Kenly race notes, May preview

NATIONAL MIDGETS "OFF" UNTIL 3-RACE SWING IN MID-MAY; SWANSON NOTCHES 1ST NATIONAL WIN AT KENLY

Cole Whitt and Tracy Hines are locked in a virtual tie for the USAC National Midget Car Series point lead as the series pauses before visiting Wisconsin and Illinois for three races in Mid-May.

Races are scheduled at West Salem, Wisc. May 16, Slinger, Wisc. May 17 and Rockford, Ill. May 18.

Whitt, of Alpine, Calif., and Hines, of New Castle, Ind., both posted "top-five" finishes in Saturday night's 40-lap race at Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly, N.C. The race, won by Kody Swanson of Kingsburg, Calif., was the first for USAC at the track and the first for the series in the Tarheel State in two years.

Swanson led all 40 laps in his Nine Racing Toyota/Oakley Beast/Pink Toyota to beat Dakoda Armstrong, Whitt, Darren Hagen and Hines on the 4/10-mile paved oval. The win was Swanson's first in USAC National competition.

Brad Loyet was Saturday's fastest qualifier, while Kevin Swindell, Bobby East and Levi Jones won heat races.

-credit: usac