World Figure-8 Rookie of the Year Dillon Douthitt returns for the 49th race Saturday. Douthitt is regarded as Canada’s favorite Figure-8 driver finished ninth after completing 477 laps, second-most laps of any rookie. Douthitt is the son of 2001 World Figure-8 champion Bobby Douthitt of the Southsid
​(SPEEDROME PHOTOS BY KELSEY JO DOSSEY)

By Al Stilley
Editor

The grand-daddy Figure-8 of ‘em all – the 49th Annual 3-Hour Endurance Race presented by Jiffy Lube of Indiana – unfolds Saturday night at the Indianapolis Speedrome.

The high-speed, high-horsepower Figure-8 features home grown champions plus drivers from other hotbeds of Figure-8 racing from Kentuckiana, Florida, Michigan, and Washington who will take aim at the winner’s prize of $20,000. Second-place pays $7,500.

The Figure-8 chase is the brainchild of former Speedrome owner John Stiles of Greenwood in 1977 and was held on a cold October day. The inaugural race was won by Jim Fox of Greenfield who completed 253 laps against 57 stock cars. The event attracted a massive 73 entries from Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ohio.

The concept of the Figure-8 classic has remained consistent down through the years, mainly to attract the nation’s best high-speed Figure-8 drivers to the World Championship. The starting field for the green flag consists of 24 to 28 cars (based on qualifications) and race cars are added to the field as cars drop out or have a mechanical problem. All drivers who post a qualifying time are added as the race continues. It has taken on the traditional date of the first Saturday after the Labor Day weekend.

Eventually, the race took on a life of its own. Legendary Kenny St. John won five consecutive races (1978-1982) as the race cars became more exotic and powerful. His record number of wins stood until Jack Dossey Jr. of Franklin Township won six times (1993, 1994 and 1996-1999).

The classic has seen out-of-town drivers win, including Rance Harmon (1986) and Danny Smith of Louisville (2014) and Leonard Basham (1988) of Jeffersonville.

It is not uncommon for a couple of drivers to be on the lead lap as time expires. Last year, Mark Tunny and runner-up Eddie VanMeter completed 489 laps with third-place Mike Hadley Jr. of Greenwood, 488 laps.

The event stands out as the world’s hardest motorsports race to win. Tunny went around 1,956 corners and through the crossover 978 times without encountering a major problem against door-to-door and bumper-to-bumper competition.

Six World Figure-8 champions are among early entries for this year’s event, including Southport High School alum Doug Greig, the 2007 and 2011 winner, who has the most starts (35) and most laps completed (12,253 laps) of any driver. Mark Tunny (2024, 2022, 2018), Ben Tunny (2021, 2015, 2009), Austin Tunny (2023, 2016) and Jesse Tunny (2020) of the Southside and Greenwood’s Hadley (2017) are active champions.

World Figure-8 events begin Thursday with practice at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Thursday, qualifications at 8:30 p.m. Friday, and then on Saturday qualifications for alternate positions at 3:15 p.m., starting lineup introductions at 7:30 p.m., and 49th World Figure-8 start at 8 p.m.
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The Speedrome is at Brookville Road and Kitley Avenue on the city’s southeast-side.
For tickets and info: www.speedrome.com

Gillian Leppado of Washington seeks to become the fifth female competitor in the World Figure-8 Championship Saturday. Leppado is an Evergreen Speedway Outlaw Figure-8 feature winner who has raced in California, Colorado, Florida, and Indiana. Highest finishing woman driver in the three-hour race is Kim Gibson of Camby who was 12th in 1988, completing 303 laps.

Perry Meridian running back Tristin Ling (1) waits for Falcons linemen, from left, Daniel Fleming (67), Moses Thang (51), and Cesar Ramirez-Tello (54) to clear the way against Southport.
(PHOTO BY ANDY CLARY)

Beech Grove strong safety Javier Tanasovich (8) makes interception in lopsided triumph Friday against visiting Jennings County. Undefeated Hornets are at home Friday against Scecina.
​(PHOTO BY DOUBLE EDGE MEDIA)

Southport junior wide receiver Liam Wilson is dragged down by Perry Meridian senior Linebacker Zach Clary in Battle of the Birds at Southport.
(PHOTO BY ANDY CLARY)

Beech Grove quarterback Bishop Moore (15) completed 12 of 14 passes for 217 yards and three TDs against visiting Jennings County.
​(PHOTO BY DOUBLE EDGE MEDIA)

By Al Stilley
Editor

Tristin Ling’s three TD runs and quarterback Jason Schoch’s three TD passes enabled Perry Meridian to fly over host Southport Friday in the gridiron Battle of the Birds.

Each Perry Township team was looking for its first win of the early season Friday. The Falcons (1-1) flew off on a fast start, leading 21-0 at the end of the first quarter and dominating the Cardinals, 41-0.

Ling scored all three of his TDs in the first quarter on runs of 1, 1, and 7 yards. His first TD came midway into the first quarter. Less than a minute later, the Falcons recovered a Southport fumble on the 14 that set up the Cardinals second TD. Schoch connected with Joe Eagan on a 13-yard pass on the next play, and then Ling went over from the 1. A two-point pass conversion from Schoch to Carson Stringer made it 14-0.

Ling scored his third and final TD with three minutes left in the first quarter.

Southport’s defense had its moments. The Cardinals (0-2) recovered a PM fumble on the 27 but turned the ball over on downs a few minutes later.

Schoch and receiver Trevon Darden combined for a 35-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter before trading intercepted passes. The Falcons led 27-0 at the half.

In the third quarter, Schoch threw TD passes of 48 yards to Darden and 32 yards to Colton Barker, which was set up by Barker’s interception of a Southport pass.

Ling had 18 carries for 95 yards and three TDs. Darden had four receptions for 136 yards.
“Defensively, we did a much better job rallying to the football,” first-year PM coach Kevin Miller said. “Our o-line executed upfront so we were able to move the ball. We were determined to come back and play Perry Meridian football after playing Franklin Central.”

One week after stunning Greenfield Central on the road, Beech Grove’s rejuvenated Hornets dominated visiting Jennings County, 44-0.

The Hornets are 2-0 for the first time since 2018. BG jumped to a 26-0 first-quarter lead and scored seven TDs Friday in just about every way possible.

Senior running back Corron Parks scored five TDs, three on TD runs, one on a TD pass reception, and one on an 83-yard kickoff return. A. J. Amos scored on a returned fumble recovery. Kordell Martin caught a TD pass.

Quarterback Bishop Moore completed 12 of 14 passes for 217 yards and two TDs for a nifty 165.2 quarterback rating. Parks wound up with 252 all-purpose yards.

BG’s defense was led by Frankie Wielbrenner (16 tackles), Mikey Renfro (six tackles), and BJ Mastin (five tackles).

Whiteland had a successful home opener Friday as the Warriors defeated Floyd Central.

Jordan Palmer ran for 134 yards and four TDs against the Highlanders. The Warriors also scored on two TD passes.

Center Grove produced 468 yards total offense (319 rushing and 149 passing) and defeated host Ft. Wayne Carroll. Nolan Rees led the rushing attack with 26 carries, 149 yards and two TDs. Quarterback Oscar Sloan was 16 of 19 passes for 186 yards. Carroll quarterback Gabe Frisinger gave CG’s defense fits, completing 23 of 41 passes for 347 yards and three TDs.
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Class 2A Lutheran traveled South to 5A New Albany, where the determined Saints shut out the host Bulldogs.