FT. WAYNE, Ind. — Details regarding the restructured format for this year’s midget program of the Rumble in Fort Wayne presented by Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales, set for December 19-20, have been released and they have triggered reactions from participating teams.
Rather than two complete racing programs, with neither having a bearing on the other, this year’s chase on the seventh-mile purpose-built concrete oval inside Fort Wayne’s Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Expo Center will see a progressive format, culminating with Saturday’s Burco Molding Race to 100.
The new design has the teams guessing. Joe Liguori, who has won a 50-lap chase each of the past two years, is one of them.
“The new format adds a new element to our team’s strategy,” Liguori said. “But we will all be in the same playing field when it comes to strategizing the event, so I am sure it will be exciting for the fans to watch.”
The process begins Friday with single car qualifying runs, which will then split the field into odd/even sets. Each set will stage their own heat races and main event, with points accumulated from every position earned. Those points will then determine the starting line-ups for Saturday’s heat races to finalize the 100-lap finale.
As an incentive, the top two finishers from each of Friday’s 30-lap main events will automatically transfer to Saturday’s Burco sponsored Race to 100.
Jim Anderson, who has a previous Rumble Midget win to his credit chimed in, “one of the bigger positives that struck out to me is the change promotes consistency. Over the two nights of racing, you will have to be consistent in your efforts to have good finishes to build points.”
Saturday’s headliner is 100 laps, with ‘environmentally friendly’ breaks built in after 35 and 70 laps before the final 30-lap shootout to determine the winner.
Mike Fedorcak also has a Rumble victory to his credit and also cites strategy as being important.
“I’m among those that are looking forward to developing a new strategy to compete in the new format,” Fedorcak said. “I think it will present new opportunities for racers that normally aren’t front runners and should be exciting for the fans to watch it unfold.”
While new in structure, the Race to 100 is a throwback of sorts to the days of racing on the adjoining Coliseum hockey rink floor. The idea was conceived by Burco Molding’s Randy Burrow, who will be entering three cars into the fray.
“We need a change; it’s time to stir the pot and go back to 100 laps of feature racing that made history,” Burrow said.
Jerry Nuckles, who competed in the 100-lappers of the past, now fields a car for his son Bryan.
“This could be interesting for the fans, and sure will be different from when I raced for Jim and Mike Streicher,” Nuckles said. “Driver seats with head rests/shoulder support or cars with power steering did not exist in the 1970s and 80s. It makes a little easier for today’s drivers, but this format is going to get them on their toes.”
New, challenging and uncertainty will be the key words of the weekend. Previous winner Nick Hamilton is up to the challenge.
“I’m always excited to continue the tradition of the Rumble while finding new ways to maintain a great show for the fans and a unique weekend of racing for the drivers,” Hamilton said.
Also expressing interest is Tony Neuenschwander,, who will be in the field with his son Chris behind the wheel.
“We’ve been working on our car, with some new upgrades. The competition has gotten tougher every year, and this should provide some new kinks in the action, so we are urging our fans to come out to witness us test this change.”
