BROWNSBURG, Ind. – Kody Swanson will team up with car owner Jerome Rodela to compete in four USAC Midget Special Events at Lucas Oil Raceway on May 28, June 17, July 3 and Aug. 14.
All the midget races at the .686-mile paved oval are non-points events toward the national championship, and the Swanson/Rodela combo intends to compete for victories at a track where Swanson has won on eight previous occasions with USAC (five Silver Crown, two sprint and one midget).
Swanson’s lone previous appearance in Rodela’s midget came on the dirt at California’s Ventura Raceway during a 2011 USAC Western States Midget event, finishing 10th. The two have competed against each other on track numerous times on the west coast with Rodela owning a pair of driving championships in his own right with the series in 2005 and 2006.
Now the pairing of Swanson and Rodela plans that their formation as a team turns out the same winning pedigree that they are accustomed to.
“I’ve known Jerome for a long time,” Swanson said. “We raced together on the west coast when I was still out there. We keep in touch a little bit, and I check in with him when he’s in town. Along came a great opportunity to race together again and I’m looking forward to doing it at Lucas Oil Raceway.”
Rodela also serves as the crew chief on the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget trail for driver Logan Seavey in the Tom Malloy No. 25. Rodela is no stranger to the pavement and has a passion for it that runs deep.
“I’m pretty excited,” Rodela said. “I know I have a nice piece, and I think he’ll do well in it and showcase it pretty well. I’ve put a lot of effort into this program, and I know that Kody has a real passion for these cars, and he’ll put forth the same effort. That’s why I think it’ll be good.”
Now a regular on the IMSA Prototype Challenge circuit, Courtney Crone was the driver for Rodela during the most recent Lucas Oil Raceway midget event, the 2020 Night Before the 500, finishing sixth. However, it was the Crone’s qualifying run that presented Rodela with one of his most treasured moments in racing when, during a unique qualifying session, Rodela withdrew the team’s time in order for Crone to re-qualify. Faster she went, up to third, amid a raucous response from the sizable crowd.
“I kid you not, that moment was probably one of the most memorable moments in my 20 years of racing midgets,” Rodela acknowledged. “That was so special to me for what we accomplished there. It literally brought tears to my eyes when we went out and did that. The crowd cheered as I’m running back to our pit spot. Other teams were clapping and cheering. Man, that was a magical moment for sure.”
The expansion from one race to four for pavement midgets at LOR comes on the heels of the positive response of the midget event there one year ago. Both Swanson and Rodela highly appreciate the effort and the commitment that has been put into place to make these events happen again.
“It’s definitely exciting for me,” Swanson explained. “I came to the Midwest as a pavement guy specifically to run midgets at Lucas Oil Raceway. After racing shifted with pavement sprint and midget racing going away in some capacity, it’s great to have them back, and great for someone like me who has always enjoyed the pavement, to get the chance to race them again. I’m thankful for the effort Kasey Coler and Lucas Oil Raceway have done to get pavement midgets get back going. I’m looking forward to having some fun.”
Rodela shared the same sentiments.
“It’s cool that Kasey is going full bore into this,” Rodela said. “I’ve held on to this car for a long time hoping and praying it came back. I think people are itching for pavement racing again, and I feel Kasey brought it back right at the right time. It got a big response from the teams, and I think this year will even be more successful.”