12/22/2025
NEWS: Nick Hamilton Honored With Rumble In Fort Wayne's David Lesiecki Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (đ¸: KR Poole Photos)
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Dec. 22, 2025) â Nick Hamilton has assembled a successful indoor racing career through the years, but it was an off-track recognition Saturday during the 27th Rumble in Fort Wayne presented by Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales that he circled as perhaps the biggest moment of all.
Hamilton, from Danville, Ind., was recognized during opening ceremonies for the Rumble 27 finale as the 11th recipient of the eventâs highest honor â the David Lesiecki Award for Untiring Dedication and Devotion to Motorsports.
The award was created in 2014 to honor the late Lesiecki, who passed away prior to that yearâs Rumble and was instrumental in the operation and success of the quarter midget class at the event for many years.
Lesieckiâs widow Diana and sons A.J. and Jonathan, who both raced 600cc micro sprints at the Rumble for many years, have remained an active part of the Rumble community and the eventâs operational success.
Diana has maintained the quarter midget program behind the scenes since Davidâs passing with help from 2018 Lesiecki Award recipient David Ebert. Meanwhile, A.J. and Jonathan transitioned over to lead the technical inspection side of the micro sprint program in 2021, following in their fatherâs footsteps by becoming instrumental members of the Rumbleâs diverse event staff.
Itâs what the trio saw from Hamilton outside his regular national midget cockpit that cemented for them his worth for the 2025 Lesiecki Award, as he has worked to provide a special âFull Circle Awardâ for the past three Rumbles to support an up-and-coming quarter midget driver in growing their career.
âWhen Larry (Boos, event promoter) asked our family for our nominations for this yearâs award, Nickâs name was mentioned first and unanimously agreed upon in a minute, making this the easiest selection yet,â said Diana Lesiecki. âNot only is he a successful driver and previous race winner, but the way he has gathered support to give back to the quarter midget classes â the place where Rumble racing truly starts for so many â outshines even his on-track accomplishments in our eyes.
âNickâs dedication to racing shouldnât be overlooked, though,â she added. âAfter losing a motor in practice Thursday, his team spent all night going to get another car just to race this weekend. Itâs that kind of dedication and selflessness that makes Nick a perfect and deserving recipient of this yearâs David Lesiecki Award, and weâre so proud of how he exemplifies the same qualities that made David so special to all of us â loyalty, enthusiasm, determination, dedication, and discipline.â
Hamilton is a two-time Rumble winner, triumphing in his family-owned No. 32 in 2017 and winning for Mel and Don Kenyon in their iconic yellow No. 16 in 2022. In all, heâs made 16 career feature starts in the premier national midget class at the Rumble, with six top-five finishes to his credit.
Heâs also raced in Silver Crown cars, non-winged sprint cars, and numerous D2 and national midget touring series throughout his 15-year racing career, in addition to working with his family automotive business through much of that time.
But his indoor tenure began in the quarter midget ranks, and Hamiltonâs determination to give back and help the climb for others like him has been appreciated endlessly through the years.
âWithout people like Nick, and without the quarter midgets staying strong, the pathway to higher levels in racing wouldnât exist,â noted the Lesiecki family. âWe, just as the racersâ families do, value all he does and hope his passion continues for years to come.â
Hamilton explained that his love of the Rumble isnât wrapped up in wins or accomplishments behind the wheel, but rather in seeing families and friends come together in pursuit of shared goals and fellowship along the way. Itâs a feeling heâs held close to his heart since his earliest days inside the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
âI was incredibly honored to be presented with this yearâs David Lesiecki Award,â said Hamilton. âMy winter has always been somewhat wrapped around the Rumble, ever since my own days in quarter midgets. To be able to give back and be part of the event in a bigger way has meant more than any feature wins that Iâve earned.
âI feel unworthy of the recognition, personally, but Iâm so thankful to the Lesiecki family for what they do at the Rumble and theyâve made my year with such a special award.â
Past recipients of the David Lesiecki Award include Ivy (2014), Doc Hathaway (2015), Larry Cleveland (2016), Joe Liguori (2017), Ebert (2018), Charlie Schultz (2019), Mel and Don Kenyon (2021 co-recipients), event promoter Larry Boos (2022), Kit Henry (2023), and Randy Burrow (2024).
The award was not presented in 2020, when the Rumble was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 28th Rumble in Fort Wayne is slated for Friday and Saturday, Dec. 18-19, 2026.
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