The next three races were on the dirt and everyone at Rice Motorsports knew this is where they needed to make a move. Swanson had not won on the dirt since 2018, but at Springfield he fired started 23rd and powered around Seavey to win a rain-shortened affair.
Seavey was in position to win at Du Quoin, but left frustrated after chasing veteran Brian Tyler to the finish line. The good news was that Swanson had an off day and held only a 16-point advantage.
The task ahead was clear. The 4-Crown Nationals was an opportunity to make a run at the title. Swanson had not enjoyed the best of luck at Eldora and Seavey had been tough on the dirt all year long. Both men did what they had to do.
When the checkered flag waved, Seavey had secured his second victory, but Swanson had finished fifth. Heading into the season finale, Swanson led Seavey by a single point. Everyone knew the score. Not only was Swanson a pavement master but he nearly held the deed on this oval.
To no one‘s surprise, Swanson won the race and claimed the championship.
Reflecting on the year, Rice said, “We wanted Kody to know we were there and we did that. We finished every race and that was our goal. You have to go to a track and get laps to see what your car does from the start to the end of the race. That‘s how you build a set up book for the car. If you can‘t do that you can never get ahead.
Without Logan taking care of the car like he has we wouldn‘t be where we are. We can‘t afford crashed cars. The fact that he was bringing the car home every single night was awesome.”
Seavey acknowledged racing is fun when things are going well, but he has also developed a soft spot for the Silver Crown Series. He thinks about what Rice has accomplished and remarks, “He just has a little shop on his property. We don‘t have anything fancy or crazy, but we have a fast race car and we have what we need to win, and we go do it.
“That‘s kind of what the Silver Crown Series is all about. There really aren‘t a bunch of big teams. Mostly it is families just going racing and it doesn‘t seem like anyone spends a ton of money to do it. You just go out and practice for a few laps and then race,” Seavey said. “I love the simplicity of it. It feels more like grassroots racing. It is the perfect blend of sprint car racing and long-distance endurance or stock car racing. In the end we know we must have tires and enough fuel to get there.
“Guys with patience know how to win these races. Brian Tyler showed up and won and Kody still wins. I just love the strategy of it and there are so many variables to consider. You are always thinking about what is going on and talking strategy with your spotter.”
No one walked away from Toledo disappointed, but all parties agree that this was a year to build on. Rice knows that his late father Larry, a two-time Silver Crown champion would be proud. Rice Motorsports was the Silver Crown entrant champion. As he stood in the infield at Toledo with his team, his brother and his mother, he couldn‘t help wishing his father was there.
His mind quickly turned to what they needed to do to get better. Engines needed refreshing, parts need to be replaced and sponsors need to be secured. One clear order of business was to do the work to improve the team‘s performance on pavement.
Seavey believes he still has a lot to learn, too. “I think I lost two races because I went too slow early and got passed. Good guys in this series are hard to pass,” he said. “So later in the year I began pushing my car harder earlier in the race but even at Du Quoin I finished the race with too much tire. When Brian Tyler went by me at Du Quoin, I thought there was no way he was going to win the race because I was sure he was going to blow a tire. Clearly, I was wrong. The pace of the race, particularly early, is what I am learning.”
Gardner has been around racing his entire life and is a five-time USAC Western midget champion. He not only served as a crew chief but spent much of the year as Seavey‘s spotter. He‘s convinced Seavey and the team will be even stronger next season. Seavey and Gardner previously worked together with Keith Kunz Motorsports.
“When I was at KKM he was a hired driver,” Gardner said. “But he was in the shop every week washing panels and doing whatever he thought needed to be done. He didn‘t have to be there for one minute, but he was. It was good for team morale. It shows you are committed and that you want this to work.”
Seavey isn‘t concerned about what could have been. Staying grounded, he and his girlfriend, Kinley, have purchased a home in the Indianapolis area and he is focused on getting better at those things he can control.
When the NASCAR dream was momentarily put on the shelf it would have been easy to sulk and go into a tailspin. That‘s not the path he took. He‘s far too gritty to do that. Right now, the question looms, can he win all three USAC National titles?
Based on the way he finished the season with victories in a sprint car during the Western World Championship at Arizona Speedway and aboard a midget in the 80th running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura (Calif.) Raceway, it seems Seavey is in the game to stay.