Toledo Speedway

Gene Nolen, owner of the USAC Silver Crown car Kody Swanson drove to victory in the 2019 at Toledo Speedway in the Hemelgarn Racing-Super Fitness Rollie Beale Classic race, passed away Wednesday April 8 at the age of 77 after a lengthy illness. Nolen, a USAC Silver Crown owner for parts of four decades, had 16 Silver Crown car owner victories and was twice the winning car owner in the Pay Less Little 500 sprint car race at Anderson Speedway. Among Nolen’s drivers over the years were Johnny Parsons Jr., Tony Elliott, Jim Keeker, Tony Stewart, Bryan Clauson, Jerry Coons Jr., Chris Windom and Swanson, who won the 2019 USAC Silver Crown Series driving championship. Nolen’s cars also won the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds three times.

In Nolen’s memory, his son Greg Nolen confirmed that, in accordance with his father’s wishes, Nolen Racing will continue to field cars for Swanson in the USAC Silver Crown Series, including the 2020 Hemelgarn Racing-Super Fitness Rollie Beale Classic at Toledo Speedway Sunday, Oct. 4.