The Rumble in Fort Wayne

1998 — present

The indoor tradition, revived: When the Coliseum's Exposition Center opened in 1998, Ohio concert promoter Tony Barhorst and race promoter Jack Calabrase — the city's proclamation names both as the Rumble's founders — brought the midgets back indoors on a purpose-built concrete oval in the Expo Center, measured at a sixth of a mile in the series' own materials and a seventh in some of its releases. The first Rumble in Fort Wayne ran on December 27, 1998, as a single 100-lap NAMARS-sanctioned feature won by Tony Elliott; it grew into a two-day, two-program classic from 2001, passed through a line of sanctioning bodies — Calabrase's organization, Barhorst's Rumble Racing Series, UMARA, and USAC as a non-points special event from 2004 to 2007 — and settled under the stewardship of Larry Boos. Midgets headline every running, with winged and non-winged 600cc midgets, go-karts, and quarter midgets on the card. A historical marker recognizing the Coliseum's place in auto racing history was erected outside the Rotunda on Veterans Day, November 11, 2017. The COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the 2020 running; the 25th Rumble ran on December 29–30, 2023, and Mayor Tom Henry proclaimed December 29, 2023, "Rumble in Fort Wayne Day." The 28th running is scheduled for December 18–19, 2026.

Sources:

1. City of Fort Wayne, mayoral proclamation, December 29, 2023 — the founders Tony Barhorst and Jack Calabrase, the 1998 move to the Exposition Center, and the Rumble's 25 years (text via TJSlideways and Speed Sport).
2. Jacob Seelman, "20th Annual Rumble in Fort Wayne Set for Dec. 29–30, 2017" — the December 27, 1998 inaugural 100-lap NAMARS feature won by Tony Elliott, the 2001 move to a two-day format, and the sanctioning succession through USAC (2004–2007) and Barhorst's return (2008).
3. Rumble in Fort Wayne releases (rumbleinfortwayne.com; TJSlideways, December 2021 and December 2023) — the 1/6-mile purpose-built concrete oval, the 2020 COVID cancellation, the 2017 historical marker, and the class list; the 2021 practice release measures the oval at a seventh of a mile.
4. Rumble in Fort Wayne, event announcement, November 2026 — the 28th running set for December 18–19, 2026.