Sammy Swindell
Des Moines, Iowa (July 27, 1977) - Mild-mannered Sammy Swindell of Memphis, Tenn., looks like he should be out chasing fly balls in Little League baseball. The 5-foot 8-inch, 135-pounder would have trouble making his high school football team because of his size. He doesn't look like he's old enough to shave yet.
But it's easy to see why this 21-year-old has been nicknamed "Superman" when he drives a sprint car.Swindell, who started in the fourth row, came charging out of the pack to win the 25-lap feature in the Elder- Forester Invitational at the State Fairgrounds Wednesday night, beating some of the best drivers in the business.
Swindell was the third leader in the race. Butch Bahr of Grand Island, Neb., led the first four laps then gave way to Doug Wolfgang of Des Moines. Wolfgang, who had won the feature here in the June 29 Midwest Futurity, led into lap 10 when Swindell took over and quickly moved away from the field.
Wolfgang had motor problems but ran second to Swindell until the twenty- fourth lap when he crashed into the wall in turn one.
"Either a tie rod or the right front radius rod broke on the car," said Wolfgang. "I was trying to turn the car, but it ran right into the wall. I dinged it up pretty good."
Wolfgang said this was the first time all year that his engine wasn't working right. "I really can't complain about that," he added. "It didn't have any power."
Swindell opened some eyes when he charged out of the third row to take the lead in the first turn during the third heat race, which he also won. lowans haven't seen the last of "Superman." "I'm going to stay around here and race until after the Knoxville Nationals," he said.
Ron Shuman of Tempe, Ariz., was second in the feature, Leland McSpadden of Phoenix, Ariz., finished third and Jimmy Boyd of Dixon, Calif., was fourth. Jimmy Sills of Sacramento, Calif., rounded out the top five.
Results –
Time trials – Rick Ferkel, Findlay, Ohio (22.16)
Trophy dash – Doug Wolfgang, Des Moines
Heat #1 – Jimmy Sills, Sacramento, Calif.
Heat #2 – Don Vogler, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
Heat #3 – Sammy Swindell, West Memphis, Tenn.
Heat #4 – Roger Rager, Mound, Minn.
B-main – Jim Riggins, Lincoln, Neb.
Feature –
1. Sammy Swindell
2. Ron Shuman, Tempe, Ariz.
3. Leland McSpadden, Phoenix, Ariz.
4. Jimmy Boyd, Dixon, Calif.
5. Bobby Marshall, Dallas, Tex.
6. Jimmy Sills
7. Rick Ferkel
8. Mike Shaw, Northridge, Calif.
9. Butch Bahr, Lincoln, Neb.
10.Ralph Parkinson Jr., Kansas City
11.Lloyd Beckman, Lincoln, Neb.
12.Jerry Blundy, Dahinda, Ill.
13.Doug Wolfgang
14.Mike Thomas, Des Moines
15.Mike Pinckney, Des Moines
16.Jan Opperman, Noxon, Mont.
17.John Stevenson, St. Paul, Minn.
18.Lenard McCarl, Des Moines
19.Randy Smith, Mt. Ayr, Iowa
20.Jim Riggins
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