Cody Swanson Grabs 3rd at the VRA Midget Show in Ventura, California

5 Jun 2012

Cody throwing it sideways in a heat race in Hanford, California. Photo by Patrick Grant.

The month of May was a busy one for California midget racer Cody Swanson. The up-and-coming open wheel racer made four starts, all on dirt, and although he hasn't found victory lane yet, he's knocking on the door.

"One of the biggest moments of the month wasn't a race," Swanson explained. "After the first VRA (Ventura Racing Association) midget race, I went to Cory Kruseman's school. I was able to test one of his Sprint Cars and it was a big learning experience. He taught me a lot that day, and it greatly improved my driving in the midget."

Swanson in a heat race with Pricket in Hanford, California. Photo by Patrick Grant.

Swanson's best finish of the month came at Ventura Raceway in the local VRA Midget show, where he grabbed a podium, finishing third. Swanson then embarked on a pair of USAC Western States Midget events, first in Santa Maria, then in Hanford, California. Swanson finished fifth and sixth, respectively, before returning to Ventura, where a flat tire derailed a strong run.

Cody Swanson qualifying in Hanford, California. Photo by Patrick Grant.

"We built a new car in 2011, and last year was a big learning year," Swanson said. "The car was much different then my old one. We made some slight, but significant changes to the car this past offseason, and those changes mixed with my added experience have made us very fast everywhere we've been so far."

Swanson and his team have gained enough confidence through the first three months of the season that they feel like their first win is just a matter of when, not if. "We have proven race after race this year that we have the speed needed to win," Swanson said. "We just need to hone in on whatever the circumstances at the track are that day, and take advantage of every opportunity we get to improve, from hot laps to the main event. Each time out on the track is another opportunity to learn from some of the more experienced guys."

Swanson was quick to praise K&N Filters for helping the team be so competitive right out of the box this season. "Every filter on our car, from the air to oil and even the breather filters are K&N and they perform great. They are the greatest filters manufactured and keep everything in our engine clean, helping us squeeze every ounce of horsepower out of the engine that we need, all while stretching out the life of our motor."

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

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