GERMANTOWN, Tenn. – Sammy Swindell has a 48-year winning streak on the line.
Swindell has captured at least one victory during every year he’s competed. However, between misfortune, wet weather and a lack of consistent races, this year has been a roller coaster ride and he’s still looking for a trip to victory lane to extend the streak.
A trio of big-time races stand out as possibilities to do just that, starting with the 46th annual Fall Nationals at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, Oct. 18-19 with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.
Two weeks later the ASCS National Tour invades Texas Motor Speedway in for the Tony Stewart presents the Vankor Texas Sprint Car Nationals doubleheader, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
The Can-Am World Finals hosted by The Dirt Track at Charlotte, set for Nov. 7-9 and featuring the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, is the final stout event circled on the calendar.
“We’ve done well at all three tracks throughout my career,” he said. “We’ve earned a lot of wins at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, nearly won at Texas Motor Speedway last year and have been to victory lane at Charlotte. I think with the right circumstances we can win at any of those events this year.”
Swindell has been strong at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, where he’s won in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He has captured a trio of ASCS National Tour wins at the half-mile oval, including two in 1995 and most recently in 2010.
Swindell has also earned a dozen World of Outlaws triumphs at Devil’s Bowl as well.
Heading across the state, Swindell hustled from 10th to third before he capped the Vankor Texas Sprint Car Nationals at Texas Motor Speedway with a runner-up result last year.
Swindell won the inaugural World of Outlaws race at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in May 2000 and he also visited victory lane there in 2012.
The only race currently solidified on Swindell’s schedule is a pavement winged midget race with Bertrand Motorsports on Oct. 5 at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H., with the NorthEastern Midget Ass’n.
Swindell earned a fifth-place finish during his debut at the track on Aug. 16, which was also his most recent race.
“We’re looking forward to getting back there (to Lee),” Swindell said. “We had a good run to move forward in the heat and the feature last month. Since we’re returning to a track we’ve been to the handicap system shouldn’t bury us as deep in the field so that will give us a better shot at starting near the front than we’ve ever had.”