The United States Auto Club (USAC) has assigned one of its greatest competitors to direct the series where he’s been most successful: Kody Swanson has been named USAC’s Silver Crown Series Director for the 2026 season and, hopefully, many years beyond that.
Swanson, 37, has secured eight USAC Silver Crown Series championships, starting in 2014 and continuing through the 2024 campaign; he has a total of 49 victories in the series to go with 59 pole positions, along with three Little 500 pavement wins. Swanson is one of only two drivers to win in Midget, Sprint Car and Silver Crown competition at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in the same year (2021); Mike Bliss was the first to earn this accomplishment (1993-94). As USAC Silver Crown Series Director, he’ll be coordinating with race teams, track promoters and on short-term scheduling, with long-term scheduling in mind.
“Over time, this is something I’ve wanted to help with, specifically the USAC Silver Crown Series, and USAC in general,” Swanson said of his new assignment. “This is the series I love.” As series director, Swanson will step back from competition in the USAC Silver Crown Series.
His love of Silver Crown competition will help competitors, as he concentrates on “filling the gaps” to strengthen the series. The objective is to benefit everyone involved in Silver Crown competition, from teams and drivers, to the personnel at racetracks and their promoters. He’ll be working to improve conditions for the competitors and for race fans.
Swanson’s directive will be to entice more teams to more racetracks, keep promoters happy to grow the series and keep the Silver Crown series sustainable for the near and distant future. He believes the USAC Silver Crown Series will be even more successful when he’s able to successfully integrate drivers, teams, promoters to work together to enhance the sport. “I think it’s hugely important,” he said.
“I was a race fan first,” Swanson admitted. “I was there to watch my dad (Mike Swanson) race supermodifieds, which was my introduction to the sport. Eventually I got the chance to become a competitor, which is an opportunity I never thought I’d get. That’s what led to my joy of the sport. I’ve enjoyed it from so many roles that have all led to this point, and have taken me to the Silver Crown Series.”
His wide experience in this open wheel class will certainly help Swanson spread the word and his enthusiasm for the sport will help USAC move the series forward. “As a competitor, USAC Silver Crown racing is my absolute favorite; there are so many things I love about the series that make it unique to short track open wheel racing. The ways it connects to the tradition and history of our sport are why I’ve taken it so seriously,” Swanson explained. “I’ve structured so many years of my racing career all around competing in this series specifically. It personally became my favorite.”
Moving out of the cockpit isn’t easy for any racer and, at 37, Kody Swanson isn’t close to being done with his driving career. Still, he’s stepping away from Silver Crown competition to do this job: “It’s important enough to me to put the driving part aside for the series I love,” he stated, “and to be a part of the future and direction of it by helping our competitors get to enjoy it the same way I did.”
Still, Swanson intends to compete in sprint car and midget racing events outside
the USAC banner, but for the champ cars, his focus is on his new capacity. He feels the timing is just right to take on this new task.
“I love the sport and series so much; it’s something I want to be involved in. I feel like, at this point in my career, I’ve been involved in various capacities, whether it was working on cars or helping teams with sponsorships… or even having a family team on the West Coast. I’ve learned a lot about the different areas and I feel like I can be helpful in this role,” he concluded.
The USAC Silver Crown Series Director from 2023-2025, Tommie Estes, is transitioning full-time to promoting Putnamville, Indiana’s Honest Abe Roofing Lincoln Park Speedway.
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