Swindell having fun again in touring USCS series

If it is, in fact, the new era of dirt-track sprint car racing, then Jeff Swindell appears eager to help usher it in.

Swindell is among the 30 to 40 sprint racers expected to compete in USCS-sanctioned sprint programs Friday at Malden (Mo.) Speedway and Saturday at Auto Tire and Parts Racepark near Benton. But it's not just any sprint series -- it's a more affordable touring group that, with its motor and car rules, saves its competitors thousands of dollars each year compared to more unlimited sprint tours, racers and organizers say.

And that suits Swindell just fine.

"Until they get the cost down on the 410-cubic-inch sprints, they'll continue to fall by the wayside," Swindell said. "The truth is, these 360 sprints put on better shows and they're more competitive just because of the rules in place. If you didn't tell somebody whether a sprint had a 360 or 410 motor in it, most people wouldn't know by watching it on the track."

Swindell, 41 of Memphis, Tenn., has seen the issue from both sides. He spent years touring with the World of Outlaws series, a group that races from coast to coast and features sprints with 410-cubic-inch engines. But Swindell said he got tired of the travel and dropped off the tour three years ago. This year, when Donn Goodson of Tampa, Fla., offered Swindell the driver's seat in his car with the intentions of following the Atlanta-based USCS, which limits engines to a 360 cubic inches, Swindell accepted.

"Now I can really say that I race mostly for fun," Swindell said. "In my situation with Donn, his guys take care of the car all week and I can spend time with the family. I take off Friday and Saturday and come home Sunday. That's a lot different than being on the road for one-third of the year chasing points. That gets old."

Swindell, who has won six times this season on the USCS trail, is among several Memphis-area racers who have found the series to their liking this season. Many of them are expected for the first 360-cubic-inch sprint event this season at both the Malden and ATPR facilities.

Terry Gray of Bartlett, Tenn., leads the series standings and has a series-best 10 wins. He's 60 points ahead of Marshall Skinner, a West Memphis, Ark., racer who won the 2000 USCS event at Malden.

Mike Ward, Eddie Gallagher and brothers Paul and Jason Sides -- all familiar to the ATPR track -- are expected for the Missouri events.

A familiar racer who will appear at Malden without a race car is Hooker Hood, a National Sprint Car Hall of Fame member from Memphis who made his mark on Southeast Missouri oval tracks -- including the Cape Girardeau Arena Park track -- with more than 600 wins through the 1950s, '60s and '70s. He will be the honorary starter for the Malden event and will sign autographs from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Around the tracks

ATPR: The points race came to an end Saturday, although none of the points champions were among Saturday's winners. Point titles this season went to Robbie Standridge of Springfield, Ill., (sprints), Chris Hall of Sikeston (modifieds), Jeff Beeson of Benton (pure stocks) and Rodney Hurst and Ebert Bowen of Millersville (cruisers). The track hosts the Motorsports Fall Classic next weekend, starting with a $5,000-to-win sprint event Friday. Brothers Rusty, Mike and Kenny Wallace will sign autographs that night.

Bargerton: Modified racers will compete for $2,000 to win Friday at Bargerton (Tenn.) Speedway. The event pays $50 to start, $200 to win the dash. Info: Jerry Lemmings, (713) 968-9115.

Clay Hill:Terry English of Benton, Ky., won a special event for UMP-sanctioned late models last week at Clay Hill Motorsports near Atwood,Tenn.

Fredericktown: The season at Fredericktown (Mo.) Raceway ended Friday with points titles going to Mike Hammerle (late models), Brad Mashek (pro stocks) and Theran Pearl (pure stocks). Friday's event winners were Chad Zobrist in late models, Mashek in pro stocks and Pearl in pure stocks.

I-55: The Pepsi Fall Nationals at I-55 Raceway near Pevely, Mo., were rained out last Saturday and postponed to Sept. 28.

Malden: Billy James of Sikeston led every lap and dominated the 17-car late model feature race Friday at Malden Speedway and finished a straightaway ahead of the field. Other winners were Mike Cooper of McKenzie, Tenn., in modifieds; Doug Moore of Dexter in hobby stocks; and Eric Lacey of Poplar Bluff in pure stocks.

The track has added the Cotton Boll Cup to its schedule for Oct. 10-11 with late models ($5,000 to win) and modifieds ($2,500) among the top classes. Other divisions also will race for added money.

Paducah: Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., won $5,000 in Paducah (Ky.) Raceway's Wayne Coakley Memorial race for late models Friday.