Stewart ready to rumble in Fort Wayne
FORT WAYNE, Ind.- For Tony Stewart, the sheer joy of wheeling a midget race car around a tight, 1/6-mile indoor track is irresistible.
The three-time NASCAR champion will return to the 15th annual Rumble in Fort Wayne on Friday, Dec. 28 and Saturday, Dec. 29, trying to add to his record nine victories at the Memorial Coliseum Expo Center. He swept the two-day program last year for the second time in his career.
"I just like to race, said the 41-year-old from Columbus, Ind., who got his start in the lightweight open-wheel, open-cockpit cars. When the weather is bad outside and you can't do anything else and you like racing, to be able to race indoors is really a luxury.
The unique holiday event brings together more than 300 competitors in midgets, winged outlaw modified midgets (600cc), karts and quarter midgets. Spectator gates open at 11 a.m. each day, with midget time trials at 6 p.m. and the main portion of the program after 7:30.
It's just fun, said Stewart, who especially likes to watch the younger drivers, with an eye toward the future of his own race teams. You get everything from kids racing quarter midgets and go-karts to guys who have been racing 20-25 years.
Stewart's record at Fort Wayne is remarkable. His nine victories have come in just 14 starts, and only once has he failed to win when his car was running at the finish. That was on the second night in 2008, when East Coast standout Lou Cicconi Jr. beat him in a race that went green all the way. Stewart also holds the track qualifying record of 7.323 seconds, set in 2005.
Stewart will return in his black No. 2 Munchkin chassis, which he half-jokingly says is funded by his poker games. He also will field a second Tony Stewart Racing entry for his longtime teammate and car builder, Mike Fedorcak of nearby Roanoke, Ind. Fedorcak won on the opening night in 2002.
" It's going to be great fun to have Tony racing at the Rumble against champions from a variety of series, event organizer Tony Barhorst of Classic Motorsports said. He first arrived in 1999 unannounced. One year, he even competed under the name Mikey Fedorcak Jr. from Gnawbone, Ind.
This year, we know for sure he will be here."
Information about Rumble in Fort Wayne entries, racers rate hotels and tickets are available at www.rumbleseries.com. Tickets may be ordered by mail without a service charge. The event information line is (317) 418-3206. Requests for information may be e-mailed to tbracefest@aol.com.
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Here is the latest update on Racer's Rate hotel information. Any fan's or teams may get these rates. If you have any trouble making reservations, e-mail us at tbracefest@aol.com
Don Halls Guesthouse, 1313 W. Washington Center Road, (260) 489-2524, $59- Great value with an indoor pool and hot tub. Website: http://www.donhallsg...default-en.html
COLISEUM HOLIDAY INN, across street from Memorial Coliseum,
1-800-HOLIDAY (use group code IMR) - .$79 - Website-
http://www.holidayin...ayn/hoteldetail
HYATT PLACE, 111 W. Washington Center Road, (260) 471-8522 (ask for racer's rate code G-Mira) - $72 per night. Across the street from the Marriott-
Website: http://fortwayne.pla.../index.jsp?null
MOTEL 6, 3003 W. Coliseum Blvd., (260) 482-3972 - $31.99 for single or double. Ask for racers rate.. Truck parking available.
Hampton Inn Ft. Wayne/Dupont, 3520 E. Dupont Rd- Exit 316 off I-69, (260) 483-3999, $68. Ask for racers rate.
Hampton Inn & Suites, 5702 Challenger Parkway, (260) 489-0908, $89. Ask for racers rate.
***NOTE- The Fort Wayne Marriott, 305 E. Washington Center Road, (260) 484-0411; $69 is sold out of rooms for Friday, Dec. 28, but still has rooms open for Sat. Dec. 29. The Courtyard By Marriott has agreed to honor the same $69 rate. It is located just down the street from the Marriott. It has an indoor pool.
Courtyard By Marriott-1619 West Washington Center Rd.
260-489-1500-$69 ask for the racers rate. Website:http://www.hotelftwayne.com
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