Retro Revamp Of Sorts Coming For Midgets At The Rumble
 

RETRO REVAMP OF SORTS COMING FOR MIDGETS AT THE RUMBLE
Burco Molding to Sponsor ‘Race to 100’

In a return, of sorts, to its beginnings, the Midget program of this year’s 27th running of the Rumble in Fort Wayne presented by Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales will see some format changes for the December 19 and 20 weekend with what will become ‘The Burco Molding Race to 100’.

Recently, veteran car owner Randy Burrow approached Rumble Promoter Larry Boos with a simple comment, “I think we need a change," said Burrow. "It’s time to stir the pot to keep the product fresh.” As the two chatted, Burrow who summed up his final thoughts with four words, “bring back the 100”!

With that – a little history.

Located on the north side of Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum has been THE constant of indoor Midget racing in the world. Starting under AAA sanction, then segueing into the debut race for the new United States Auto Club (USAC) on January 6, 1956, the headlining Midget main event was contested at 100 laps, and remained at that distance when the Midgets moved to the new Expo Center in 1998.

Unfortunately, due to air quality concerns with the lower ceiling of the Expo Hall, the race distance would be gradually reduced over the years before settling on a 50-lap distance in 2011.

With those concerns in mind, Burrow and Boos enlisted fellow racers Mike Fedorcak and Joe Liguori to approach the idea of a return to 100 laps of feature racing.

The drivers embraced the concept but universally agreed that it would require ingenuity to address the inherent need to refresh the air. Fedorcak summed it up. “I love the challenge of 100 laps of Midget racing at the Rumble, but we know we can’t go 100 laps straight without having to stop and clear the air. So, we thought, let’s just plan on two ‘environmentally friendly’ breaks at lap 35 and lap 70.”

With everyone accepting the compromise, Burrow then reminded the group “100 laps is still 100 laps regardless of how we get there. So we are racing to 100 laps to determine the winner!” Defending event winner Liguori added “we have to face reality and do what is best for the fans. That's to give them a competitive race while remaining comfortable, and we, as racers, can do that. As the promoter, you'll need to come up with ways to entertain the fans during those breaks.” Boos agreed and his dedicated Rumble team is in the planning process, accordingly.

With the ‘The Burco Molding Race to 100’ comes a complete revamp of the weekend for the Midgets. Instead of individual racing programs on each of the two nights of the Rumble, racers will compete all weekend long for a coveted starting spot in the "Race to 100." After qualifying on Friday (December 19), the field split into odd/even groups, with each group competing in their own heats and a 25-lap main events. The top two finishers from each of those mains will automatically transfer to the ‘The Burco Molding Race to 100’. Throughout the Friday program, drivers will be accumulating points, with those points being used to set the line ups for Saturday’s (December 20) heat races, followed by a dash and B-Feature to set the final ‘The Burco Molding Race to 100’.

“The progression towards getting into Saturday’s Race to 100 will keep the fans engaged," said Burrow. "And like I said earlier, it's time to stir the pot a little, try something old, and put it into today’s reality. I will be entering three cars again this year, and I have as much to gain or lose from this change as anyone, but I am raring to go!”

Over the course of the next several weeks, more details about the enhanced format and other Rumble information will be announced via social media and on the event’s website www.rumbleinfortwayne.com.

Joining the Midgets for the 27th running of the Rumble in Fort Wayne presented by Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales over the December 19 and 20 weekend on the 1/7-mile purpose-built concrete oval inside the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Expo Center will be LiUNA Non-Winged and North Baltimore Custom Cuts Winged 600cc Midgets along with multiple classes of Go-Karts, Wedge Karts and Baker Racing Engines Quarter Midgets.

Complete event information will be outlined at www.rumbleinfortwayne.com.
Entry Forms & Rules: www.rumbleinfortwayne.com/entry-forms
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rumbleinfortwayne
Race Action:

You Tube Video