SPR Team News
TANNER SWANSON DELIVERS SAM PIERCE RACING'S FIRST WIN AT IRP!
KAYLEE BRYSON TO MAKE SILVER CROWN DEBUT WITH SAM PIERCE RACING (CLICK IMAGE FOR VIDEO LINK)
LSI / SAM PIERCE RACING RETURN TO TRANS AM SGT AT ROAD AMERICA
30 June, 2022
Indianapolis, USA Tanner Swanson won the 500 Sprint Car Tour division of the Thursday Night Thunder Homecoming program at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park this evening in dominating fashion.
Tanner qualified the #26 AP Driver Development / LSI Racing / Sam Pierce Chevrolet Sprint Car in the eighth position, took the lead on lap 10 and only had is brother Cody to contend with for the remaining 20 laps. Tanner led all 20 and built a half second lead over his brother who finished in the runner-up position.
The victory was the first win at IRP for Sam Pierce Racing in several dozen attempts in various racing divisions and the first win overall for Aaron Pierce as a car owner and driver development specialist.
Swanson also drove the #26 AP Driver Development / Sam Pierce Chevrolet / LSI Racing MidgetCar to an 8th place finish in the 35 lap race after qualifying eighth.
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LSI / SAM PIERCE RACING RETURN TO TRANS AM SGT AT ROAD AMERICA
KAYLEE BRYSON TO MAKE SILVER CROWN DEBUT WITH SAM PIERCE RACING (CLICK IMAGE FOR VIDEO LINK)
LSI / SAM PIERCE RACING RETURN TO TRANS AM SGT AT ROAD AMERICA
11 June 2022
Indianapolis, USA Affiliated Trans Am race teams LSI Racing and Sam Pierce Racing with AP Driver Development are pleased to announce that the group will roll into the Trans Am event at Road America (with NASCAR) on Independence Day weekend with brand new hardware.
2019 Watkins Glen Trans Am SGT winner and open wheel veteran Aaron Pierce will pilot the #26 LSI Racing / Sam Pierce Chevrolet / AP Driver Development Chevy Corvette in the SGT class alongside team owner Larry Bailey. Bailey will be debuting his brand-new 2022 LSI Racing / Sam Pierce Chevrolet #02 Corvette in his first Trans Am race of the 2022 season.
Legendary Crew Chief Chris Santucci will be calling the shots for the group. All are pleased to continue to expand their presence in Trans Am series racing.
Prior to Trans Am at Road America, Sam Pierce Racing will field its #26 Sam Pierce Chevrolet / LSI / AP Driver Development USAC Silver Crown dirt car on June 18th at Port Royal Speedway for rising-star Kaylee Bryson in her Silver Crown debut.
21-year-old Bryson has been on a tear this season. In January she became the first woman in history to make the A-Main at the Tulsa Chili Bowl after winning her B-Main preliminary race. She is currently seventh in USAC National MidgetCar points and has posted top five finishes in three of the four opening races so far in USAC’s annual Indiana Midget Week.
Tanner Swanson will then campaign the #26 Sam Pierce Chevrolet / LSI / AP Driver development Sprint Car at Indianapolis Raceway Park on June 30. Swanson gets the nod for IRP after driving the #26 car in the 74th Lucas Oil Little 500 at Anderson (IN) Speedway last month. Tanner led for over 100 laps in dominating fashion mid-race before retiring due to overheating caused by multiple early race contacts by back markers.
Both Swanson and NASCAR’s Ryan Newman qualified SPR Sprint Cars through first round qualifying for the Memorial Day classic with Newman crashing from seventh place on lap 495 to finish 11th. Newman campaigned the #39bc Driven to Save Lives / AP Driver Development / Coca Cola Beast chassis in honor of the late open wheel standout and friend Bryan Clauson. Ryan garnered the nickname “Rocket Man” for his 51 pole positions and winning the 50th Daytona 500 in 2008, the 2013 Brickyard 400 and 16 other Cup victories beginning in 2002 when he bested Jimmie Johnson for Rookie of the Year honors. He raced for the best owners in the business including Penske, Stewart-Hass, Childress and Roush Fenway Racing.
Logical Systems Inc. (LSI) is a premier industrial automated systems control integrator. LSI provides automation solutions for customers in multiple industries including brewing & distilling, chemicals, floor covering, food & beverage, grain handling & ag, logistics & package handling, metals, mining, oil & gas, plastics, pulp & paper, semiconductors, and water treatment. Solutions are provided in partnership with automated systems control industry leaders and platforms such as Emerson, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric and Siemens.
Please visit LogicalSysInc.com, GoTransAm.com and USACRacing.com for further information
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KAYLEE BRYSON TO MAKE SILVER CROWN DEBUT WITH SAM PIERCE RACING (CLICK IMAGE FOR VIDEO LINK)
KAYLEE BRYSON TO MAKE SILVER CROWN DEBUT WITH SAM PIERCE RACING (CLICK IMAGE FOR VIDEO LINK)
KAYLEE BRYSON TO MAKE SILVER CROWN DEBUT WITH SAM PIERCE RACING (CLICK IMAGE FOR VIDEO LINK)
4 May 2022
Indianapolis USA – Short track rising star Kaylee Bryson and Sam Pierce Racing are pleased to announce that Bryson will make her USAC Silver Crown debut on June 18th at Pennsylvania’s Port Royal Speedway. Kaylee will pilot the #26 AP Driver Development / Sam Pierce 2022 Maxim chassis. The 21-year-old Muskogee OK native, 2015 Tulsa Shootout winner and current USAC MidgetCar competitor has already logged impressive results this season winning her B-Main at the 2022 Chili Bowl in January becoming the first woman ever to transfer to the coveted A-Main where she finished 18th. In April she won the Micro Sprint A-Main at her home track of Port City Raceway then charged to her second career USAC National Midget Car podium finish becoming only the second woman in USAC history to score multiple podium finishes. Kaylee has ambitions of transitioning to pavement racing and developing a lifelong career in professional motorsports.
Indianapolis-based Sam Pierce Racing has fielded event and championship winning race cars over four decades in Trans Am, USAC Silver Crown, winged and non-wing Sprint Cars, Midget Cars, Legend Cars and Late Model stock cars.
The AP Driver Development organization is spearheaded by SPR primary driver Aaron Pierce. “AP” is a multi-time open wheel champion with numerous wins in all three USAC national series, Trans Am, winged pavement sprint cars, legend cars and late model stock cars. Pierce is also a former Bondurant Racing School instructor. The firm was recently formed to aid aspiring young race car drivers in their transition to professional motorsports. The company will leverage SPR’s extensive race car inventory ranging from go carts to dirt and pavement open wheel cars and fleet of Trans Am machines. While the company’s professional staff is adept at the art of race craft on any surface or track configuration in virtually any type of race car, additional skillsets including public speaking, media appearances and sponsor relations can also be honed.
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TANNER SWANSON TO REPLACE AARON PIERCE FOR 74th LITTLE 500
RYAN NEWMANN TO RUN LITTLE 500 WITH SAM PIERCE RACING (CLICK IMAGE FOR VIDEO LINK)
KAYLEE BRYSON TO MAKE SILVER CROWN DEBUT WITH SAM PIERCE RACING (CLICK IMAGE FOR VIDEO LINK)
17 May 2022
Indianapolis, IN Tanner Swanson will replace Aaron Pierce for the 2022 Lucas Oil Little 500 presented by UAW. Pierce, a 19-time starter in the Little 500, will be stepping out of the ride, due to a recent health issue.
“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” Pierce said when asked why Swanson was his choice. “I couldn’t believe he didn’t have a ride already. He is fast everywhere he goes on pavement and we have had good comradery racing over the years.”
Swanson will be taking the reins of the Sam Pierce Chevrolet Number 26. Swanson will continue to be sponsored by Sam Pierce Chevrolet, Zak Ali, and AP Driver Development as the primary sponsors for Pierce’s entry.
AP Driver Development is led by Aaron Pierce as he sets his sights on the next step of his racing career, while continuing to race himself. Developing young talent and being a mentor for the next generation of racing has become a focus for Pierce.
Swanson’s Week of Indy will also include the Silver Crown and Pavement Midget Ride races at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Friday Night. The three-time starter in the Little 500 will look to improve on his 3rd place finish in 2021.
“I am definitely excited to return (to Anderson Speedway),” said Tanner Swanson. “I was finally able to put a little 500 together last year and finished behind two of the best (Tyler Roahrig and brother Kody Swanson). I am fortunate to be able to race for Aaron and Sam Pierce. They always bring good equipment to the race track.”
Swanson will contest a newly built V6 Sprint Car that Pierce and team have been testing over the past two years. It is a similar engine combination that he competed with in last year’s Little 500 with Nolen Racing. With the car having gone through its initial shake down a couple weeks ago, the team will focus on getting Swanson up to speed and comfortable in the car. Pierce will still be present at the Little 500 as he will handle set up and pit strategy decisions for Swanson during the race.
"AP" will run the Trans Am event on July 1-3 at Road America in the #55 Sam Pierce Chevrolet / LSI Racing /AP Driver Development Chevy Camaro SS in the TA2 class and the #26 Sam Pierce Chevrolet / LSI Racing / AP Driver Development Chevy Corvette in the SGT class.
Aaron Pierce and his team have made 19 consecutive starts in the Little 500. He currently holds the 1-lap and 4-lap qualifying records at Anderson Speedway in a non-wing sprint car. That record has stood the test of time, as it has remained the fastest time for over a decade. He has two pole positions, five top fives and five top tens in his 19 attempts in the Little 500.
The 74th Annual Lucas Oil Little 500 Presented by UAW will be held on Saturday, May 28th at 8pm. Fans can watch the Race LIVE on Mavtv Plus with a special rebroadcast taking place on Sunday, May 29 at 9:00am – 12:00pm and 8:00pm – 11:00pm on MAVTV Motorsports Network.
Practice for teams begins on Wednesday, May 25. CB Fabricating Pole Day is scheduled for Thursday, May 26 from 11:30am – 1:30pm. Tin Plate Fine Food & Spirits Bump Day is set for Friday, May 27. Grandstand Admission, Wednesday – Friday is FREE for fans. Tickets for the 74th Annual Lucas Oil Little 500 presented by UAW can be purchased by calling (765) 642-0206 ex. 121 or by stopping by the track ticket office.
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RYAN NEWMANN TO RUN LITTLE 500 WITH SAM PIERCE RACING (CLICK IMAGE FOR VIDEO LINK)
RYAN NEWMANN TO RUN LITTLE 500 WITH SAM PIERCE RACING (CLICK IMAGE FOR VIDEO LINK)
RYAN NEWMANN TO RUN LITTLE 500 WITH SAM PIERCE RACING (CLICK IMAGE FOR VIDEO LINK)
3 May 2022
Indianapolis, IN Hot on the heels of Ryan Newman announcing that he will race in Tony Stewart’s SRX short track racing series this summer, race fans will be pleased to learn that Ryan Newman has confirmed his commitment to return to his native Indiana open wheel racing roots and run this year’s 74thAnnual Little 500 at Anderson Speedway on May 27th in a Sam Pierce Racing pavement sprint car. Newman will pilot the #39 Driven2SaveLives / AP Driver Development Beast chassis.
Ryan is perhaps best known through his storied 21-year NASCAR Cup career as garnering the nickname “Rocket Man” for his 51 pole positions and winning the 50th Daytona 500 in 2008, the 2013 Brickyard 400 and 16 other Cup victories beginning in 2002 when he bested Jimmie Johnson for Rookie of the Year honors. He raced for the best owners in the business including Penske, Stewart-Hass, Childress and Roush Fenway Racing.
Many open wheel fans better remember Newman for his dominance on Indiana pavement in the late 90s however, including his multiple midget car and sprint car wins from the tail of the field at Winchester Speedway to collect track owner Charlie Shaw’s bonus awards. Many will recall his hair-raising sprint car win at Winchester when his throttle stuck early in the race - forcing him to use the ignition switch lap after lap to navigate the infamous high banks. Ryan’s talent and bravado at Indiana pavement venues was truly legendary.
While the 44-year-old South Bend, IN legend will be challenged once again during the grueling 500 lap Anderson Speedway classic over the Memorial Day weekend, he will be in a familiar seat. The sprint car he will race in this year’s 500 is the same car that he ran in his last sprint car race, winning the 2000 Rich Vogler Classic prior to finding his next home at Penske Racing in NASCAR. The car was then known as the #2 Aristocrat Beast owned by the late Johnny Vance.
The iconic race car was acquired by Sam Pierce Racing in 2003 and has since propelled Aaron Pierce to nine Glenn Niebel Classic wins at Anderson in addition to two podium finishes, multiple front row starts and top ten conquests at the Little 500 in the #26 Sam Pierce Racing sprint car.
“AP” will be piloting a Sam Pierce Chevrolet / LSI V6 Chevy powered Beast for this year’s 500. While he has won in every type of race car he has driven in his 25-year career - including multiple championships, a Little 500 victory remains his holy grail.
For further 2022 Little 500 event information please visit SamPierceRacing.com and AndersonSpeedway.com.
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