December 27, 2013 – Audio, cover photo and report by Jacob Seelman for Speed77 Radio and Race Chaser Online – FORT WAYNE, IN – Sometimes youth does manage to trump experience.

And Friday afternoon during opening day qualifying for the 2013 Rumble in Fort Wayne, 15-year-old Cooper Clouse proved just how true that could be. The Ohio City, Ohio young gun stunned the rest of the 41-car midget field by setting fast time in qualifying for the evening’s activities.

Clouse used a fast lap of 7.820 seconds (just a half second off the all-time Rumble track record, held by Tony Stewart) to claim his first career Rumble Fast Time Award.

“It’s unbelievable,” a breathless Clouse said just moments after qualifying had concluded. “This is the first year we’ve been here where it seems like everything’s come together the way we wanted it to. The motor was sour in 2011 and we had problems in qualifying last year, but I’m so proud of this team right now. They gave me a rocketship and we went out and proved what we’ve got.”

Clouse edged defending Rumble Champion Derek Bischak, out of Indianapolis, for top qualifying honors. Bischak used a lap of 7.959 seconds to grab the runner-up spot.

Former Rumble winner Billy Wease, Russ Gamester and NASCAR WHELEN Modified Tour driver Bobby Santos completed the top five time trialers for Friday’s feature program.

Heat races and full features for winged, 600 and the full midget classes will begin at approxiametely 7:30 PM Eastern tonight. Tickets are still available for both tonight’s and tomorrow night’s programs.

Listen in as we caught up with Cooper just moments after the conclusion of Friday qualifying: