SILVER CROWN OWNER MARK SWANSON PASSES
Speedway, Indiana (March 18, 2019)………Mark Swanson, who owned the top-flight USAC Silver Crown car mainly driven by Jeff Swindell over the past four seasons, passed away earlier this month, March 3. He was 61 years old.
The car owner from West Des Moines, Iowa made his initial start with Swindell in 2016, competing solely in the dirt events on the schedule. The team finished a career-high 21st in the Silver Crown standings during the 2016 season highlighted by a season-high second-place finish in the “Ted Horn 100” at the Du Quoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds after leading 34 laps.
The following season, in 2017, Swindell made a heroic charge in Swanson’s blue No. 21, driving from 28th to 2nd in the “Bettenhausen 100” at the Illinois State Fairgrounds before, ultimately, finishing 3rd at the line. Just a mere two weeks later, Swindell took Swanson's car to the front, leading a race-high 68 laps before finishing 3rd at Du Quoin.
Swanson made his Silver Crown debut as a car owner in 2015, utilizing four different drivers during the season, including Kent Wolters, Randy Hannagan, Charles Davis, Jr. and Dallas Hewitt. Hewitt also piloted Swanson's sprint car during the "4-Crown Nationals" at Eldora Speedway that year.
Swanson was born in Omaha, Nebraska. As a driver, he was Knoxville Raceway's 1991 Rookie of the Year in the 360 Sprint Car division.
USAC extends its deepest condolences to Swanson’s family and friends.