Ben Tunny Tops Speedrome with 1st World
Figure 8 Tour Victory
Indianapolis, IN (July 23, 2010)
- On what would be possibly
the hottest Indiana temperatures of the calendar year, the World
Figure 8® Tour would settle
the season championship. This series headlined an action-packed
night of motorsports at the Indianapolis Speedrome®. Three
heralded intersection intimidators laid it all on the line looking
for the title. The expedition for checkered flags was at the
forefront also for the Thirsty Turtle Tavern Hornets, Vogel Dairy
Junior Faskarts, INEX zMax Legends, INEX Bandoleros, and Hornet
Figure 8’s.
The World’s Home of the Figure 8® played host to the
fourth and final round of the 2010 championship for the World
Figure 8® Tour. Point leader Jack Dossey Jr added a few precious
markers to his advantage with quick time in qualifications at
17.293 seconds. Two-time Speedrome Late Model champion Curtis
McMurtrey won the trophy dash and backed that up with a heat
race win too. The final preliminary saw veteran racer “bulldog” Bobby
Whitaker polish off the field for victory. Dossey then drew a
full invert for the feature starting lineup.
Whitaker would bolt to the early lead in the 100-lap main event
just after the green flag. Steve Frost held second with title
contender Mark Tunny moving to third. Mark clicked past each
top runner to take the top spot on lap 7. He was soon joined
by McMurtrey and Casey White setting up a powerful three-car
breakaway from the chase group. The trio was a full straightaway
ahead when the red flag flew for the first time when RJ Norton
Jr had his car come to a halt in turn three when his sway bar
broke and locked up his steering. He would return to action after
a pit stop.
Mark returned to prominence on the restart, but now saw title
rival Dossey on his tail. They caught some lapped machines after
a few circuits. A hole closed as the pair worked past one of
these cars causing them to get tangled up with each other spinning
them around hooked together for another red flag. This was a
dramatic point as Mark was able to get back going while Dossey
had to go to the pits for frantic suspension repairs by his crew.
He returned putting himself with Mark at the tail while opening
up an opportunity for third place point man Bruce Tunny to steal
the crown.
The green flag waved once again with McMurtrey the latest leader
with White and Ben Tunny the new pursuers. When we got to the
halfway mark, there were six cars on the primary circuit. That
six-pack consisted of McMurtrey, White, Ben, Bruce, Mark, and
Dossey. Another wild scene came about on the 64th orbit. The
top two spilt some lapped cars as they aimed for turn three.
When the bevy of cars reached that point, there was just not
enough room. McMurtrey and White made heavy contact sending Curtis’ car
on top of Casey’s front end to bring out the final red
flag.
The race resumption rotated Ben to the lead with the championship
battle not far behind. Dossey would need to stay right behind
Mark to claim the crown. Jack’s quest almost came to end
when on lap 78, he and Michigan ace Robbie Loving made heavy
contact in turn three nearly snuffing the championship fire for
the pink #20. Mark would chase his cousin down over the final
circuits hoping to pass and take the title, but it was not to
be. Ben Tunny would cross the line to win his first career WF8T
race. Mark claimed that runner-up position just ahead of third
place Dossey who took home the series title by 1 scant point.
Jack had 2 second and 2 third place results during the campaign.
The Thirsty Turtle Tavern Hornets are winding down the June/July
championship with only three events left after this Friday night
program. Heat one saw lady speedster Brittany Dailey hoisting
the checkered flag over Robert Teney and Melanie Coil. The second
contest had double-duty Don VanValkenburg III best over Robert
Eversole and Junior Lemasters. The feature’s opening circuits
were a little wild and crazy before the red flag flew on lap
3 with Coil and David Lester in the turn four wall. Lemasters
would take over and lead nearly all the remaining laps. Larry
Hatfield would get past very late to win his fourth feature of
the campaign. Junior was second with a returning Doug Carver
third.
The Hornet Figure 8 division capped off the evening for the
four-cylinder machines with some intense competition. The warm-up
for the feature came in the form of an 8-lap preliminary heat
race. Doug Carver, who was in his first Figure 8 of the season,
took home the victory over title contender Junior Lemasters and
Nathan Arthur. The field headed off towards main event glory
with Arthur taking the lead. The crossover rookie cut some great
lap times as the division veterans worked into a challenging
position. Keith Graybill was on his way to the leader before
contact ended his pursuit in turn three. Brad Brooks climbed
to second and eventually first in the final results. Brad’s
win would also vault him into the series point lead. Lemasters
was second with Arthur a Figure 8 career third.
The Vogel Dairy Junior Faskarts were in action with many young
gun drivers looking to have fun and add some trophies to their
collection. Heat one saw defending series champion Tyler Payne
victorious over teammates Mason Keller and Thomas Skiles. The
second tester had Quentin White in the winner’s circle
ahead of Jordan Hahn and Andrew Teepe. Tyler Jones led the feature
field down to the green flag. The pack went four-abreast on this
opening circuit thrilling the fans. Mr. Payne squirted his way
to the lead a few laps later and went on to win his eighth main
event victory of the year. Standings runner-up Skiles tried his
best, but had to settle for second. Josh Vogel sped his way up
to third at the checkered flag.
The INEX zMax Legends came into this Friday night program fired-up
after watching their fellow racers compete on TV for the big
money the pervious Saturday. The evening started with a pair
of preliminary heat races. Heat one saw Speedrome point leader
John Greer Jr victorious over Joe Thurman and Ed Black. The second
tester had three-time track champion Doug Greig besting Eric
Black and Heath Tatman. The 25-lap feature saw Greig work his
way to the top spot near halfway. He went on to victory in his
fourth straight main event. The division’s all-time win
leader saw Eric Black scoring a second place result with Greer
tying his career best of third at the finish.
The INEX Bandolero brigade headed into tonight’s battle
hoping to de-rail the hottest driver in the class, Paul Fusco.
But first, the young stars had feature prelude testers. Heat
one had Illinois ace Tristan Batson victorious over James Kirby
and Zach Freeman. The second heat saw point leader Jack Dossey
III besting Fusco and Dillion Brown for the win. Batson would
lead the main event in the early stages looking for his first
Speedrome victory. Fusco caught him just in the final third of
the 20-lap contest and passed him for his third straight win.
Tristan would finish second followed in the results by Brown,
Dossey, and Chris Hacker.
For more information:
WEB www.speedrome.com
PHONE (317) 353-8206
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