Racing Action At The Indianapolis Speedrome !

DOSSEY SHINES IN JAKE’S 150 FIGURE 8 AT THE INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDROME

The Indianapolis Speedrome® Indianapolis, Indiana June 20, 2009 The Home of the World Figure 8® hosted the prestigious 9th annual Jake’s 150 on Saturday night June 20th. The Speedrome fans were treated to a barn-burner in this extra-length event on the track’s famous Figure 8 course. Drivers in the Jiffy Lube Late Models and Trackside Race Car Parts Stocks dared the crossover three hundred times with some making it through and some, not so much. Also the program contained oval competition for the Peters Auto Service Hornets, Roadrunners, and Stocks. The day began with 31 drivers eyeing the $2000 first prize in the 9th annual Jake’s 150-lap Figure 8, but first they had to qualify. Current Jiffy Lube Late Model Chase for the Cup point leader Mark Tunny set quick time with a lap of 17.252 seconds. The field also contained several Stock class machines with Larry Hahn the best against the clock at 19.305 seconds. Then Florida Figure 8 champion Eddie VanMeter won the trophy dash over a trio of Tunny pilots. Mark drew an inversion of 12 for tonight’s starting grid ironically placing his cousin Austin Tunny on the pole. The teams pushed their rides out to the grid for driver’s introductions as Speedrome Hall of Fame member Kenny Sizemore served as grand marshal. The green flag flew as Fireworks lit up the night’s sky. 2007 World Figure 8® champion Doug Greig took the lead as the large crowd stayed on their feet to view the congested crossover. 1994 National Figure 8 king Rich Fenwick followed through as the runner-up with reigning track champion Jack Dossey Jr in third. Jack made it up one more spot and began pressuring the leader. Lap twelve was the time in traffic for Dossey to claim the prime position. He now saw inaugural event winner Rodney Sizemore on his tail with Greig slipping to third. The first dramatic moment came on lap 23 when Sizemore and Mark Tunny had a grinding crash at the crossover eliminating the top two in points from the contest. The restart saw Dossey resume his charge with Fenwick back as the second place car. But the man on the rise toward the front was the “Big Dog” Bobby Douthitt. He went to third on lap 56 and ten circuits later became the runner-up. That top pair were each on an island of their own leaving a great battle behind for the final podium spot. Fenwick, Greig, and 1988 World Figure 8® champion Leonard Basham swapped spots several times during the middle segment on the Jake’s. Also having a smooth run was current series top rookie Nick Moore, who stood sixth the last car on the lead lap. The next dramatic story of the regular season’s biggest crossover event came on lap 92 when the red flag flew. The pit crews heated up as four of the top five drivers headed in for fresh tires. Dossey and Douthitt had four new skins mounted on while Greig and Basham elected for a new pair of shoes on the rear. They returned to the track all now at the tail with new leader Rich Fenwick taking the green flag. The guys made their way towards Rich in this order at the race’s century mark: Dossey, Greig, Douthitt, and Basham. The 104th circuit saw Jack back as the Jake’s race leader before a minor incident the next lap. In turn three a tangle between Fenwick and Greig saw the pair hooked bringing out a quick red flag. The restart lineup had Dossey and Douthitt side-by-side with Basham on their bumper. The two cars from the episode rejoined the field without going to the pits. The 1999 track championship rivalry restart saw Jack reestablished the advantage looking for his first win in this classic event. Douthitt and Basham swapped the runner-up spot a couple times before Bobby took hold. Dossey posted some great times over the final circuits putting all but the runner-up off the prime lap. He cruised to his first-ever Jake’s 150 victory which gave him a career sweep of all the Speedrome major races. “I am so excited to win this race tonight”, stated the happy winner. “The crew has been focusing on this event for several weeks. Jake Cohen was a special person to a lot of drivers over the years and I have always wanted to the win his race”. Dossey led 129 of the race’s 150 laps. The top four finishers all have a World Figure8® title on their career resume. Bobby Douthitt was the runner-up and the only driver to stay on the lead circuit with the rampaging winner. Third place Doug Greig and fourth place Leonard Basham were just one behind. Nick Moore and Rich Fenwick were two laps off the pace. Rounding out the top ten finishers were Jesse Tunny, Eddie VanMeter, Casey White, and Ben Tunny who had a late race green flag pit stop for a flat tire. Bob Johnson was the top finishing Stock class driver in 13th. Jack has the car dialed in !! Come out to the Speedrome and watch him and all of the racing action on Saturday Night ! Jacks son has his Bandelaro running great and is leading the points chase in that division, Our friend Jimmy Skiles has his son Thomas in a JR Faskart and is doing well in the Friday Night Shows. He has several top 5 finishes as well as heat race wins !!