Indianapolis Speedrome race results 2003-09-06

It took twenty-five years but Fairland, IN's Bill Tunny, Jr. claimed the Marion-Kay Spices World Championship Figure-8 3-Hour Endurance Race. The 27th installment of the Indianapolis Speedrome's traditional season-ending extravaganza featured drivers from throughout the United States with Tunny topping one of the highest quality fields ever assembled.

Tunny started the championship weekend with a win in one of Friday night's qualifying races. By the end of last chance qualifying the starting field included four Tunnys with Bill joined by his son Ben, brother Bruce and nephew Mark. Bill lined up 4th on the starting grid with Bruce 2nd next to fast qualifier Rodney Sizemore. Mark Tunny was the highest qualifying rookie starting 8th and Ben had to make the field through time, starting 23rd.

When the green flag flew Bill and Bruce Tunny took off with 2001 World Champ Bobby Douthitt and tried to run from the field. Except for a stretch from Lap 28-44 when Douthitt paced the field the Tunny brothers led the entire race with Bruce up front when cross-over contact created an electrical fire forcing the three-time champ out. Bill led to the finish with veteran George Sutton taking second followed by Doug Greig.

Fairdeal, KY's Danny Smith came home fourth, top for a non-Speedrome regular. Smith also picked up the coveted Sonny Eaton Award as the top rookie finisher. Indy's Jeff Shackelford picked up the Sonny Thompson Award for the best improvement in position, starting 27th and finishing 5th. Michigan's Jeremy Miller was 6th as the clock wound down followed by Hoosiers Mark Murello, Danny Turner, R.J. Norton, Jr., and Ben Tunny as the second rookie to make the top ten and the youngest racer in the field.

Rodney Sizemore set fast time in Saturday's qualifying. Other highlights included Jesse James of cable TV's "Monster Garage" first appearance in the World Championship for a 32nd place finish in the 48-car field. Defending champ Curtis McMurtrey was a favorite target finally finishing 232 laps for a 21st place finish.

Speedrome action continues this Saturday night with the final event in the 2003 Red Line Graphics Late Model Championship Series. The 27th edition of the One-Hour Figure-8 championship will settle the battle between R.J. Norton, Jr. and Bruce Tunny. The All-Phase Landscaping SuperModifieds and the Speedrome Hornets face 100-Lap oval runs while the Chuck's Race Car Parts Outlaw Stocks and Sunshine Cafe Roadrunners round out the show. Gates open at 5PM, qualifying rolls at 6PM and the first race goes green at 7PM.

Indianapolis Speedrome Results - September 6, 2003

27TH Annual Marion-Kay Spices World Championship Figure-8 Three-Hour Endurance Race -
1. Bill Tunny, Jr.
2. George Sutton
3. Doug Greig
4. Danny Smith
5. Jeff Shackelford
6. Jeremy Miller
7. Mark Murello
8. Danny Turner
9. R.J. Norton
10. Ben Tunny
11. Greg Studt
12. Calvin Crain
13. Rodney Sizemore
14. Tony Anderson
15. Donnie Garrigus II
16. Jeff Hizer
17. Fred Bear, Jr.
18. Casey White
19. Chris Green
20. Mark Tunny
21. Curtis McMurtrey
22. John Lavalle
23. Bobby Douthitt
24. Don Eslick
25. Steve Durham
26. Ricky Deitz
27. Donnie Sloan
28. Bruce Tunny
29. Wes Spillers
30. Larry Hahn
31. David Lee Byrd
32. Jesse James
33. Christopher Green
34. Bob Foster, Sr.
35. Kevin Ford
36. Eric Buck
37. Mike Hughes
38. Ronnie Rigdon
39. David Reel
40. Curtiss Unrue
41. Scott Settles
42. Steve Frost
43. Steve Prine
44. Donnie Garrigus III
45. Mike Cain
46. John Passehl
47. Leonard Basham
48. Gordon Brown

SPECIAL AWARDS -
FAST QUALIFIER - Rodney Sizemore 17.292
SONNY EATON MEMORIAL AWARD: TOP FINISHING ROOKIE - Danny Smith
SONNY THOMPSON MEMORIAL AWARD: BEST IMPROVEMENT IN FINISHING POSITION - Jeff Shackelford

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