FORT WAYNE, Ind. — For New Jersey racing veteran Joey Payne, this year’s 26th Rumble in Fort Wayne presented by Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales (Dec. 27-28) will be the continuation of a dream and further fulfillment of his bucket list.
Affectionately known among the racing fraternity as “The Jersey Jet,” Payne will be behind the wheel of Tony Stewart’s famed Munchkin midget.
“It’s an absolute honor to drive for Tony,” quipped Payne. “This year I will be back in the legendary No. 2 machine, as Tony is now on ‘daddy duty’, with the recent birth of his son. It’s my goal to get Dominic, Tony and Leah their first victory as a new family.”
That machine is no stranger to victory lane, as Stewart has piloted it to 12 Rumble victories, more than any other driver.
“Tony and I have been friends for 35 years, and while I began racing indoors at Niagara Falls in the late 80s and continue to race indoors with the Len Sammons promotions on the East Coast, the Rumble had always been on my bucket list. The competition at Fort Wayne and the list of drivers that have conquered the sixth mile concrete oval is legendary.”
“I finally got to the Rumble in 2018, and a couple of years ago Tony put me in one of his cars as a teammate to himself and Mike Fedorcak. That was cool, but last year was the ultimate. With Tony recovering from shoulder surgery and being unable to race, I got the call to drive. We were in position to win Friday night but got caught up in an oil spill and then Saturday I was involved in a 10-car pileup on the first lap and I was done.”
“Nonetheless, it was fun and I look forward to returning to Fort Wayne, Ind., Dec. 27 and 28 as this place holds more memories than just racing. When Tony got his last win inside the Expo Center, I proposed to my wife Kimee in victory lane. Now I owe her a win there.”
Joining the midgets each day inside the massive Allen County War Memorial Coliseum & Expo Center will be North Baltimore/LiUNA winged and non-winged 600cc Midgets, six classes of Coe
Heating/Economy Auto Parts Go-Karts, Wedge Innovations Wedge Karts and six classes of BRE Racing Engines Quarter Midgets.