From Rumble Series
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – From the return of a 76-year-old legend to the debut of a pair of promising 14-year-olds, storylines abound in the 12th annual “Rumble in Fort Wayne” indoor racing classic.
And that’s just in the midget division.
Mel Kenyon, 76, a member of three major auto racing halls of fame, will dust off his helmet and return to the racy, 1/6-mile track at the Memorial Coliseum Expo Center for the first time since 2007. Among his rivals will be two 14-year-olds – Michigan’s Taylor Ferns, who this year set a USAC single-season record for wins by a female, and Indiana’s Kyle O’Gara, whose driving coach is IndyCar star (and sister-in-law) Sarah Fisher.
The two-day event is set for Saturday, Dec. 26 and Sunday, Dec. 27, with complete shows both days. Winged outlaw modified midgets, MiniCup stock cars, karts, Jr. Sprints and JEGS quarter midgets also are on the programs, with midget racing beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets will be available at the door.
The preliminary entry list, released today, also features Dave Darland, Tony Elliott, Mike Fedorcak, Russ Gamester, David Gough, Johnny Heydenreich, Jon Stanbrough and Billy Wease – all of whom, along with Kenyon, have indoor feature wins on their resume.
Among those looking for their first indoor victory will be Rumble Series veterans David Fuhrman, Kyle Hamilton, Tim Jedrzejek, Geoff Kaiser, Brandon Knupp, Joe Liguouri and Matt Westfall.
“One of the features of our event is we have champions from many different sanctioning bodies and types of race cars,” Rumble Series president Tony Barhorst said. “We have USAC champions (including Kenyon, Darland, Elliott and Gamester). We have the 2008 HOSS winged sprint champion (Kaiser). We have the Midwest Supermodified Association champion (Jedrzejek). We have Russ Gamester returning. He won a race on the original Coliseum floor.
“And then you have Mel Kenyon, an eight-time Indianapolis 500 veteran. And Sarah Fisher, who is entering a team for young Kyle O’Gara, and many other young, up-and-coming midget drivers.”
More than 260 cars are entered in the various classes, including 33 midgets and 30 winged outlaw modified midgets.
Saturday has been designated “Bob Higman Night” in recognition of the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame car owner and mechanic. Ronnie McLean will drive a car carrying the same number and paint scheme that his father, Bob McLean Sr., drove for the now-retired Higman almost 50 years ago at Fort Wayne.
On Sunday, Fisher will greet fans and sign autographs from 2-3 p.m. in the Indy DownForce FanZone. The 29-year-old Ohio native is a veteran of eight Indy 500s and the only owner-driver on the IZOD IndyCar Series.
Additionally, ATV stuntman Henry “Pit Bull” Rife, who has appeared on “Late Night With David Letterman,” will entertain during breaks in the racing.
A silent auction of racing memorabilia, benefiting the Kenny Irwin Jr. Memorial Foundation’s Dare to Dream Camp, will be part of the Indy DownForce FanZone.
Further information about the “Rumble in Fort Wayne,” including ticket prices and race headquarters hotel rates, is available at rumbleseries.com or by contacting Barhorst at tbracefest@aol.com.