Roger Swenson, a name synonymous with South Dakota auto racing, has etched his place in history with a career spanning nearly five decades. From his early days racing in Milbank to his remarkable achievements at Casino Speedway, Swenson's journey is a testament to his passion, skill, and dedication to the sport. This article delves into the highlights of his career, celebrating his accomplishments and the impact he has had on the racing community.
Huset's Speedway
Early Beginnings and Evolution of a Racing Career
Swenson began his racing career in 1955 in Milbank, showcasing his talent from a young age. He initially raced super modifieds but spent most of his career in the late model division. Swenson raced at Huset's Speedway in Brandon from 1964 to 1971 and spent his Sundays at State Fair Speedway in Huron for much of the 1970s. He also still finds time to race at Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen. But he's been right at home at Casino, where he returned as a late model driver in the mid-1970s.
Seventy-seven of those wins have come as a late model driver - the most by any South Dakota driver at one track in a single division.
A Milestone Achievement: 100 Feature Wins
Swenson reached the milestone Sunday night in the late model feature during the regular weekly racing program at Casino, where he has been a mainstay since the track opened in May of 1955. The feature win was his first since July of 1998. The victory wasn't a gift. "The other drivers don't give you anything because they want to win just like anybody else," he said. "They know wins come few and far between for a lot of guys."
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Local racing fans may have been thinking that veteran driver Roger Swenson was prolonging his storied career only in an attempt to secure his 100th feature win at Casino Speedway. Guess again. "I've been retired about 15 years," said the 64-year-old Watertown driver, who begin his racing career in 1955. "I'm just goofing around now. When we ran tough, we were traveling a lot. We'd run three to five nights a week. Now, we're out one night a week and we don't go at it that hard."
In Sunday's feature, he grabbed the lead about midway though the 20-lap feature, survived a challenge from Aberdeen's Chad Becker and then let his experience of running in front take over.
Tributes and Recognition
He received a standing ovation from the Casino faithful Sunday and a special tribute from fellow drivers and their crews, who lined up along the pits to honor one of the most recognizable figures in South Dakota racing history. "It was perfect. I've never seen that before," said Swenson. "They're awful nice people, those race fans. I've got to know a lot of people through the years all over the country. The people seem happier about this than I do. I'm just glad it's over."
Swenson was referring to his quest to reach the century mark, not to close out his racing career which began in Milbank in 1955.
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Challenges and Changes in Racing
The bid for his 100th feature win hasn't been easy. "We've had motor trouble and fuel problems but that goes with the deal," said Swenson. "It doesn't make any difference if you have Indianapolis or NASCAR motors. They can all have trouble." Swenson, who spent 38 years working at Cave Supply Co. in Watertown, works on his own engines and felt things were starting to come together before Sunday.
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It's been a little less few and far between for Swenson, who considers the sport a hobby and said he never had aspirations of going higher up the racing ladder. Swenson said those increasing costs have been the biggest change he's seen during his nearly 50 years of racing. Racing has never been easy, especially financially, where the rewards often don't come close to matching the expense. His wife Anita has been a solid member of the racing team, missing only a handful of races during his career.
Other Notable Drivers at Casino Speedway
Casino Speedway has been home to many talented drivers over the years. Here are some of the notable figures who have made their mark at the track:
- Kent Arment: Holds the most feature wins (163) at Casino Speedway.
- Curt Gelling: Second all-time with 129 feature wins.
- Scott Ward: Third all-time with 107 feature wins.
- Chad Becker: Has won 11 late model points championships since 2009.
- Jon Tesch: Recorded 23 feature wins and three points championships.
- Ron Anderson: Won 53 features and late model points championships in 1993 and 1994.
Table of Notable Drivers and Their Achievements
| Driver | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|
| Kent Arment | 163 Feature Wins, 12 Modified Points Titles |
| Curt Gelling | 129 Feature Wins, 10 Late Model Points Titles |
| Scott Ward | 107 Feature Wins, Modified and Late Model Points Titles |
| Chad Becker | 11 Late Model Points Championships |
| Jon Tesch | 23 Feature Wins, 3 Points Championships |
| Ron Anderson | 53 Feature Wins, Late Model Points Championships |
The Swenson Legacy
Roger Swenson enjoyed one of the greatest driving careers in South Dakota auto racing and was inducted into the Huset's Speedway Hall of Fame in 2011. Swenson continued to race at Casino until 2004 and finished his career with 100 feature wins at his home track. Swenson won track titles at Brandon, Aberdeen and Madison in addition to numerous titles at Casino Speedway. For this story, his counting titles came in 1985, 1986 and 1987.
His nephews Chuck and Jerald also raced at Casino Speedway and Chuck is still racing late models to this day along with his son Blake. Chuck's daughter Hope and daughter-in-law Brittany are racing Gen X Late Models. Chuck Swenson has won nine late model features here. Tim Swenson, a cousin to Roger, also raced modifieds in the mid-to-late 1990s.
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