Swanson, B.J.

[Murph]

For us Yanks........ B. J. Swanson

Here is a quote from Pete Lyons review of the 1975 F5000 season in the states.

"IT IS EXQUISITELY RARE. It has happened only once or twice in a generation of American road racing. A driver comes from nowhere and is almost immediately running with the best. There have been others before, Dan Gurney, Mark Donaohue. This time it was B. J. Swanson."

In only his 3rd race in F5000 (and his first trip ever to Watkins Glen) Swanson qualified 4th behind Andretti, Redman, and Jarrier. This was only his 3rd professional race and he was faster than Al Unser, Jackie Oliver, David Hobbs, Graham McRae, and Warwick Brown. He came in 3rd by holding off Jarier.

The next race was at Road America....here he qualified 3rd behind Mario & Redman.

He had a crash on lap one at Mid-Ohio (his 5th race) caused by a jammed throttle. He died 3 days later.

take care, all

Murph