FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Tony Stewart may have put more of his focus on longtime friend Rico Abreu’s Munchkin midget during Rumble in Fort Wayne practice on Thursday, but Friday night’s qualifying session saw Stewart rise to the top in his own right once again.

Stewart turned the fastest lap during time trials for the opening night of the 21st annual Rumble in Fort Wayne, posting a time of 7.622 seconds (78.719 mph) with the No. 2 Our Gang Poker Munchkin-VW.

The effort marks Stewart’s 12th-career fast time during Rumble in Fort Wayne competition and his second in a row for the Friday portion of the two-day program.

“We’ve still got it!” Stewart noted with a smile after climbing from his car.

Joe Liguori, last year’s David Lesiecki Award recipient, timed in second-quick overall with a best lap of 7.721 seconds (77.701 mph) with the No. 8up Innovative Slots Jacobs-Pontiac entry.

Liguori was trailed by 2010 Rumble winner Jim Anderson, Travis Welpott and 2014 Rumble Series champion Bryan Nuckles on the time sheets.

Cooper Clouse, Geoff Kaiser, Justin Peck, Rex Norris III and Kyle O’Gara completed the top 10.

Notables deeper in the rundown included 2016 winner Kyle Hamilton (11th), four-time Rumble winner Russ Gamester (13th), five-time winner Billy Wease (17th) and young gun Austin Nemire.

While Stewart was jubilant after qualifying, his two Tony Stewart Racing teammates – Rico Abreu and Mike Fedorcak – were less thrilled after neither of them were able to make a qualifying attempt.

Abreu’s No. 24 encountered rear end issues during final practice, while Fedorcak has spent the weekend battling a miss in the power plant onboard his No. 97.

John Ivy and Larry Joe Sroufe topped the winged and non-winged 600 micro classes, respectively.

To view complete qualifying results for Friday’s action, advance to the next page.