INDIANAPOLIS — Late Model Figure-8 cars are set to invade Indianapolis this weekend for the 47th annual World Figure-8 Championship 3-Hour Endurance race.
The event is one of the most entertaining and intriguing short track in the country. The event has been run annually since 1977.
Twenty-eight Late Model Figure-8s will take the green flag this Saturday night for a 3-hour timed event. For three hours cars will cross through the intersection of the tiny fifth-mile, flat Figure-8 coarse time after time in hopes of taking home $20,000, and title of World Figure-8 champion.
There is no other race like this in the entire world, and it just might be short track racing’s best kept secret. The event has everything you could want in a single race. Drama, hard racing, crashes, live pit stops, it has it all.
The event only starts with 28 cars, but alternates are added as cars leave the track for mechanical issues. It’s entirely possible that there could be more cars running at the end than taking the green, although this hasn’t happened yet.
No car can go the entire distance on fuel and tires. Pit stops play an important part in the race and all teams must make them. The race has been lost in the pits on multiple occasions. Pit crews play an important part of the race just as much as the driver.
The early released entry list showed 41 cars representing Indiana, Kentucky, Florida, Wisconsin, California, Michigan and Washington.
The weekend officially kicked off Thursday with practice for Saturday’s event along with racing from support classes. Friday qualifying will be held to determine the starting line-up for Saturday’s $20,000 final.
Ten-time polesitter and defending champion Mark Tunny is a favorite to claim his 11th pole position.
For those unable to make this weekend’s event, both nights will be streamed live by SPEED SPORT affiliate Speedrome.tv.