BILL TUNNY JR. WINS THE 27TH ANNUAL WORLD FIGURE 8 CHAMPIONSHIP IN FRONT OF A STANDING ROOM ONLY CROWD

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.

Fairdale, 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.