FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Audio, story and photo by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman —

Just like in the winged 600cc midget class, qualifying for the non-winged 600cc midget class on Saturday afternoon at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and Expo Center was swept by one driver.

In the case of the 25-car non-winged field, that driver was veteran and former Rumble in Fort Wayne winner Larry Joe Sroufe.

Sroufe, who scored the trophy on finale night in 2014, stormed around the one-sixth mile indoor concrete oval in 8.282 seconds (72.446 mph) on his first lap and while he slowed to 8.341 seconds (71.934 mph) on his second trip around, the times were good enough to top the timesheets for both Saturday and Sunday drills ahead of the 18th annual Rumble in Fort Wayne.

Lap one of two-lap qualifications set the heat race lineups for Saturday night and lap two did the same for Sunday afternoon’s matinee event.

“It felt really good on my run — drove nice and smooth,” Sroufe said of his time trial effort. “I just need to make it a little bit faster for tonight and we’ll be set. I think it’s warm enough that there might be two grooves, and if I end up starting towards the back of the field you’re going to see me try it for sure.”

The top five drivers were the same across both Saturday’s and Sunday’s results, with Mike Fedorcak and Russ Gamester notching the second and third-fastest laps, respectively, in both groups.

Clay Sanders (fourth for Saturday, fifth for Sunday) and Jason Ormsby (fifth for Saturday, fourth for Sunday) rounded out the ‘Fast Five’ in qualifying.

Heat races and feature action for the winged and non-winged 600cc midgets, as well as the headlining National Midgets, kicks off at 7:30 p.m.

For more information on the 18th annual Rumble in Fort Wayne, including ticket pricing and the schedule of events, visit www.rumbleseries.com.

Audio with double non-winged 600cc dirt outlaw midget fast qualifier Larry Joe Sroufe:

Saturday Qualifying Results (first of two laps):

1. #21L – Larry Joe Sroufe, 8.282
2. #9 – Mike Fedorcak, 8.453
3. #49 – Russ Gamester, 8.463
4. #21CS – Clay Sanders, 8.490
5. #51 – Jason Ormsby, 8.552
6. #24 – Jonathan Lesiecki, 8.772
7. #34 – Blane Culp, 8.785
8. #6 – Kim Hughes, 8.856
9. #91L – Ryan Ruhl, 8.896
10. #3L – Michael Landis, 8.964
11. #7 – Joe Swanson, 9.010
12. #31 – Phil Bozell, 9.025
13. #67 – Jason Hentrich, 9.116
14. #35 – Justin Harper, 9.134
15. #15 – Chris Miller, 9.198
16. #69 – Blake Lamb, 9.339
17. #48 – Jeremy Howe, 9.468
18. #10R – Ryan Ball, 9.509
19. #88 – Steve Myers Sr., 9.861
20. #2 – Rusty Strausbaugh, 10.128
21. #54 – Mark Yearling, 10.386
22. #36 – Adam Schaeff, 10.561
23. #26 – Cody Williams, 10.641
24. #29A – Steve Allen, 11.719
25. #48D – Kyle Dager, NT

Sunday Qualifying Results (second of two laps):

1. #21L – Larry Joe Sroufe, 8.341
2. #9 – Mike Fedorcak, 8.412
3. #49 – Russ Gamester, 8.415
4. #51 – Jason Ormsby, 8.483
5. #21CS – Clay Sanders, 8.489
6. #34 – Blane Culp, 8.676
7. #3L – Michael Landis, 8.729
8. #91L – Ryan Ruhl, 8.738
9. #67 – Jason Hentrich, 8.769
10. #24 – Jonathan Lesiecki, 8.867
11. #15 – Chris Miller, 8.922
12. #7 – Joe Swanson, 8.964
13. #31 – Phil Bozell, 9.047
14. #35 – Justin Harper, 9.123
15. #10R – Ryan Ball, 9.175
16. #69 – Blake Lamb, 9.184
17. #6 – Kim Hughes, 9.382
18. #48 – Jeremy Howe, 9.439
19. #2 – Rusty Strausbaugh, 10.171
20. #88 – Steve Myers Sr., 10.490
21. #54 – Mark Yearling, 10.715
22. #29A – Steve Allen, 10.748
23. #36 – Adam Schaeff, 10.927
24. #26 – Cody Williams, 11.149
25. #48D – Kyle Dager, NT

About the Writer

Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network. Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.

The 21-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for both the United Sprint Car Series and the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.

Email Jacob at: [email protected]

Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77

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