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Indianapolis Speedrome final races preview

The 2001 regular season draws to a close in just 13 days and all the work and sweat for the season championships come down to just a few races. For some teams the last races are a chance to make a move in the points standings for others it's a ...

Edited: Apr 15, 2002, 11:45 PM

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The 2001 regular season draws to a close in just 13 days and all the work and sweat for the season championships come down to just a few races. For some teams the last races are a chance to make a move in the points standings for others it's a chance to put a positive light on the year and for a select few at the top of the heap it's a chance to make 2001 their year.

Fred Bear, Jr. claimed Wednesday's Bryant's 76 Racing Fuels Late Model Figure-8 feature but a rare rain-out on Saturday all but mathematically knocked him out of a chance at the season championship. Bear held off points leaders Bruce Tunny, Bill Tunny, Jr. and Rodney Sizemore for the win and a tight hold on fifth in points.

The Tunny's, Sizemore and R. J. Norton, Jr. have a shot at the year's gold with good runs in the last 3 outings that include a 100-lapper and the 25th Annual 1-Hour Figure-8 Endurance race.

The battle for the Bobby Ellett Memorial Rookie of the Year award is deep in the trenches with the tyros struggling to survive races and rack up points. Keith Richee continues to lead the chase but impressive runs from Casey White have moved him into striking distance with Bill Ellis and Robert Downey, Jr. keeping Richee busy. Impressive showings from Wes Spillers and Jimmy Mays spice up the division but may be too late in the year to break up the kids' battles at the top.

Speedy Teepe and Jack Smith broke out of the pack midway through the season to run off with the Chuck's Race Car Parts Stocks championship and make it their private battlefield. Teepe holds a slim lead in the chase but anything can happen.

The busy schedule for the Sunshine Cafe Roadrunners gives championship contenders the best shot at moving up but with over fifty competitors each night finishing in the points is a trial. Barry White slipped back into the lead but Kerry Wright, Casey Victery, David Lee Byrd are all scrapping to get back on top. Mathematically the season gold can go to anyone who could rack up the wins.

No rivalry at the track has been more hotly contested at the track than the run for the Carmel Sod Modifieds championship. The Friday's race put Billy Boyer back into contention but on "double secret probation" from track stewards for over-aggresive driving. Jim Begley suffered a heartbreaking flat tire midway through the go that knocked him back to fourth in the year's chase. Doug Greig didn't let a broken arm keep him from finishing sixth in the 50-lap main to stay in the hunt. Billy George climbed Cynthia Sizemore's left side knocking him into the pits for a lot of duct tape and prayers, since that was all they had to hold the suspension together, but returned to take seventh in the race and keep the points lead.

Greig's broken arm came in the pits while working on his team owner's Legend Car and only a lot of arguing with the medics let him hit the track to lock up the Race City Auto Sales Legend Car Championship. Greig started on the tail of the thirteen-car field and settled for second at the checkered. Rodney Smith snagged his third win in the last four races on Friday to make the season's Top five but the year is all Greig's.

Young Michael Hadley continues to lead the Race City Auto Sales Bandoleros series over James Robertson. Scott Settles has the lock on the Yardarm Bomber Figure-8 annual.

Racing continues in all divisions this weekend with the Modifieds, Legends, Bandoleros and Bomber Figure-8's on Friday; Stocks go for their 5th Annual Kenny's Auto Sales 50 while the Late Models scrap in the 100-lap Pepsi Challenge Figure-8 on Saturday. Roadrunners round out the card both nights.

Legend car test drive sessions hit the fifth-mile oval this Saturday and Sunday with representatives from INEX (the international sanctioning body of Legend Car racing) and Legend Car manufacturer 600 Racing on hand with cars and instructions. Cost of the session is $50 that covers admission to the pits and 10 laps in a race-ready Legend.

For more information check us out on the web at www.speedrome.com or give us a call on our hotline at (317) 818-7000.

-IS-

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