we were out racing. I know that was where he wanted me to be. I just want to dedicate this win to him.”
Swanson, who sits solidly in seventh in the USAC Sprint Car points standings, will take the time to soak this in. Thomas Jr. will take the smallest chunk possible out of Brady Bacon‘s points lead and move on to night 2.
If it holds anything like Thursday did, it will be something to see.
“I think we proved a point – all year, but especially tonight – that the national tour is where we belong,” Swanson said.
Night 2 kicks off with hot laps at 7:30 p.m. CT at Perris and can be viewed live on FloRacing.com.
USAC Non-Wing Sprint Car Results
Night 1 Perris Auto Speedway
1. Jake Swanson
2. Kevin Thomas Jr.
3. Brady Bacon
4. CJ Leary
5. Justin Grant
6. Tanner Thorson
7. Austin Williams
8. Chris Windom
9. RJ Johnson
10. Max Adams
11. Carson Short
12. Shane Cottle
13. Brody Roa
14. Damion Gardner
15. Charles Davis Jr.
16. AJ Bender
17. Logan Williams
18. Chris Gansen
19. Matt Mitchell
20. Logan Seavey
21. Matt McCarthy
22. Eddie Tafoya Jr.
23. Verne Sweeney
24. Cody Williams
25. Austin Grabowski
