FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Jim Anderson, a five-time national midget champion and 2010 Rumble in Fort Wayne feature winner, returns to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Dec. 29-30 in hopes of reuniting himself with victory lane on the purpose-built one-sixth-mile concrete oval.
It will mark the silver anniversary of the annual indoor racing event. Both days will be broadcast live by SPEED SPORT affiliate Pit Row.tv.
Anderson, whose family has been involved in midget auto racing since the early days at Joliet Memorial Stadium, has had a rather stellar open-wheel career, winning the 2008 UMARA National Midget championship, 2011-’13 STARS National Midget championships as well as the 2012 USAC D1 championship.
He has also had some success behind the wheel of Gene Kazmark’s No. 92 USAC Silver Crown car. Running nine events between 2018-’21, Anderson’s runs included a top ten finish in his initial outing at Lucas Oil Raceway. His best career finish came at Wisconsin’s Madison Int’l Raceway when he crossed the finish line in fourth.
“Racing indoors at the Rumble is very intense,” Anderson said. “The close wheel-to-wheel action is something you have to experience firsthand to enjoy. I’ve always enjoyed this great event for not only the racing but also for getting to hang with so many friends from all over who we only see at this when they come to Fort Wayne.”
When Anderson scored the win on New Year’s Eve in 2010, it was one of the most surprising wins in Rumble history. It wasn’t a lack skill, but the veteran Illinois driver’s record was anything but successful.
Prior to that night, he had only managed to qualify for the starting field one other time, and that was 10 years prior. With the victory boosting his confidence, he was gone on to win numerous preliminary heat races including one last year. His best feature finish since the 2010 victory was a second in 2018.
The Fort Wayne indoor Midget racing scene began in 1953 and was contested on a converted hockey rink inside the Coliseum building. A multi-year absence of racing while the adjoining Expo Center was being constructed resulted in the birth of the Rumble in Fort Wayne on a larger oval in 1998. Of the current driver roster, only Mike Fedorcak and Russ Gamester have garnered wins in both venues. To date, 46 features have been contested inside the Expo Center, with 21 different drivers, including Anderson, carrying the checkered flag of victory.
A repeat feature victory for Anderson would undoubtedly be welcome. To do so, he will have to battle the likes of Gamester and Fedorcak, along with last year’s winners Mario Clouser and Nick Hamilton and a host of other talented drivers on the tacky, tight indoor track.
Each day of the Rumble in Fort Wayne presented by Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales features a full program of midgets, winged and non-winged 600cc midgets, Baker Racing Engines Quarter Midgets and go-karts in the 25th running of the popular offseason event.