Dossey Wins Special Figure 8 on Special
Night
Indianapolis, IN (July 24, 2010)
- The Home of the World
Figure 8® saw tradition reign supreme
on Saturday night July 24. The Speedrome Hall of Fame added its
newest member when championship car owner Ed Bishop was inducted
in an on-track ceremony. Ed’s drivers along with friends,
family, and some special dignitaries were on hand for this honored
instance. The racing action was headlined by the 30th Annual
Sonny Thompson Memorial 100-lap Figure 8 for the Dad’s
Truck & Auto Late Models. The agenda also called for competition
from the Scooter’s Auto Sales Stocks presented by Peters
Auto Service, 1-800-Radiator & AC Roadrunners, and Thirsty
Turtle Tavern Hornets.
It was just one of those don’t miss nights on the racing
calendar that drivers in the Dad’s Truck & Auto Late
Models circle each year. It was the 30th Annual Sonny Thompson
Memorial 100-lap Figure 8. The race honors the inaugural Speedrome
Hall of Fame inductee and track legend that passed away in 1979.
His family journeyed north to be on hand for this precious occasion.
The program began with time trails. Reigning division champion
Mark Tunny was the quickest with a lap of 17.828 seconds. Former
Stock champion Corey Turner won the trophy dash while “the
outlaw” Jesse Tunny, 1988 World Figure 8® Champion
Leonard Basham, and rookie Steve Frost Jr captured heat victories.
The century-long race saw the green flag wave with Basham leading
the way. On the second orbit, Jeff A Smith spun in turn two while
Bobby Whitaker wacked the turn one wall to bring out a red flag.
The restart had Basham back in the top spot before being passed
by chase driver Speedy Teepe a few circuits later. These guys
led a talented 10-car lead pack of cars around the track and
through the dangerous crossover. Last night’s World Figure
8® Tour winner Ben Tunny moved to second on lap 12 and to
the primary position on lap 15 as he aimed for the weekend $500
double-up bonus. Several racers had their progress hampered with
contact including Teepe vs. Basham and Norton vs. Bruce Tunny.
The race had its most dramatic moment on lap 27 when the battle
for the runner-up position headed for the crossover. The #27
car of Zach Gremore was in a bad spot coming from the opposite
direction. Some missed him before Mark Tunny center punched the
rookie’s machine to bring out the red flag. Gremore would
be a little banged up as his race ended while Mark would continue
with some damage. His cousin Ben reemerged as the pack pacer
with recently crowned WF8T king Jack Dossey Jr now on his heels.
Basham and Doug Greig were close behind making it four World
Champions competing for the lead.
The top two worked out a nice gap as we neared the halfway mark.
Dossey would seize an opportunity in turn three to go alongside
Ben. Jack got past making him the new leader entering the final
half of the event. He would march away from the field over the
lingering laps to take his fourth career victory in the Sonny
Thompson Memorial Figure 8. It was his third intersection win
of the season coming on the night his car owner entered the Hall
of Fame . Ben held off a late charge from Greig for second. Jesse
Tunny was fourth and Corey Turner fifth rounding out the cars
on the lead lap. With the win, Dossey would add to his standings
advantage in the Chase for the Cup and its $10,000 first prize.
The Scooter’s Auto Sales Stocks presented by Peters Auto
Service came into round two of the Chase for the Cup championship
with reigning king Jimmy Kirby topping the current standings.
Qualifications were first up on the docket. Former Kenny’s
Auto Sales 100 winner Joe Sheedy had the best lap at 13.846 seconds.
Heat one saw past Hornet ace Nigel Peters victorious over Kirby
and Greg Snow. The second heat had comeback kid Jeff A Smith
notch the win over Kevin Williams and Eddie Rogers. The main
event saw a spirited duel between Peters and Joshua Carroll.
The pair powered through the 25-lap distance never a car-length
apart. Nigel went on to victory for the third time in this his
rookie season in the division. Carroll was happy with second
after losing an engine last weekend. Kirby rallied late to grab
the final podium spot.
The 1-800-Radiator & AC Roadrunners enter Saturday with
the penultimate race in the June/July championship on their evening
schedule. Precious points were on the line for the title and
for transfer spots into the Chase for the Cup that begins August
4th. Their quest began with preliminary action. JP McDaniel,
who has scored more points than any other Roadrunner driver this
year in the combined list, was the heat winner over Justin Dibbern
and Kenny Smith. The feature saw Mr. Smith go to victory lane
keeping his perfect podium streak alive in this title segment.
It was his third regular season main event victory of the year.
Rex Cox II came away in the runner-up spot with Dibbern finishing
third.
The Thirsty Turtle Tavern Hornets were back to wrap-up a weekend
doubleheader of competition with a strong field of cars and drivers
present. Heat one saw Robert Teney in the winner’s circle
over Josh Casse. The second tester had Dameron Taylor claim his
first career Speedrome win over Sean Bragg. The final heat saw
Adam Watkins victorious ahead of Devin Barry. The feature would
be run in the clockwise direction throwing a wrench into the
racers edge. Kevin Pringle settled in as the early leader before
seeing a tough challenge from Barry. The two made subtle contact
cutting down Devin’s tire. Watkins would work past the
leader and go on to win his second main event of the year. Point
leader Cassidy Worden was second with Allen Hargraves third in
his first 2010 oval start.
Upcoming Events
Thursday July 29, 2010
Speedrome Live radio show presented by XL950am
Open Practice for all divisions with Free Spectator Admission
Pit Gates open at 4:30pm
Radio broadcast begins at 6pm
Practice is from 5pm to 7pm
Friday July 30, 2010
Hornets, Hornet Figure 8, Faskarts, Junior Faskarts, Legends,
and Bandoleros
Pit Gates Open at 4:30pm
Spectator Gates Open and Practice Begins at 5pm
Racing Starts at 7pm
Saturday July 31, 2010
8th Annual Phyllis Tunny Memorial Figure 8 plus
Roadrunner and Hornet June/July Championship Night as well as
Late Models and Stocks,
Pit Gates Open at 4pm
Spectator Gates Open and Practice Begins at 5pm
Racing Starts at 7pm |
