Story by: Langley Austin ~ langley@RACE22.com

High Point, NC(January 20, 2009) -- Travis Swaim is easily recognized as one of the top Late Model Stock Car racers in the Carolina's and especially at Caraway Speedway, where he was already a two time champion in 2004 and 2005.

Swaim returned to Caraway Speedway to compete full-time for the championship once again after the 4/10 mile track announced that it would pay record purses of $5,000 to win on a weekly basis in 200-lap races. Swaim found some familiar foes in Jason York, Brad Brinkley, BJ Mackey and more and he also found some new challengers such as Ryan Wilson, Garrett Lancaster, Ryan Rhodes among others. It was a different time, almost seemingly a different era at the Asheboro, NC track, but Swaim who had been a constant competitor there for years was ready to challenge for the championship.

Swaim's season started off a little slow with a seventh place finish in the March 21st season opener, but when the second race rolled around it was time for Swaim to shine. Swaim put together a strong performance in the second race of the season finishing second, but when the on-track winner was tossed in post race tech, Swaim found himself with a first win. The next couple of races on April 18th and twins on May 9th produced sixth, fifth and seventh place finishes, but as the Late Model Stock Cars hit the track on May 23rd it was another victory for the veteran driver.

Swaim took home the victory in a rain shortened race and had collected his second victory in just the first six races and it was a sign of things to come for his 2009 season. 11th, sixth, fifth and 20th place finishes led Swaim up to the one of the seasons biggest races of the season and a special event for the veteran driver. His friend and competitor, Rusty Harpe lost his life a couple of years ago and every July before independence day Caraway Speedway stages a race in his honor.

July 1st and It was time for the Rusty Harpe Memorial race and Swaim was hoping to rekindle his 2007 magic, when he won the first annual race, but after a long race he fell just one spot short in second, but had put himself in a great position to become a three-time track champion at the midpoint in the season. July 18th rolled around and Swaim hit another bump in the road with a 17th place finish, but one week later he bounced back with his third win of the season in the first of twin races.

He would finish fourth in the second of those twin races and then collected a second and a third in twin races two weeks later before once again breaking into victory lane. August 29th was the date of his fourth and final regular season victory before the season ended a week later with a second place finish and Swaim being crowned the track champion. However, there was still a little business to attend to for Swaim as he wanted to finish off his 2009 campaign as the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series North Carolina State Champion.

That task led him to Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, NC for a couple of starts, the last of which produced a victory in the season finale on the tough 4/10 mile track. Swaim, who had been known to be successful in the past on the Hudson, NC track won the race while his closest NASCAR North Carolina State Championship points competitor crashed out on lap one. Swaim might well have won the State Championship that night and later was crowned with his first NASCAR North Carolina State Championship.

Swaim then finished his season up by making the field again for the Bailey's 300 at Martinsville Speedway, the biggest Late Model Stock Car race in the country finishing a strong 11th. Next up was the season finale at his home track at Caraway in the annual Mid-Atlantic Championship 250-lap race and Swaim proved he was up to the task of all the out of town challengers and took home his fifth Caraway win and sixth overall. Swaim's final race of the season was his first career start at Myrtle Beach Speedway in the Myrtle Beach 250, Swaim qualified 26th and raced his way into the top ten at one point before falling a couple of laps down and eventually finishing 27th.

Swaim's Caraway title was his third career and he added himself into a very prestigious club on the famous Asheboro, NC track and with his first NASCAR North Carolina State Championship it was an incredible season for the veteran driver. With the momentum he built up in 2009, this driver could very well be one of the top guys in the 2010 season ahead.
 

Swaim's 2009 Caraway Season at a Glance:

Date ... Finishes(Starts Not Available)
March 21st ... 7th
April 4th ... 1st
April 18th ... 6th
May 9th ... 5th/7th
May 23rd ... 1st
May 30th ... 11th
June 6th ... 6th/5th
June 20th ... 20th
July 1st ... 2nd
July 18th ... 17th
July 25th ... 1st/4th
August 8th ... 2nd/3rd
August 29th ... 1st
September 5th ... 2nd
October 18th ... 1st

Average Finish - 5.36

Swaim's Quick Stats 2009:

~Caraway Speedway Champion
~North Carolina State NASCAR Champion
~Wins: Six(5)

*Swaim also picked up a victory in the 150-lap Season Finale at Tri-County Motor Speedway