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

Derek Bischak continued the “sweep” theme to qualifying for the 2015 Rumble in Fort Wayne on Saturday, blistering the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum floor and moving his career National Midget Quick Time Award total to three with the Rumble Racing Series.

Bischak, who took a victory at the prestigious event in 2012, clocked laps of 7.797 seconds (76.953 mph; Saturday) and 7.835 seconds (76.579 mph; Sunday) to top the field in the two-lap time trial session that set the heat race fields for both Saturday and Sunday’s racing action.

The run was one that Bischak, who went out 19th of 35 cars that took time, says gives him confidence despite relegating him to fourth in both of his heat races after the qualifying invert.

“It’s great to have fast time for both nights, and its a performance I’m really proud of,” Bischak said after qualifying. “This sets us up well for both nights. The car’s handling really well right now, and of course we may have to chase the track and make a few changes before the feature, but I’m confident. I like our chances tonight.”

With clocking his second and third career Quick Time Awards at the Rumble, Bischak now ties defending race winner Brandon Knupp as the second-most prolific qualifier in Rumble history.

Geoff Kaiser’s late run lifted him to second on the Saturday time sheets, with Chris Neuenschwander, the Munchkin of Cory Setser and Eldora Speedway track champion Matt Westfall as the rest of the ‘Fast Five’. They were followed by former Rumble winner Russ Gamester, Joe Ligouri, rookie Tyler Roahrig, Travis Welpott and Brad Greenup in the top 10.

For Sunday’s program, Neuenschwander posted the second-best lap behind Bischak, ahead of two-time Rumble winner Justin Peck, 2013 winner Russ Gamester and reigning series champion Bryan Nuckles. Kaiser, Ligouri, four-time winner Billy Wease, Stratton Briggs and Grant Galloway rounded out Sunday’s top 10 on the timesheets.

Heat races and feature action for the National Midgets, as well as the winged and non-winged 600cc midgets, kicks off just after 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 National Midget fast qualifier Derek Bischak:

Saturday Qualifying Results (First of two laps):

1. #31 – Derek Bischak, 7.797
2. #10 – Geoff Kaiser, 7.961
3. #8N – Chris Neuenschwander, 7.977
4. #24 – Cory Setser, 8.007
5. #9 – Matt Westfall, 8.010
6. #46 – Russ Gamester, 8.022
7. #8UP – Joe Ligouri, 8.042
8. #98 – Tyler Roahrig, 8.050
9. #18 – Travis Welpott, 8.060
10. #4 – Brad Greenup, 8.067
11. #99 – Billy Wease, 8.086
12. #26 – Aaron Pierce, 8.133
13. #5X – Justin Peck, 8.134
14. #59 – Bryan Nuckles, 8.154
15. #84 – Grant Galloway, 8.174
16. #2 – Stratton Briggs, 8.219
17. #36 – Jim Anderson, 8.264
18. #27 – Kyle O’Gara, 8.276
19. #67 – Lynsey Ligouri, 8.312
20. #35 – Justin Grant, 8.324
21. #1G – Bobby Santos III, 8.331
22. #49 – Dave Darland, 8.394
23. #15 – Rich Corson, 8.446
24. #63 – JP Crabtree, 8.462
25. #19 – Austin Nemire, 8.471
26. #88 – Nick Landon, 8.484
27. #28 – Damon Taylor, 8.602
28. #32 – Chris Jagger Jr., 8.701
29. #17 – Alex Watson, 8.720
30. #27 – Taylor Jagger, 8.881
31. #11 – Tony Main, 8.901
32. #22 – Cory Guingrich, 9.017
33. #61 – Nick Hamilton, 9.051
34. #21H – Heath Roberts, 9.416
35. #8 – Austin Prock, 9.567
36. #01 – Nick Richards, NT
37. #78 – Brandon Knupp, NT
38. #97 – Mike Fedorcak, NT
39. #92 – Brad Krause, NT

Sunday Qualifying Results (Second of two laps):

1. #31 – Derek Bischak, 7.835
2. #8N – Chris Neuenschwander, 7.857
3. #5X – Justin Peck, 7.894
4. #46 – Russ Gamester, 7.955
5. #59 – Bryan Nuckles, 7.956
6. #10 – Geoff Kaiser, 7.969
7. #8UP – Joe Ligouri, 7.972
8. #99 – Billy Wease, 7.980
9. #2 – Stratton Briggs, 7.987
10. #84 – Grant Galloway, 8.002
11. #78 – Brandon Knupp, 8.002
12. #4 – Brad Greenup, 8.003
13. #63 – JP Crabtree, 8.035
14. #9 – Matt Westfall, 8.035
15. #98 – Tyler Roahrig, 8.125
16. #36 – Jim Anderson, 8.180
17. #26 – Aaron Pierce, 8.209
18. #35 – Justin Grant, 8.228
19. #1G – Bobby Santos III, 8.232
20. #67 – Lynsey Ligouri, 8.276
21. #27 – Kyle O’Gara, 8.347
22. #49 – Dave Darland, 8.359
23. #88 – Nick Landon, 8.387
24. #61 – Nick Hamilton, 8.442
25. #8 – Austin Prock, 8.454
26. #18 – Travis Welpott, 8.455
27. #15 – Rich Corson, 8.616
28. #21H – Heath Roberts, 8.626
29. #19 – Austin Nemire, 8.649
30. #32 – Chris Jagger Jr., 8.650
31. #17 – Alex Watson, 8.652
32. #24 – Cory Setser, 8.759
33. #28 – Damon Taylor, 8.878
34. #22 – Cory Guingrich, 8.912
35. #11 – Tony Main, 8.918
36. #27 – Taylor Jagger, 9.517
37. #01 – Nick Richards, NT
38. #97 – Mike Fedorcak, NT
39. #92 – Brad Krause, 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.

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