FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Friday evening during national midget qualifying for the 20th annual Rumble in Fort Wayne, it was as if all-time winner and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart never took any time off.
Stewart, back after a five-year absence from the annual indoor racing classic, rolled to his 11th-career Rumble Fast Time Award with a lap of 7.626 seconds in the No. 2 Our Gang Poker Munchkin.
Extending his own record, Stewart will seek his event-leading 10th Rumble win come feature time later in the night.
His teammate, Munchkin creator and ageless veteran Mike Fedorcak, timed in second-fastest overall with a lap of 7.797 seconds in the No. 97 Physical Medicine Consultants/Pro Strip Munchkin.
Joe Liguori clocked in third with a time of 7.846 seconds in the Randall Williams-owned No. 8up, followed by three-time Rumble winner Russ Gamester and 2010 winner Jim Anderson.
Shawn Bonar (subbing for the injured Cory Setser), Derek Bischak, Bryan Nuckles, Geoff Kaiser and Matt Westfall completed the top-10 in national midget time trials.
Defending race winner Kyle Hamilton was 13th-fastest, just ahead of Ohio young gun Austin Nemire in 14th.
Five-time Rumble champion Billy Wease was a distant 17th with his qualifying effort.
In the non-winged 600cc micro class, Russ Gamester stormed to the top qualifying honors after being the second car out, with a best lap of 8.122 seconds.
Meanwhile, in the winged 600cc micro class, Cap Henry topped teammate John Ivy for the quick time with a lap of 7.704 seconds to Ivy’s clip of 7.754 seconds.
Opening ceremonies for the 20th annual Rumble in Fort Wayne are scheduled for 7 p.m.
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 23-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 the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: editor@racechaseronline.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
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