Mid-December Rumble racing called off

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Citing Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s retraction of the Stage 5 status of his reopening plan for the state in combination with newly announced guidelines from the Allen County Department of Health, officials from the Rumble in Fort Wayne and the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and Expo Center have jointly announced a cancellation of this year’s 23rd annual event.

The event had been scheduled for December 18-19.

“Our top priority is that of the well-being of our participants, staff and event attendees,” stated Rumble promoter Larry Boos. “We all share in the disappointment of this announcement, particularly at this late moment, but as we have said all along, some things are just beyond our control.

“Right now, our focus needs to be on working together to get this unprecedented virus under control. Truthfully, we would be selfish to think any other way. This year, the actual race is going to be that of a collaborative effort to reach a victory of health and safety for all.”

All teams that submitted pre-entries and pit pass requests for the Rumble in Fort Wayne presented by Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales are scheduled to quickly receive a full refund.

“The entire Rumble staff, as well as the ACWMC team, appreciates the support and efforts extended this year under these unusual circumstances and look forward to seeing that enthusiasm carry over to next year,” Boos said.

Indoor racing on the concrete floor of the massive War Memorial Expo Center will return Dec. 17-18, 2021.

Lucas Oil Chili Bowl broadcast update

FloRacing has acquired the streaming rights for the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire in a groundbreaking 10-year deal to broadcast the blockbuster indoor Midget racing event to racing fans worldwide.

One of the country’s biggest and most popular motorsports events, the Chili Bowl Nationals celebrates its 35th annual running Jan. 11-16, 2021.

The deal amplifies the motorsports offering on FloSports and brings more than 40 additional racing events to its FloRacing platform. As part of the pact to stream the Chili Bowl Nationals, FloSports will also exclusively broadcast the massive Lucas Oil Tulsa Shootout, the largest event for micro sprint racing in the country, and will co-stream the 2021 Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV Motorsports Network with the RacinBoys Broadcasting Network which will remain involved in the streaming production for the series.

FloRacing has experienced a 450 percent growth in subscribers since January 2020. The six-night event annually draws thousands of spectators and over 300 Midget entrants from around the world, with American drivers from a variety of racing disciplines joining competitors from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Midget division regulars face off with racers from the ranks of the World of Outlaws, All-Star Circuit of Champions, USAC, Dirt Late Models, NASCAR, and NHRA drag racing, stamping the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals as the most eclectic motorsports event of the season.

Last year’s run was topped by NASCAR and open-wheel superstar, Kyle Larson, while Oklahoma’s Christopher Bell, another NASCAR standout with roots in open-wheel racing, captured the race the previous three years.

Contested on a quarter-mile dirt track built inside the River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, the upcoming Chili Bowl Nationals will only allow 25 percent grandstand capacity due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Every lap of the week’s preliminary action from Mon., Jan. 11 through Sat., Jan. 16 — heat races, qualifying features, the Race of Champions and Saturday’s “alphabet soup” qualifiers — will be streamed live to FloRacing subscribers.

The Chili Bowl Nationals C-, B- and A-mains on Jan. 16, will continue to air live on the MAVTV Motorsports Network and LucasOilRacing.tv.

“FloSports is excited about the impact this partnership will have on the world of grassroots racing,” said FloRacing General Manager, Michael Rigsby. “It further cements our serious position in motorsports, allowing us to build upon the Chili Bowl tradition that started 35 years ago.

“(Chili Bowl promoters Emmett Hahn and Beverly Edwards, along with their families, Scott Traylor (RacinBoys president and CEO), RacinBoys and the entire Lucas Oil team have been fantastic partners in making this deal happen.

It’s officially Tulsa time for FloSports and we’re eager to get to work.”

Event co-founder Emmett Hahn is excited by the prospects.

“I’ve been impressed with the quality of the FloRacing broadcasts and we’re looking forward to what they can do for the Chili Bowl,” said Hahn. “I believe this new relationship is the best step forward for us, our fans.”

Former Brownstown track champion passes away

Kevin Sebastian, the 1990 bomber track champion at the Brownstown Speedway passed away Nov. 15. He was 57.

Sebastian raced in the bomber and open wheel modified divisions during his career. His uncle, Sam Sebastian was a regular competitor at Brownstown in the 1970s in the hobby stock division.

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