James Swan Looks to Add ASA Midwest Truck Tour to His Resume’

By Kari Shear-Carlson
June 17, 2012 - James Swan is no stranger to victory lane. In fact, he is a five-time Mid-American Stock Car Series Champion, the 2009 Big 8 Series Rookie of the Year, 2005 Slinger Speedway Sportsman Champion, 2003 Madison International Speedway Sportsman Champion, and the 2002 Lake Geneva Raceway Sportsman Champion. So what else would a guy like Swan want to add to his resume’?

The ASA Midwest SCAG Truck Tour of course. Swan started racing full time in 1991 and has accumulated approximately 37 wins over the course of his career. He is off to a good start with the Truck Tour so far in 2012. Swan finished second in his first ever Truck event at Madison International Speedway, and took the top qualifying spot at the Milwaukee mile.

Swan’s interest in stock car racing began when he was a kid and his dad worked on a pit crew at the former Lake Geneva Raceway. He would go to watch every single weekend, even riding his bike many weekends just to be there. He was told he could not race until he turned 18, so guess what he did when he turned 18? Swan turned his street car into a street stock and never looked back.

Swan’s first championship came in 2001 when he won the Mid-American Stock Car Series Championship three years into his Mid-Am career. He joked that it took him nine years to win his first feature and 20 years to win his first Rookie of the Year title when he won it in 2009 with the Big 8 Series.

One of Swan’s biggest victories came at the Milwaukee Mile in 2001 when he won during Governer’s Cup weekend. Swan’s dad had come up from down south just to spot for him, so when the two of them went to victory lane it was pretty rewarding.

So what was it that attracted Swan to the ASA Midwest Truck Tour? Rob Luedtke, father of ASAMT Rookie, Austin Luedtke, called Swan over the winter and told him they had a truck that they would not be racing this year, so he was welcome to it. “He just said, ‘bring it back when you’re done,’” said Swan.

So that is where it all began. Swan’s first impression of the Truck Tour is nothing short of impressed. “The first thing I noticed about the group of drivers is that everyone gets along really well. We race ‘with’ each other,” Swan said.

Swan adjusted to driving the truck pretty quickly and has adapted quite well. “So far the trucks are easier to drive than the Mid-Am car. We have only had to make a few adjustments here and there. Jason Schuler [crew chief] has been a huge help,” added Swan.

With his past successes and early success in the ASA Midwest SCAG Truck Tour, Swan is definitely one to keep an eye on. Chances are it will not take him another nine years to get a victory in a Truck.

The next event for the ASAMTT is on Friday, June 29th at Madison International Speedway. For complete details log on to http://trucks.asamidwesttour.com/.

Be sure to follow the ASA Midwest Tour on Facebook (asamidwesttour) and Twitter (@asamidwesttour).

To learn more about the ASA Midwest Tour presented by SCAG Power Equipment and Lester Buildings, log on to asamidwesttour.com. For questions call the ASA Midwest Tour office at (630) 212-6022 or Tim Olson at (612) 327-5831 or e-mail Tim Olson at tim@asamidwesttour.com or Steve Einhaus at steve@asamidwesttour.com.

To learn more about the Daytona Beach, Florida-based Racing Speed Associates or the American Speed Association® Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association®, visit www.asaracing.com.