BUFFALO TWP — At age 17, Kevin Swindell is lacking in seat time.

He made up for it in sight time.

The son of legendary World of Outlaws Sprint car driver Sammy Swindell has spent his early years on the Outlaws circuit defying the theory that on-track experience is critical to success in Sprint car racing.

"I finished sixth in the first Outlaws race I ever ran in,"the young Swindell said, shrugging his shoulders. "Sure, it was different. But it was still racing."

And racing is something he's been good at since he got behind the wheel of a go-kart at age 5.

He was only 15 when he finished sixth at the Paramatta Speedway in Australia.

By the age of 12, he was winning Mini-Sprint races.

Swindell already has 65 career wins between running a Sprint car, Mini-Sprints, Quarter Midgets and Road Race Karts.

Included in that total is an Outlaws victory this season in Charlotte, N.C., making Swindell the youngest driver ever to win an Outlaws feature event.

"I've won consistently in just about every series I was in growing up,"he admitted. "It's hard to remember not winning."

And, yes, his father has had something to do with that success.

Sammy Swindell owns 266 career feature wins and three points championships on the Outlaws circuit. He is not racing his blue No. 1 Sprinter this season so he can turn a wrench on his son's white No. 1 car.

"It's a different role for me, but it's one I'm happy with,"Sammy Swindell said. "Kevin traveled with me and helped me out for a long time.

"Seeing your son grow up and want to do what you've done — any father would feel good about that."

Kevin Swindell was home-schooled so he could travel the Outlaws circuit with his father, though it cut into his own racing time.

"I've always run a limited schedule because Dad's traveled so much," the younger Swindell said. "But it's been worth it to me. Just working on his car, listening to him, watching him race and the other drivers race for years — I've picked things up."

Until last weekend, Kevin Swindell had never been in an accident racing a Sprint car. He hit the wall at Eldora and flipped the car.

"I just got caught on the outside and didn't have enough room," he said. "It happens."

A spin-out during the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup XVfeature forced Swindell to tag the end of the 26-car field. He wound up 16th.

While his father trails only Steve Kinser's 533 triumphs on the Outlaws' all-time win list, Kevin Swindell won't be sticking around long enough to approach any lofty victory totals.

His ultimate goal is to be a Formula One driver, though he hasn't ruled out the NASCARcircuit.

He's already shown the versatility in racing on dirt and asphalt.

The younger Swindell has competed in four USESAsphalt Thunder Sprint car races this year and set track records at three of them.

He's also competed in two ARCA-RE/MAX series events this season.

"Kevin adapts very well and he can succeed at any level of racing, I'm convinced of that,"his father said. "He's always seemed to be a natural at it.

"I believe his career will go as far as he wants it to go."