Success, triumph, and progress were the themes that distinguished Curt Swearingin’s 2024 season. Co-driving alongside Dutchman Kay van Berlo, the pairing soared to new heights as they collected four wins and five podium finishes. As they wrapped up the year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, they emerged as the Pro-Am class champions.
Although ACI Motorsports clinched the title by a notable margin, it was not entirely smooth sailing all the way through. As Swearingin recalled, they had some hurdles to overcome as the finish line drew closer.
“We had such a strong season,” said Curt Swearingin. “We carried the lead throughout the whole year, and towards the end we just kept hitting bumps in the road. We either were unable to complete races, or we were leaving points on the table, and we just wanted to be able to wrap up the championship so badly. It was an emotional journey because it felt like it was dragging on a little bit.”
“When we officially locked it up, it was such a relief,” he expressed. “We’ve put in so much effort year over year to get to this point, and it felt good to alleviate that pressure now that we had finally done it.”
Swearingin gave a lot of credit to his support system, and namely his Pro co-driver Kay van Berlo, whose matter-of-fact approach to coaching has been instrumental in Swearingin’s growth as a competitor.
“He challenges me as a driver and makes me work even harder,” he explained. “He is so dedicated and an exceptionally smart guy, both in racing and in the real world. Having him guide me and push me couldn’t be better.”
Some of their highlights over the course of the year included a strong weekend at Sebring International Raceway, where they scored a win and a second-place finish, with similar results at VIRginia International Raceway and Road America as well.
“Those were big weekends where we were able to show just how good we can be and how strong our pace was,” he recalled. “We showed on the performance side that even when things didn’t quite go our way, like getting hit by a competitor or having a flat tire, we were still in the hunt regardless of what was thrown at us.”
Consistency was truly the key, as their approach for the entirety of the season was to make smart choices and remain steady in order to scoop up as many points as possible each race weekend.
“Our goal wasn’t necessarily to be first in every race, but we definitely wanted to be on the podium,” he elaborated. “It was a true team effort and we always kept the big picture in mind. We didn’t want to take our chances and make stupid mistakes, the objective was to keep accumulating points and the wins would come. We took advantage of every opportunity.”
Of course, despite their best efforts, things don’t always go according to plan, and the ability to regroup was essential when tough times arose. Instead of dwelling on moments of bad luck, they instead focused on their strengths and doing what they do best.
Additionally, Swearingin gained further experience, knowledge, and insight by performing double duty in the GT4 class in GT America, where he went on to become Vice-Champion with three wins and eight podiums of his own. The ability to have extra time in the car had a direct impact on his progression overall.
“We used it as an opportunity for us to use those sessions as extra practice,” he stated. “We didn’t do a lot of testing outside of race weekends because we knew we had that allocated time in GT America. It allowed us to maximize our efforts and gave us more data to go over, on top of more onboard videos for me to review. We definitely used it as a way to help us figure out what to adjust and change, and I truly think it aided us in winning the championship in GT4 America.”
The level of competition across both series also ensured that he was raising the bar in terms of his own expectations. Having to chase down strong racers such as Isaac Sherman and Gray Newell helped him prepare and adapt for further intense battles. Consequently, he encouraged other drivers to take on the same dual series approach; “It was hugely beneficial. I've told multiple people that it’s a great thing and they should consider it.”
As he looks forward to the next season ahead, his objectives are clear as he seeks to defend his championship title, but this time he will have a new teammate joining him for this next chapter as Kay van Berlo moves on to another endeavor.
“I would love to go back and repeat this outcome,” Swearingin added. “That would be the goal, although this time I’ll be doing it with a different co-driver. I connected with Riley Dickinson, who has experience racing in other GT4 series, and the team and I thought he was a great choice. We feel like we’ll be in a good position.”