[Wendy Atkin]

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Patient Wease wins opening night of ‘Rumble’

By RON WARE
Classic Motorsports

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – For most of his life, Billy Wease has been in one big hurry. From notching his first midget win at the tender age of 12 to signing with a major NASCAR team at 18, he couldn’t seem to go fast enough.

But somewhere along the line, Wease, now 23, learned the value of patience. And it paid off with a surprising victory Saturday in the opening night of the 12th annual “Rumble in Fort Wayne” at the Memorial Coliseum Expo Center.

Taking advantage of Tim Jedrzejek’s blown engine, Wease inherited the lead with just nine laps to go and beat Bryan Nuckles by nearly a half-lap for his third indoor triumph since 2007. Early leader David Gough took third in the 60-lapper, followed by Tony Stewart Racing’s Mike Fedorcak and Joe Liguori in the crash-filled race.

Mel Kenyon, the 76-year-old Hall of Fame driver who will retire following Sunday’s race here, finished sixth.

“You never know what’s going to happen here,” a grinning Wease said after climbing from car owner Randy Burrow’s black No. 99 midget. “It was just a matter of trying to stay smart to the end. I saw those guys up there beating (on each other). But I tried not to get in too big of a hurry. I tried to be patient.

“Next thing you know, (almost) all of those guys knocked off their tires.”

Jedrzejek, the 2009 Midwest Supermodified Association champion, appeared headed to victory after banging his way past Gough on lap 20. But the driver who has seen almost nothing but hard luck indoors began smoking on lap 50, then pulled in a lap later.

“Something important in the motor broke – a rod or valve or something,” Jedrzejek said through a grimace.

Wease romped from there in becoming only the fourth driver to win more than once on the tight, 1/6-mile track. Stewart, who elected to race in Australia over the holidays, owns a record seven “Rumble in Fort Wayne” wins, while Rich Corson and Tony Elliott also have two.

Nuckles, son of former midget standout Jerry Nuckles, was pleased with his runner-up showing in a car purchased second-hand just last month.

“We just put this together on a whim,” he said. “I bought it online from a guy. We spent about every night since Thanksgiving putting it together. Now, we’re second.”

The retiring Kenyon, who drove in the Indianapolis 500 every year from 1966-73 and won a record seven USAC national midget titles, just wished he had a few more laps – in more ways than one.

“Heck of a note, starting that far back,” said Kenyon, who dodged a series of accidents in coming from 14th in the 15-car field. “But we happened to miss everything. We were as fast as Wease at the end.”

The Rumble wraps up on Sunday afternoon with another six-division program, plus an appearance by IndyCar star Sarah Fisher, who will sign autographs from 2-3 p.m. The main portion of the event begins at 3.

John Ivy won the accompanying 40-lap feature for winged outlaw modified midgets, leading all the way to beat Ryan Smith, Paul Price, Ben Taylor and Mark Zumbrun.

Cole Williams captured the IKO MiniCup race. Brandon Dunn doubled in karts, while single wins went to Nathan Dishoungh, Max Stambaugh, John Hawley, Charlie Schultz and Gabriel Gilbert. Garrett Johnson took the Jr. Sprint feature.

Richie Streicher, son of former USAC national midget champ Mike Streicher, won in quarter midgets, along with Cooper Clouse, Nick Ley, Austin Nemire, Aaron Leffel and Danny Leaper.

Wease, who served as a Penske development driver from 2005-08, also will be in Burrow’s midget for the Chili Bowl indoor race in Tulsa, Okla. After that, he’s looking for a ride.

“I‘m just trying to win as many races as I can and get my name out there,” said Wease, who has picked up backing from an online racing simulator, iracing.com, and Zeal Optics Sunglasses as he continues to seek a NASCAR Nationwide Series opportunity.

“We’re knocking on doors. Something’s going to happen.”

At least he knows how to be patient.