Dirt
“Last year, I probably had the worst luck ever
on No Prep Kings,” Swanstrom recalls. “I don’t
know if it was paint color, motor combination,
we just could not make it work. It was probably
the worst luck I’ve ever had in racing.”
Despite those setbacks, and this being his
first full season of competition in the series,
Swanstrom has lofty expectations for 2020, and
the strong work ethic to make them reality.
“My first goal is to win one No Prep Kings race
within the first three races,” Swanstrom says. “If
I can do that, then I know I’m on the right path
for what I need to do. I’ve always believed you
don’t pay out second place. The way I look at it,
my ultimate goal is to win the championship. I
feel I have the team to do it, the equipment to do
it, and I’m willing to bust my ass and do whatever
I need to do to make what I got work.”
In addition, he has created his own YouTube
channel, posting new vlogs daily. Swanstrom says
the interaction with the fans in this new venture
has been incredible, and will continue to help
promote his brand.
“Their fan base is crazy,” says Swanstrom. “Me
being young – I just turned 24 – I think will bring
Justin Swanstrom is switching
gears and chasing NPK success
By Craig Cook
U
p-and-coming radial and grudge
racer Justin “Lil Country” Swanstrom
is trading in his small tires this year
to compete full-time on season four
of Discovery Channel’s hit show Street Outlaws:
No Prep Kings.
Swanstrom will debut a 2002 Camaro – sport-
ing a 997ci Pat Musi motor with six stages of
nitrous – in the coveted Invitational class, which
will pay out $40,000 to win at each event. With a
limited number of high-paying radial events each
year, Swanstrom decided the grueling schedule
of No Prep Kings offered a much bigger oppor-
tunity to cash in.
“I’m all about graduating, trying to do better,”
says Swanstrom. “Radial vs. the World is a great
class, but at the end of the day, I felt if I wanted
to do better, I needed to go run No Prep Kings.
I don’t want to do anything else. Hell, there’s 13
races this year paying 40 grand each, $150,000
for the championship.”
Swanstrom originally tried his hand at no-prep
last season in the Future Street Outlaws and Race
Your Way In classes. The team suffered a rash
of bad luck and parts breakage, culminating in
a horrific crash in Norwalk, Ohio, that ended
their season.
in another set of fans, a younger generation. I try
to talk to as many fans as I can. I don’t put up
caution tape. If you want to look at the car, just
come over and look at the car. We’re good for
what they’re wanting to do – the TV, the sport,
and all that. And the people on my channel, it
feels like they’re there with me. I want to bring
great content for the world to see, and grow big
together with everyone.”
DI DI DI
DI DI DI DI
DI DI DI
24 | D r a g
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Issue 154
Is ‘Lil Country’ No Prep
Kings’ Next Big Star?