Driver: Brennan Swanson
Car: #20 Sportsman Micro Sprint
Hometown: Menominee, Michigan
Sponsors: Mellen Farms, Liberty Forge, Northwoods Evergreen Bar & Grill, Custom Tuck & Equipment, Fully Charged, Plutchak Crane Rental LLC., Jasper’s Rental Properties, Wisconsin Refrigerated Express LLC., Phelps Trucking, Cole & Cole Logging, NuColor, and 187PB.com
Sometimes you come across a driver that reminds you of all the reasons you fell in love with racing. Brennan Swanson is one of those drivers. On track he is exciting to watch, off track he is a pleasure to talk to with an infectious positive attitude. It’s hard to believe he is only 11 years old.
Young Brennan Swanson is already in his fifth year of racing making the move to the Sportsman Micro Sprint Division at the beginning of the 2019 season. Over the past four years, Brennan has raced in the Riverside Auto Group Youth Micro Sprint division, winning a multitude of feature races, though coming up short in the championship battle each year. The last two years in the division, Brennan finished second in points, by three points each time.
This year, Brennan has spent the majority of his time at the top of the points standings, earning his first win in the Sportsman division last week. To get that win, Brennan made an incredible move to grab the lead. Brennan has been adamant that this year is all about points and great finishes, earning him the nickname Mr. Consistency, but a chance to win is something that no driver would pass up.
The Advanced Auto Parts Upper Peninsula International Raceway isn’t the only track Brennan Swanson has raced at in his time behind the wheel. Like last week’s Spotlight Driver, Kyle Getchell, Brennan made the trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the Tulsa Shootout where he met NASCAR driver Christopher Bell. After racing in Tulsa, Brennan and crew packed up and went to Oconto Falls for some ice racing.
“We actually used the same setup for ice racing that we used at Tulsa,” Swanson said, “The first time on the track I was a little worried about spinning out, but the second time I went flat out.”
The trips to Tulsa and Oconto Falls are among some of Brennan’s favorite racing memories, though he has many of them. From winning his first race to even flipping his car, Brennan has many favorite memories from racing, which should be expected from a driver who has such excitement for the sport
By the end of the 2018 racing season, Brennan had outgrown his Youth Micro Sprint and the search was on for what to do next.
“My dad said I was too big for it,” said Swanson, “We were looking at getting one of the Sport Trucks they run at Norway, then we found this car.”
The car Brennan is referring to is his new Sportsman ride, a 07 Hyper Chassis with a 07 Engine. With help from 600 Micro Sprint Driver, Jeff Ives, Ives Racing, and Three and a Half Men Garage, Brennan was up and running for the 2019 season.
In addition to the major thanks to Jeff Ives, Ives racing, and Three and a Half Men Garage, Brennan wants to send a special thank you to Dad, Mom, Saige, Brecka, Papa Dave, Papa Nona, Grandma & Grandpa B, Jim and Joanne, and everyone else who has supported him in his racing.
It is easy to see and be infected by Brennan Swanson’s love for racing, and at just 11 years old, he has many years of racing ahead of him.
By Todd Rose