Sammy Swindell

Sammy Swindell
Sammy Swindell
	Swindell in the 1980s
Born	October 26, 1955 (age 69); Bartlett, Tennessee, U.S.
Achievements	1981, 1982, 1997 World of Outlaws Champion; 1981 Ascot Pacific Coast Nationals Winner; 1982, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1991 Super DIRT Week Sprint Nationals Winner; 1983 Knoxville Nationals Winner; 1989, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2009 Chili Bowl Nationals Winner; 1992, 1999, 2012 Kings Royal Winner; 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 Vacuworx Invitational Race of Champions Winner; 2016 Knoxville 360 Nationals Winner
NASCAR Cup Series career
	2 races run over 2 years
Best finish	85th (1985)
First race	1985 Atlanta Journal 500 (Atlanta)
Last race	1991 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
	10 races run over 4 years
Best finish	55th (1993)
First race	1984 Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Last race	1993 Kroger 200 (IRP)
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
	20 races run over 1 year
Best finish	12th (1995)
First race	1995 Skoal Bandit Copper World Classic (Phoenix)
Last race	1995 GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 200 (Phoenix)
Champ Car career
	3 races run over 2 years
Years active	1985–1986
Team(s)	Patrick Racing; A.J. Foyt Racing
Best finish	29th (1985)
First race	1985 Michigan 500 (Michigan)
Last race	1986 Domino's Pizza 500 (Pocono)

Samuel Alan "Slammin Sammy" Swindell (born October 26, 1955) is an American sprint car driver. He is a three-time champion and four-time runner-up in the World of Outlaws series; he has also competed in NASCAR and Champ Car competition and attempted to qualify for the 1987 Indianapolis 500.

Quick Facts Born, Achievements ...

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Thumb — Swindell racing in the World of Outlaws

Swindell is a three-time World of Outlaws champion. He won his first two titles in 1981 and 1982 driving the famous Nance Speed Equipment #1n house car. He won his third title in 1997 driving his own Channel Lock sponsored No. 1 team car. Sammy has 394 World of Outlaws A-main victories to his credit. He also competed in the CART series in 1985 and 1986 and failed to qualify for the 1987 Indianapolis 500 in a March-Pontiac. Swindell took off the wings in 1981, to win the prestigious Pacific Coast Nationals at Ascot.

Swindell made his debut in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in the 1985 Atlanta Journal 500; in 1991, he planned to move full-time to the Winston Cup Series, competing for Rookie of the Year for Moroso Racing,^[1] but he was fired by the team following several spins during Speedweeks and crashing again in qualifying for the second race of the year at Richmond International Raceway.^[2] Following his release he returned to sprint car racing.^[3]

Swindell ran a limited schedule in the NASCAR Busch Series in 1993;^[4] the team closed mid-season,^[5] and he returned to sprint car racing once more.^[6] Swindell also competed in a full season of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 1995,^[7] driving for Akins-Sutton Motorsports;^[8] he finished 12th in points, scoring five top-ten finishes in the series' inaugural season.

2007 was his 35th consecutive year as a race car driver, racing beside his 18-year-old son Kevin. He's a five-time winner of the prestigious Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, the only driver to win it more than three times, until his son Kevin won his fourth straight race in 2013.^{[citation needed]} During the 2008 season he raced in northern California winning a main event in the California Civil War Series in Placerville and also at the famed Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California. Swindell is considered one of the best driver/setup men in the business. He is known for experimenting with innovative technology.

His father Sam, was a successful driver and his brother Jeff, is still an active and successful sprint car driver.

On August 25, 2014, Swindell announced he was retiring from racing, though he intends to race in the Chili Bowl Nationals.^[9]

In 2015 Swindell made short work of retirement and signed with Chad and Jenn Clemens owners of CJB Motorsports out of Telford, PA. Sammy ran a partial schedule and will do the same in 2016. Sam stated he has no intention of running a full schedule anymore, but picks and chooses the races he wants to run. This benefits the team with testing and keeps him active in the sport he loves. As of September 2020, he has 394 World of Outlaws Sprint Car wins.^[10]

World of Outlaws

1978: 9th in points – 2 wins
1979: 2nd in points – 11 wins
1980: 5th in points – 10 wins
1981: Champion – 28 wins
1982: Champion – 14 wins
1983: 3rd in points – 17 wins
1984: 2nd in points – 13 wins
1985: 7th in points – 14 wins
1986: 11th in points – 12 wins
1987: 12th in points – 6 wins
1988: 2nd in points – 8 wins
1990: 10th in points – 14 wins
1991: 9th in points – 15 wins
1992: 11th in points – 20 wins
1994: 5th in points – 7 wins
1995: 12th in points – 5 wins
1996: 3rd in points – 11 wins
1997: Champion – 19 wins
1998: 3rd in points – 7 wins
1999: 5th in points – 8 wins
2000: 2nd in points – 11 wins
2001: 18th in points – 2 wins
2002: 17th in points – 1 win
2003: 11th in points – 1 win
2004: 18th in points – 3 wins
2005: 19th in points – 3 wins
2006
2007
2008
2009: 13th in points – 0 wins
2010: 16th in points – 4 wins
2011: 12th in points – 4 wins
2012: 3rd in points – 13 wins
2013: 6th in points – 3 wins
2014: 14th in points – 2 wins
2015: 16th in points – 0 wins
2016
2017
2018: 57th in points – 0 wins

Indy Car World Series

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

More information Year, Team ...

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Rank	Points	Ref
1985	Patrick Racing	LBH	INDY	MIL	POR	MEA	CLE	MCH 23	ROA	POC 25	MDO	SAN	MCH	LAG	PHX	MIA			53rd	0	^[11]
1986	A. J. Foyt Racing	PHX	LBH	INDY	MIL	POR	MEA	CLE	TOR	MIC	POC 9	MDO	SAN	MIC	ROA	LAG	PHX	MIA	29th	4	^[12]
1987	Machinists Union Racing	LBH	PHX	INDY DNQ	MIL	POR	MEA	CLE	TOR	MIC	POC	ROA	MDO	NAZ	LAG	MIA			NC	-	^[13]

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NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

More information NASCAR Winston Cup Series results, Year ...

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	NWCC	Pts	Ref
1985	Blue Max Racing	72	Pontiac	DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	BRI	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	DOV	CLT	RSD	POC	MCH	DAY	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL 30	RSD		100th	73	^[14]
1991	Moroso Racing	20	Olds	DAY 41	RCH Wth^†	CAR	ATL	DAR	BRI	NWS	MAR	TAL	CLT	DOV	SON	POC	MCH	DAY	POC	TAL	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	PHO	ATL	90th	40	^[15]
^† - Fired after first round qualifying and replaced by Bobby Hillin Jr.

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Daytona 500

More information Year, Team ...

Year	Team	Manufacturer	Start	Finish
1991	Moroso Racing	Oldsmobile	32	41

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Busch Series

More information NASCAR Busch Series results, Year ...

NASCAR Busch Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	NBGNC	Pts	Ref
1984	Blue Max Racing	27	Pontiac	DAY 12	RCH	CAR	HCY	MAR	DAR	ROU	NSV	LGY	MLW	DOV																					69th	200	^[16]
1984			Olds												CLT 30	SBO	HCY	ROU	SBO	ROU	HCY	IRP	LGY	SBO	BRI	DAR	RCH	NWS	CLT	HCY	CAR	MAR			69th	200	^[16]
1985			Pontiac	DAY 20	CAR	HCY	BRI	MAR	DAR	SBO	LGY	DOV	CLT 32	SBO	HCY	ROU	IRP	SBO	LGY	HCY	MLW	BRI	DAR	RCH	NWS	ROU									61st	216	^[17]
1985		77	Pontiac																								CLT 39	HCY	CAR	MAR					61st	216	^[17]
1986	Barcomb Racing	51	Pontiac	DAY 17	CAR	HCY	MAR	BRI	DAR	SBO	LGY	JFC	DOV	CLT	SBO	HCY	ROU	IRP	SBO	RAL	OXF	SBO	HCY	LGY	ROU	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	ROU	CLT	CAR	MAR	91st	112	^[18]
1993	TMC Racing Team	26	Ford	DAY	CAR	RCH	DAR 21	BRI	HCY	ROU	MAR	NZH	CLT	DOV 19	MYB	GLN	MLW 20	TAL	IRP 34	MCH	NHA	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	ROU	CLT	MAR	CAR	HCY	ATL				56th	370	^[19]

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SuperTruck Series

More information NASCAR SuperTruck Series results, Year ...

NASCAR SuperTruck Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	NSTSC	Pts	Ref
1995	Akins-Sutton Motorsports	38	Ford	PHO 17	TUS 7	SGS 24	MMR 10	POR 13	EVG 17	I70 24	LVL 13	BRI 4^*	MLW 12	CNS 26	HPT 21	IRP 33	FLM 10	RCH 17	MAR 36	NWS 24	SON 10	MMR 32	PHO 39	12th	2109	^[20]

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Trans-Am Championship

More information SCCA Trans Am Championship results, Year ...

SCCA Trans Am Championship results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Pos	Pts
1987	Rocketsports	81	Oldsmobile Toronado	LBX	SON	PIR	DET	MDO	BIR	LRP	ROA	MEM 6	MSP	RAT	SPG	31st	10

Close

[1]
Pyke, David (November 1, 1990). "Swindell's career path to be paved next year". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
[2]
Mackena, Joe (February 24, 1991). "Moroso fires Swindell, hires Hillin". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, SC. p. D6. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
[3]
Pyke, David (March 24, 1991). "Swindell returns to sprint cars with sweep at Springnationals". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
[4]
McKee, Sandra (June 5, 1993). "Sprint's Swindell has grand plans for switch to Grand National". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, MD. p. 13C. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
[5]
Beattie, Leal (August 12, 1993). "Swindell plans sprint return for The Historical Big One". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, OH. p. 3D. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
[6]
Kallmann, Dave (June 11, 1994). "Swindell back on feet with Outlaws". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Milwaukee, WI. p. 2B. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
[7]
"Pickups enjoying super debut season". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, NC. September 10, 1995. p. 7H. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
[8]
Pearce, Al (November 22, 1994). "Auto Racing: Awards Given Out At Langley Banquet". Daily Press. Newport News, VA. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
[9]
"Sammy Swindell Retiring From Full-Time Racing Effective Immediately". Inside Line Promotions. August 25, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
[10]
"Governor's Reign". Eldora Speedway. September 22, 2020. Event occurs at 20:10. FloRacing.
[11]
"Sammy Swindell – 1985 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
[12]
"Sammy Swindell – 1986 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
[13]
"Sammy Swindell – 1987 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
[14]
"Sammy Swindell – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
[15]
"Sammy Swindell – 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
[16]
"Sammy Swindell – 1984 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
[17]
"Sammy Swindell – 1985 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
[18]
"Sammy Swindell – 1986 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
[19]
"Sammy Swindell – 1993 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
[20]
"Sammy Swindell – 1995 NASCAR SuperTruck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.

Official website
Sammy Swindell driver statistics at Racing-Reference

More information Sporting positions ...

Sporting positions
Preceded by Steve Kinser	World of Outlaws Champion 1981, 1982	Succeeded by Steve Kinser
Preceded by Mark Kinser	World of Outlaws Champion 1997	Succeeded by Steve Kinser

Close

[1] [1]
Pyke, David (November 1, 1990). "Swindell's career path to be paved next year". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX. Retrieved 2013-09-22.

[2] [2]
Mackena, Joe (February 24, 1991). "Moroso fires Swindell, hires Hillin". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, SC. p. D6. Retrieved 2013-09-22.

[3] [3]
Pyke, David (March 24, 1991). "Swindell returns to sprint cars with sweep at Springnationals". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX. Retrieved 2013-09-22.

[4] [4]
McKee, Sandra (June 5, 1993). "Sprint's Swindell has grand plans for switch to Grand National". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, MD. p. 13C. Retrieved 2013-09-23.

[5] [5]
Beattie, Leal (August 12, 1993). "Swindell plans sprint return for The Historical Big One". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, OH. p. 3D. Retrieved 2013-09-23.

[6] [6]
Kallmann, Dave (June 11, 1994). "Swindell back on feet with Outlaws". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Milwaukee, WI. p. 2B. Retrieved 2013-09-23.

[7] [7]
"Pickups enjoying super debut season". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, NC. September 10, 1995. p. 7H. Retrieved 2013-09-10.

[8] [8]
Pearce, Al (November 22, 1994). "Auto Racing: Awards Given Out At Langley Banquet". Daily Press. Newport News, VA. Retrieved 2013-09-23.

[9] [9]
"Sammy Swindell Retiring From Full-Time Racing Effective Immediately". Inside Line Promotions. August 25, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.

[10] [10]
"Governor's Reign". Eldora Speedway. September 22, 2020. Event occurs at 20:10. FloRacing.

[11] [11]
"Sammy Swindell – 1985 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2023.

[12] [12]
"Sammy Swindell – 1986 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2023.

[13] [13]
"Sammy Swindell – 1987 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2023.

[14] [14]
"Sammy Swindell – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.

[15] [15]
"Sammy Swindell – 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.

[16] [16]
"Sammy Swindell – 1984 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.

[17] [17]
"Sammy Swindell – 1985 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.

[18] [18]
"Sammy Swindell – 1986 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.

[19] [19]
"Sammy Swindell – 1993 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.

[20] [20]
"Sammy Swindell – 1995 NASCAR SuperTruck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.

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World of Outlaws

Indy Car World Series

NASCAR

Winston Cup Series

Daytona 500

Busch Series

SuperTruck Series

Trans-Am Championship

Wikiwand in your browser!

Sammy Swindell

World of Outlaws

Indy Car World Series

NASCAR

Winston Cup Series

Daytona 500

Busch Series

SuperTruck Series

Trans-Am Championship

Wikiwand in your browser!

Career

Motorsports career results

References

External links