EDDIE VANMETER, 2019 WORLD FIGURE 8 CHAMPION
The Figure 8 universe has a new ascension to the throne of World Champion in veteran Eddie VanMeter. A sellout crowd and a pay-per-view audience saw his success in Saturday’s 3-Hour Figure 8 Endurance Race. His 12th career try produced a dominant winning performance leading 423 of the 486 laps completed including the final 347. He is the 22nd driver to win the Shelby Materials sponsored event and 6th straight different winner. VanMeter picked up $20,300 in the triumph at the Tom Wood Group Indianapolis Speedrome Powered by Lincoln Tech.
 
The weekend began Friday night with preliminary time trials locking in 10 drivers into Saturday’s main. Reigning World Champion Mark Tunny was quickest at 15.927 seconds. A pair of 25-lap qualifying races each sent 5 more racers locking in. The first saw Donnie Murphy II prevail for the second time in his career. The remaining race one transfer spots went to Jeff Harmon, Chad Sizemore, Cory Harmon, and Matt Smith. The second contest had teenager Jeffrey Shackelford victorious over Mike Riddle Jr, Buddy Vertrees, Doodle Farris, and Brandon White. Saturday’s PGG Enterprise pole qualifying saw Tunny tops again this time turning a 15.982 second lap for his 7th career pole.
 
The races first hour featured the lead exchanged on 7 occasions between Mark Tunny Eddie VanMeter, and Jesse Tunny. The initial notable moment was a multi-car, near track-blocking lap 8 turn 3 tangle that essentially ended the night for Ben Tunny. After several minor yellow flags, the next big hit came in the intersection between Calvin Crain and Jeff Armour on lap 84. A lap 100 crackup with Matt Smith saw Austin Tunny’s race complete. The hour’s biggest crash came just shy of 60-minutes between Mike Hadley Jr and Corey Turner who’s car caught fire. The one hour top 5 was Jesse, Eddie, Murphy, Steve Durham, and Artie Ware.
 
The first portion of the middle stanza had some shuffling of the near leading contenders with pit stops for strategy, minor damage, and flat tires. The halfway running order was VanMeter and Jesse Tunny on the lead circuit, Tommy St John and Buddy Vertrees minus 2 laps, and Donnie Murphy behind 3 laps. Murphy’s evening would end soon after with a massive crossover crash with Mike Riddle Jr bringing out the red flag. A pit stop festival came during the stoppage leaving only 4 cars on track. A handful of time after the resumption, Jesse’s great challenge for first ended in the “X” connecting with Matt Smith. St John would be the new VanMeter adversary just one lap back. Lap 269 saw a milestone as 7th place runner Doug Greig reached a mind-boggling 10,000 career event laps completed. The top five ending the hour were EVM, St John (-1), Vertrees (-2), John Conner Jr (-3), and Hadley (-8).
 
Tommy made a green flag pit stop on lap 329 removing him from second leaving Vertrees and Conner to battle. John emerged from that and began regaining laps from Eddie. After gaining back two of his three laps during the middle portion of the final segment, both VanMeter and Conner pitted on Eddie’s 444th circuit. VanMeter gained the advantage on this exchange and marched to victory. The biggest of his racing career. The final top ten were Eddie VanMeter (486 Laps), John Conner Jr, Buddy Vertrees, Tommy St John, Jeff Harmon, Doug Greig, Mike Hadley Jr, Artie Ware, Jeffrey Shackelford, and Steve Durham. See more on Speedrome.com.
UPCOMING SEASON EVENTS
September 14 Saturday Afternoon
NGAIF Car Show 9am-3pm

September 14 Saturday Evening
Stock Championship, Thundercars, Factory FWD, Adult Faskart Championship, Legends, Ford Oval & Figure 8

September 21 Saturday
Carvana Night at the Races, Hoosier Lottery on Site, World Figure 8 Leftover Tire 75, Thundercar Championship, Factory FWD, Junior Faskarts, Legend Championship

September 28 Saturday
FWD Demolition Derby, Trailer Figure 8, Factory FWD August-September Championship, Ford Oval Championship, Ford Figure 8 Championship, Kenyon Midgets

October 5 Saturday
Brown's Oil Service Night at the Races, Hoosier Lottery on Site, School Bus Figure 8, Kids School Bus Rides, Late Model 50-Lap Figure 8, Junior Faskart July-August September Championship, 2019 Non-Winners Factory FWD, Powder Puff Factory FWD Challenge

October 13 Sunday Afternoon
Ford Oval 40-Laps, Factory FWD Figure 8, Junior Faskarts, Adult Faskarts

October 20 Sunday Afternoon
Legends, Factory FWD, Junior Faskarts, Adult Faskarts, Ford Oval & Figure 8

October 27 Sunday Afternoon
Legends, Factory FWD, Junior Faskarts, Adult Faskarts, Ford Oval & Figure 8

November 16 Saturday
2019 Awards Banquet at the Indiana Grand Casino
Home of the World Figure 8 Championship
Indianapolis Speedrome
802 S. Kitley Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46219
Phone: (317) 353-8206 | Email: speedromeracing@gmail.com