“Rumble in the SeaGate Centre,” Toledo, Ohio
Friday, Dec. 19, 2008 -- Story

Wease feeling lucky after ‘Rumble’ victory

By RON WARE
Classic Motorsports

TOLEDO, Ohio -- Billy Wease dodged the bad luck that dogged most of his rivals and led all 60 laps Friday in winning the national midget feature that capped the opening night of the “Rumble in the SeaGate Centre” indoor race.

The 22-year-old from Noblesville, Ind., wasn’t feeling as fortunate when he checked in at the adjacent hotel and was handed a key to Room 1313.

“When we got that room, I went, ‘Oh, man,’ “ Wease said, rolling his eyes. “But everything worked out great for us. We qualified well (third among 23 cars), won our heat race and had a pretty good feature.

“Hopefully, we can do it again (Saturday night).”

Most of the pre-race attention focused on NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Ken Schrader, and he didn’t disappoint by leading the way in time trials with a lap at 7.574 seconds on the 1/7-mile track.

But Schrader’s race ended after just a dozen laps.

“We had a problem with the rear brake caliper,” he said after being credited with 12th place. “We didn’t have any brakes. This is a pretty small track to run without brakes, and we elected to come in instead of being in the way and save the car for (Saturday) night.

“But I think I was going to be ‘first loser,’ anyway. He (Wease) was fast.”

At least Schrader made it to the green flag. Teammate Jon Stanbrough, coming off a win at the “Buckeye Bowl” in Columbus, Ohio, got into the wall as the cars lined up for the feature and was done for the night.

Lou Cicconi Jr., driving one of four new Munchkin cars, didn’t fare much better. He tangled with Wease at the start, smacked the wall, then retired later with a flat tire.

“I didn’t mean to do that to Cicconi,” Wease said. “I feel bad about that.”

With Schrader, Stanbrough and Cicconi all sidelined, Wease was unchallenged, easily winning over supermodified veteran Tim Jedrzejek and part-time NASCAR Truck competitor Brandon Knupp. Kyle Hamilton and Geoff Kaiser completed the top five.

Wease, who notched his first career indoor victory last December in Fort Wayne, Ind., knows he needs to continue collecting victories to further his career. He recently learned that Team Penske was not renewing the developmental contract he signed in 2005.

“We have a few things we’re working on right now,” said Wease, who is trying to put together a deal to race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. “I’m hoping we’ll be able to announce something in January.”

Charlie Schultz pulled off a surprise victory in the accompanying winged outlaw modified midget feature. Taking over a car that Cicconi qualified, he won the 40-lap feature over Matt Iles and John Ivy.

Tim Smith, Devon Dobie, Brandon Schnittke and Ty Canoles all won kart features. Andrew Blakely doubled in quarter midgets, with Bryce Dickson and Nick Ley also winning.

Another complete racing program is scheduled for Saturday at the SeaGate Centre in downtown Toledo, with spectator gates opening at noon, midget time trials at 4 p.m. and the main events after 7.

The indoor series then wraps up Dec. 26-27 with the 11th annual “Rumble in Fort Wayne,” where Tony Stewart will seek a record-extending seventh career victory.