FRED BEAR JR CLAIMS FIRST WORLD FIGURE 8 CHAMPIONSHIP

Blood Hound Underground Indianapolis Speedrome TM
Indianapolis, Indiana
September 7, 2008

“The World’s Home of the Figure 8” ® saw a fresh face capture the sports biggest prize, the World Figure 8 Championship. Veteran Fred Bear Jr added his name to the storied history of the Indianapolis Speedrome in snatching the $20,000 first place prize. The Avon, Indiana resident, captured top honors in the 32nd Annual edition of this racing classic. A standing room only crowd saw major media coverage along with American Icon Jesse James compete in the Three Hour long contest. Two-time NHRA Top Fuel World Champion Larry Dixon was the event grand marshal while the spectators had tons of entertainment options at this weekend extravaganza. It was an event to remember!

The afternoon began with unlimited time trails for the cars and stars from across the Figure 8 racing planet. Six-time World Figure 8 champion Jack Dossey Jr turned this place on its ear with a new track record lap of 16.589 seconds. He eclipsed his old mark of 16.716 seconds set fifteen years ago. Fellow Ed Bishop driver Mark Tunny claimed the outside front row starting spot. The time trail drama came when late arriving Bill Tunny Jr knocked Jesse James out of the starting field with just seconds remaining in qualifications. The pre-race festivities had drivers ushered around in front to the fans in the Eastgate Chrysler Parade of Champions just before the command was given to start engines.

Jack Dossey took the initial lead as the fireworks lit up the beautiful evening’s sky. Mark Tunny, Rodney Sizemore, Eddie VanMeter, and Mark Harmon occupied the top five as the pack challenged the already treacherous crossover. Lap 47 saw a turning point as VanMeter took the lead and Mark Tunny saw his day end with damage to the rear of the car. Just 21 circuits later, the third place spot “jinx” would claim Harmon as he tore off the front suspension in a crossover wreck. Sizemore also lost some laps during this time after pitting under green with a flat tire as well did Fred Bear Jr.

That left 2008 Speedrome top duo Dossey and VanMeter along with 1988 World Champion Leonard Basham as the only cars left on the lead lap. Basham would get into a few scrapes dropping him from the prime circuit, but still in the hunt in his final Figure 8 performance as he announced his retirement earlier in the day. Lap 124 saw Dossey cut the races fastest orbit time at 17.122 seconds. Around the midway point was another dramatic turn of events. VanMeter got tangled up in a three-car incident in turn three costing him several laps. Dossey used the opportunity to pit while Bear stayed on the track one more lap to be equal with Jack on the restart.

Bear took the lead for the first-time on lap 184 as the late 1990’s World Figure 8 rivals raced bumper-to-bumper. The next 250 laps had the pair trade the top spot many times as traffic played a part in most of those encounters. Meanwhile many early race bad luck victims worked there way back in top five contention as attrition took over. And creeping up the leader board was third-generation driver Jesse Tunny in his second World Figure 8 start. Lap 342 would mark a huge change in the pecking order as leader Jack Dossey Jr and Kentucky’s Calvin Crain had a hard impact at the intersection ending each champion’s day.

This left Bear out in front by four laps over the very impressive Jesse Tunny as well as the legendary Leonard Basham and VanMeter. Fred’s pace had slowed over the later stages as a shock was dragging the racing surface in the right-hand turns. Jesse was the fastest car the final portion of the show as he un-lapped himself three times as he chased the leader in vain. In the end, Fred Bear Jr was not to be denied as he claimed his first-ever World Figure 8 Championship. “I had an angel on board with me tonight”, said an emotional Bear in victory lane. “Bryce kept watch over me and I kept asking him for guidance over the final thirty minutes”. Bryce is Fred’s son who he lost tragically a few years ago. “I have been trying to win this race for a long time and it has been a dream of mine to be named among the elites of Figure 8 racing”.

Jesse Tunny upped his brother’s career best next generation Tunny performance with his awesome runner-up result just one lap behind. Basham put a cap on his racing career with a very nice third place run. VanMeter climbed his way back to fourth six laps off the pace while Sizemore rounded out the top five. Chris Harmon was sixth to claim the Sonny Eaton Memorial award for best finishing rookie while seventh place Jerry Newkirk celebrated his career best result and one for the little guys. Dossey still had enough laps to finish eighth followed by Michigan champion Robbie Loving. Florida’s Wayne Calkins came home 10th to earn the Sonny Thompson Memorial award for best improvement in position. He came into the race as fifth alternate moving up 27 spots at the checkered flag. David Lee Byrd was the best finishing Stocker in 13th to claim the $1000 bonus from Kenny’s Auto Sales.