FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Tony Stewart and Russ Gamester have confirmed their intentions to defend their 2021 midget wins when the Rumble in Fort Wayne presented by Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales rolls into the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum December 30-31.
After sweeping the action in 2019, Stewart was shut out on the opening night of last year’s competition by Gamester. Failing to transfer through his preliminary heat race, Stewart was running third in the B-Main when his car developed mechanical issues and he dropped out of the race.
Gamester started on the front row but was unable to take the lead until late 38 of the 50-lap main event and narrowly held off Billy Wease for the win.
On Saturday, Stewart wasted little time getting to the front; having taken the lead on lap three and holding it to the checkered flag. Gamester dropped out of the feature in the closing laps with mechanical woes.
For Gamester, it marked his fifth triumph on the one-sixth-mile concrete oval in 15 feature starts for a win average of 33%, while Stewart’s 12th win in 22 starts gives him an impressive 54%-win average.
The duo will face another talented field of entrants this year in their attempt to add to their statistics. Among the entrants are former feature winners Wease (5), Justin Peck (3), Mike Fedorcak (1) and Nick Hamilton (1). The Rumble uses a unique formula of pitting National, Regional, Focus and Kenyon midgets into one fold.
Joining the midgets over the busy weekend will be the LiUNA Non-Winged 600 midgets, North Baltimore Custom Cuts Winged 600 midgets, eight classes of go-karts and six classes of Baker Racing Engines quarter midgets, with full racing programs for all of the divisions each night.