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Greig Captures Wild IOFS Feature; Tharp Wins Front Wheel Drive Event
Indianapolis driver Doug Grieg
celebrated capturing the International Outlaw Figure 8 Series title with a win
at Anderson Speedway on Saturday.
Greig, who started 21st in the 22 car field as a
result of the inversion patiently worked his way through the field and was in a
position to contend for the win when tempers flared among the leaders with 15
laps remaining.
Emotions ran wild on lap 35 when leader Chris Green got loose coming off the
fourth corner and second place running Eddie VanMeter made contact in the
crossover, sending Green toward the front straight wall.
IOFS officials sent both drivers to the tail but Green then gave VanMeter’s
mount a hit in the rear bumper and the two drivers continued to tangle on the
front straight. Both drivers were disqualified which gave the point to Gary
Bedell chased by Doug Greig, Ben Tunney, Jessie Tunney and Danny Smith.
Greig took the lead on lap 36 with an inside pass of
Bedell entering Turn one. Bedell was forced to the sidelines with a broken rear
end. From there Grieg steadily pulled away from Jesse Tunney for the victory
with Ben Tunney coming home in third.
They were the only cars on the lead lap as attrition saw only seven of the 22
cars running at the finish.
“They were driving kind of crazy,” Grieg said of the first 35 laps. “I was
laying back to save a little bit for the end. I didn’t know they were going to
put those two guys to the tail.”
Early race leader Jeff Hizer spun to avoid a lapped car in the crossover and
spun into the infield grass which gave the lead to Green.
Anderson ImmediaDent Figure 8 champion Jeff Swinford captured the first heat win
for the IOFS series. Richard Dickens closed on Swinford halfway through the race
but slipped on the final lap exiting Turn two and wasn’t able to challenge for
the win. Andy Shirley finished third.
Johnny Hargraves held off a strong challenge from Ben Tunney, who was trying to
use the high line to make the pass, to win the second heat. Tunney was nipped at
the checkers by Doug Grieg for second with Danny Smith a close fourth.
Eddie Van Meter, who set a new track record during qualifying, worked his way
through the field and caught leader Chris Green at the checkers to win the third
heat. Jeff Hizer finished third closely followed by Charlie Hargraves.
Rickie Tharp used the inside line on the second lap to advance from the third
position into the lead with a pass of Allen Hargraves and went on to win the
IOFS Front Wheel Drive feature.
Tharp was chased by Bill Leisure with Josh Tharp holding down the third spot
followed by Johnny Greer Jr., and Mike Alley.
With the victory Tharp captured the season championship.
The final Thunder Car 200 lap Enduro race is set for next Saturday at Anderson
Speedway along with the Ed Maynard Memorial 100 for the Front Wheel Drive
Division, the biggest race of the season for that division. Racing action starts
at 7 p.m.
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