FORT WAYNE, Ind. – It was déjà vu on Saturday during national midget qualifying for the Rumble in Fort Wayne finale, as Tony Stewart topped time trials again inside the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
Stewart ripped off a lap of 7.606 seconds (78.885 mph) with his No. 2 Our Gang Poker VW-powered Munchkin to do the job, the fastest qualifying time in 12 years on the sixth-mile concrete oval.
It was Stewart’s third fast time at the Rumble in his last four tries and the 14th of his career, extending his own record in that category.
Past Rumble winners Nick Hamilton, Derek Bischak and Kyle Hamilton trailed Stewart on the time sheets, qualifying second, third and fourth, respectively.
The Hamilton brothers meant that two of Mel and Don Kenyon’s three cars landed in the top five, one of the best qualifying performances in the legendary team’s Rumble tenure.
Joe Liguori, the driver with the most Rumble feature starts who has yet to make the main event, completed the top five.
Liguori was followed by teammate Cap Henry, Matt Westfall, Bryan Nuckles, the third Kenyon-owned entry of Trey Osborne and three-time Rumble feature winner Justin Peck, who completed the top 10.
Friday non-winged 600 micro winner Larry Joe Sroufe topped that division’s time trials, posting a best lap of 8.139 seconds in his neon orange No. 21.
Sroufe’s teammate Blane Culp was second quick, followed by Dillon Nusbaum, Jason Ormsby and Justin Harper.
Meanwhile, Henry posted the top time in winged 600 micro qualifying, rolling around the sixth-mile of concrete in 8.135 seconds to lead Nate Franklin, Bill Dunham, Drew Dorsett and Rod Henning.
Opening ceremonies for the Rumble in Fort Wayne finale are set for 7 p.m.