Matt Swanson Will Be Staying Busy in 2022

The 22-year-old Modified driver has built up quite the racing schedule for 2022.

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After a very cold start to the offseason, things have quickly warmed up for Matt Swanson even while the winter winds howled across New England. After parting ways with Boehler Racing Enterprises after the 2021 season; the 22-year-old Modified driver has built up quite the racing schedule for 2022.

To forging a new partnership to run for the Stafford Speedway SK Modified title, to dusting off the family No. 89 for the Monaco Ford Modified Tri-Track Series, Swanson is also back with a familiar ally, ace Modified car owner and mechanic Gary Casella.

While Ronnie Williams has and will continue to run the bulk of races in the red No. 25; Swanson has become a go-to driver for the team the past few years, with the pairing taking a Modified Racing Series victory at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl in August 2020.

The plan is to run the Spring Sizzler and Open Modified 80-lap events at Stafford over the season, with the option of a few races being added along the way. Casella and Swanson have already gone for that option, with the 25 camp showing up with two cars last Saturday at Thompson Speedway for the $10,000-to-win Icebreaker 125, at least that was the plan.

READ MORE: Day 2 of Icebreaker Postponed Due to Weather


Mother Nature forced the postponement of the race by six days to the this Saturday, April 9. But, Swanson has already been having a grand ole time; putting down fast laps along with teammate Ronnie Williams who will run both the Thompson Open and Tri-Track Modified races in full for Casella in 2022.

“It was definitely fun, we didn’t even know that we were going to do it until the last minute. This is the car I’ll be running at Stafford for the Sizzler and the Open 80’s. Gary said that if we want to go, I’d have to get the car ready. It was a long few weeks between getting Ronnie’s car and my car done, then getting people to service the car,” Swanson told Racing America.

“I’m happy that we did it, it just made it that much better that when we finally got on track last Saturday, that we were both at the top of the charts. We got a little work to do to my car to get it where we want for this weekend. We did some things with Ronnie’s car too. We’ll be in good shape to go there this Saturday and battle it out for the win.”

Last season, Ronnie Williams wheeled the No. 25 to victory at Thompson twice during the summer, and this is not the first time that Casella has run two cars on the same race date. Swanson believes that the biggest competition for himself and Williams may indeed be each other.

“I think Gary just makes us look really good, he brings us a car to the track every time that can win. It just shows with all the drivers he’s had, pretty much all of us have won or been in contention. Fortunately, I’ve won for Gary, Ronnie’s won a lot with him. Being able to drive for such a successful team in Open racing makes our jobs as drivers much easier because you don’t have to worry about making the car run well; it’s good right off the truck.”

Wheeling Tour-type Modifieds since he was 14, Swanson has gained a great amount of ‘Ground Pounder’ experience for someone his age. The chance to drive the 25, past and present, has been one of the best racing opportunities that the Acton, MA native has had so far.

“Driving for Gary Casella, personally I take a lot of pride in it. There’s only so many people who get to sit in that red No. 25, it’s a bad fast racecar. I’ve been thankful to work with Gary and to continue to work with him and all his guys. This year, we’ll be in contention for a lot of wins.”

As for whether or not Swanson will run double-trouble with Williams at Thompson again in 2022, or anywhere else not on their original list; it’s too early to say. Especially given Swanson’s task of competing at Stafford every week for an SK Modified title for longtime owner/driver Tom Boles.

“We’ll play it by ear when it comes to things outside of what we originally planned on. We had just planned on the Sizzler and Open 80’s at Stafford, but already here we are running Icebreaker. A couple of other races are possible this year. But, this is already a busy year for me between running the SK at Stafford with Tommy every Friday, and running the Tri-Track deal. I’m looking forward to it, but if we can sneak in a few more races with Gary, that’d be great too.”

For now, Swanson wants to make the best of things and kick start his season with a cool trophy and $10,000 winner’s check.

“It'd be something else, especially with what’s happened lately parting ways with the team I drove for last year, and trying to put all of these new plans together for this year. Been a long offseason with the work that’s gone into all the cars I’m driving. To kickoff the year with an Icebreaker win would really make it all worth it, if not we’ll go to the racetrack and keep working at it. Hey, we weren’t supposed to be running this one, so we’ll just go out and do our best to win.”