How about it!!!! The guys did it, they won a tough Summernational feature at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, IL. Top national competitors were in the field and Jason lead from green to checkers.
Dirt On Dirt's article is far better than anything I could say, the article was written by Todd Turner.
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So -- back to the article:
Feger's Tri-City victory the perfect gift for Mom
GRANITE CITY, Ill. (June 24) — During hot laps on ninth leg of the UMP DIRTcar Summernationals at Tri-City Speedway, Jason Feger taped a huge birthday card over his car's No. 25: "Happy 50th Birthday Mom!"
But what's a card without a birthday present? Feger provided a special gift, too, dramatically leading all 40 laps at the 3/8-mile oval and welcoming Tracy Feger to victory lane to celebrate his first-ever victory on the month-long tour.
Before anyone was blowing out any candles on a birthday cake, though, the 31-year-old Feger had plenty of work to do. Starting on the pole one night after blowing an engine at Charleston (Ill.) Speedway, Feger turned to his last functioning powerplant and mashed the gas to grab the lead while running the thin cushion ringing the track.
The driver known as the Highside Hustler fought off challenges from fellow front-row starter Scott James of Lawrenceburg, Ind., (who spun in turn four on the 13th lap) and last year's Tri-City Summernationals winner Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., through the first 25 laps of the race.
But Feger's stiffest challenges came Randy Korte of Highland, Ill., who ran an admittedly unorthodox line — "making the turns straightaways and making the straightaways turns," he said — by diving into turns one and three low on the wide racetrack while drifting up to gain ground, racing his way from his ninth starting spot up to second following a restart with 15 laps remaining.
A final caution for debris with less than 10 laps remaining set up a showdown with Feger, whose high side wasn't quite as reliable as before, and Korte, who aimed to cut across the corners and take the lead. Several times in the closing laps Korte nosed ahead in turns two and four, but he never had quite enough to get in front for good.
"The top was definitely going away there toward the end, and I knew it," Feger said. "I just knew, after running that many laps at that pace on the top side, I'd never be able to get it slowed down enough to get to the bottom, so I figured 'I'm going just have to stay up there and make it work until there's nothing left — or until I get passed.' Thankfully it was 40 laps, because I don't know if I'd been able to hold him off much longer."
"Randy's, he's a really good racer. ... We might rub a little here and there, but we're pretty good friends off the track, and you know you're going to get a hard race with him. He's not going to give you anything. He did a really good job. He could've tried to throw a dirty slide job or squeeze me into the wall, and he didn't do any of that. He ran a really good race."
Korte pushed Feger to the limit before settling for a second-place finish that unofficially moved him into a tie for the series points lead.
"All I could do was hope that Jason would screw up just once. He didn't screw up enough," Korte said. "When the top side is like that, Jason is probably the best in the business. I've never seen anybody get around the high side like he does.
"As long as we keep having finishes like this, I'm happy."
Moyer, the fast qualifier among 34 entrants, tried high and low to keep up with Feger but settled for third while two-time and reigning series champion lost ground early from his seventh starting spot but rallied back to finish fourth. Tenth-starting Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, who earned $10,000 at Tri-City's Lucas Oil Series-sanctioned FedEx 50 on Memorial Day weekend, started 10th and raced up to fourth before losing that spot to Erb in the final laps. Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, Ill., who entered the race leading the series points, started sixth but faded to finish 10th and unofficially dropped into a tight for the lead with Korte with Erb just three points back.
The feature was slowed by five cautions, none for serious incidents. Shannon Babb pulled in to change a shredded tire on the third lap (then later retired his smoking No. 18 to the infield) and Mark Voigt had a lap-nine flat. The lap-13 spin of James brought out the third caution, and the two cautions in the second half of the race were for a slowing Steve Casebolt and debris in turn one.
Feger, who earned $7,500 for an early-season victory at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway and then $7,650 for a World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory at Charter Raceway Park in Beaver Dam, Wis., was glad to finally win on a tour he's run regularly in recent years.
"I tell you what, we started off the year really hot, and we've been in a big slump here lately. We just haven't been able to get things going our way. We've had some motor problems and just haven't been able to catch a break," Feger said, crediting Birkhofer with helping to point him in the right direction with some changes on his Pierce Race Car. "My crew man, they've been working their tails off this whole Summernationals. This is a really tough deal and we've been at each other a little bit here and there because we've been struggling and it's been hot. ... this will definitely help us out and help us get down the road."
Feature: (1) Jason Feger, (2) Randy Korte, (3) Billy Moyer, (4) Dennis Erb Jr., (5) Brian Birkhofer, (6) Brian Shirley, (7) Steve Sheppard Jr., (8) Billy Laycock, (9) Mark Voigt, (10) Kevin Weaver, (11) Brandon Sheppard, (12) Ryan Unzicker, (13) Chad Zobrist, (14) Rodney Melvin, (15) Duane Chamberlain, (16) Steve Casebolt, (17) Scott James, (18) Shannon Babb, (19) Will Vaught, (20) Brent Kreke, (21) Terry Casey. Fast qualifier (among 34 cars): Moyer, 15.177 seconds. Heat race winners: Feger, James, Melvin, Moyer. Consolation winner: Babb. Provisional starters: Casey, S. Sheppard, Zobrist.
BY THE WAY -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! Thanks to Julie, Kristi, Teresa, JoAnn and Sheri for helping me celebrate!
Summernationals are in full swing!!
The infamous Hell Tour is in full swing across the Midwest. Personally, I love it!!! The only part I hate is missing a few races due to my day job :) Ok, once in a while I do hate the races if the tracks become one lane, rubber upped, bottom dweller tracks with NO passing.
But that hasn't really happened yet -- so, I better knock on some wood or something really fast.
This isn't in chronological order, but here's what's been going on.
Last night -- Tri-State Speedway -- Great Racing!!!! Jason was fifth, started seventh. He was racing with Korte and Melvin for the second when something broke with the shock -- they told me but I already forgot what it was. Jeep won.
Great Track -- well worth the trip, going again last year.
Kamp -- Team Feger had to be the favorite there, but what a night!!!! Could have written a book about everything that went on. Long story short -- before I got there around 5:00, there was a massive down pour. The track crew tried working the track in but it didn't work. A mod went out to pack and than so did Jason. Soon all kinds of cars were packing. What I didn't know was all hell was breaking loose in the pits. Some drivers didn't want to run. That's their choice. But I've seen a few of those same drivers run on BAHA tracks for $2k.
To the main event. Jason started like eleventh, had moved up to seventh within 10 laps. So, we thought -- good and than all of a sudden he almost stopped on the front shoot. From than on, he didn't run as well and eventually pulled in.
The tranny was slipping, so he was trying to drive one handed and hold it in gear -- that doesn't work too well. Plus, on top of that he was concerned with the motor, a valve spring broke. Luckily, Matt Rhyne was on hand to take a look.
More bad news. Since you're reading this on the Feger blog, you gotta understand that I have a biased opinion about things that negatively impact the guys ;)--- UMP decided to modify the rules which really STINKS cause the drivers that didn't run get to give up a 10 point night. If you ran at Kamp, you also give up your one night of points. Your worse night, but chances are you are going to have to give up a 40 or 50 point night, not a 10 point night.
Love the new rule or hate the new rule -- don't really know yet -- we'll see at the end of series. If the guys miss a full night, guess I'll LOVE it. If they lose the SN points to one of the drivers who didn't run at Boswell by say 40 points, and Jason had to give up a 45 point night, I will really HATE it.
But hey, the guys did what was right, they argued to the death that they should race. They stood by their home track and the people who have been loyal to them. Grandpa would have been very proud of them.
So who won? Eric Smith!
What else --- Clarksville UGH!!!! I stayed home and caught info on www.4m.net and www.dirtondirt.com. Jason was starting outside front row of his heat, so I was extremely happy. Lap one, Jason was on the outside, moving to pass Weaver, Weaver drifted up, making contact with Jason's car. Jason went sideways, a car went over the nose of Jason's car and landed on top of Ryan Unzickers car. Some where in the midst of all the chaos, Wendall Wallace (a great driver) hurt has hand. Don't know if he broke his hand, wrist or exactly what. Good news -- Ryan and Jason were ok. Bad news it was pretty much carnage on cars. All kinds of things were messed up on poor Night Train's chassis. So Jason and Ryan both took provisionals to get in.
Kankakee -- Exciting night of racing. I'll have to try to remember everything. I'm SO VERY GLAD the night went well for K3. Races were very good. Love that track.
Where does that leave us -- tied for fourth or fifth in points with seven nights in and twenty to go.
But that hasn't really happened yet -- so, I better knock on some wood or something really fast.
This isn't in chronological order, but here's what's been going on.
Last night -- Tri-State Speedway -- Great Racing!!!! Jason was fifth, started seventh. He was racing with Korte and Melvin for the second when something broke with the shock -- they told me but I already forgot what it was. Jeep won.
Great Track -- well worth the trip, going again last year.
Kamp -- Team Feger had to be the favorite there, but what a night!!!! Could have written a book about everything that went on. Long story short -- before I got there around 5:00, there was a massive down pour. The track crew tried working the track in but it didn't work. A mod went out to pack and than so did Jason. Soon all kinds of cars were packing. What I didn't know was all hell was breaking loose in the pits. Some drivers didn't want to run. That's their choice. But I've seen a few of those same drivers run on BAHA tracks for $2k.
To the main event. Jason started like eleventh, had moved up to seventh within 10 laps. So, we thought -- good and than all of a sudden he almost stopped on the front shoot. From than on, he didn't run as well and eventually pulled in.
The tranny was slipping, so he was trying to drive one handed and hold it in gear -- that doesn't work too well. Plus, on top of that he was concerned with the motor, a valve spring broke. Luckily, Matt Rhyne was on hand to take a look.
More bad news. Since you're reading this on the Feger blog, you gotta understand that I have a biased opinion about things that negatively impact the guys ;)--- UMP decided to modify the rules which really STINKS cause the drivers that didn't run get to give up a 10 point night. If you ran at Kamp, you also give up your one night of points. Your worse night, but chances are you are going to have to give up a 40 or 50 point night, not a 10 point night.
Love the new rule or hate the new rule -- don't really know yet -- we'll see at the end of series. If the guys miss a full night, guess I'll LOVE it. If they lose the SN points to one of the drivers who didn't run at Boswell by say 40 points, and Jason had to give up a 45 point night, I will really HATE it.
But hey, the guys did what was right, they argued to the death that they should race. They stood by their home track and the people who have been loyal to them. Grandpa would have been very proud of them.
So who won? Eric Smith!
What else --- Clarksville UGH!!!! I stayed home and caught info on www.4m.net and www.dirtondirt.com. Jason was starting outside front row of his heat, so I was extremely happy. Lap one, Jason was on the outside, moving to pass Weaver, Weaver drifted up, making contact with Jason's car. Jason went sideways, a car went over the nose of Jason's car and landed on top of Ryan Unzickers car. Some where in the midst of all the chaos, Wendall Wallace (a great driver) hurt has hand. Don't know if he broke his hand, wrist or exactly what. Good news -- Ryan and Jason were ok. Bad news it was pretty much carnage on cars. All kinds of things were messed up on poor Night Train's chassis. So Jason and Ryan both took provisionals to get in.
Kankakee -- Exciting night of racing. I'll have to try to remember everything. I'm SO VERY GLAD the night went well for K3. Races were very good. Love that track.
Where does that leave us -- tied for fourth or fifth in points with seven nights in and twenty to go.
Feger Wins Heat at the Dream, Eldora Speedway
Geeeez, I haven't posted in such a long time. So very sorry. We've been SLAMMED.
So what's been going on -- all kinds of stuff -- so where to start --
THE DREAM AT ELDORA SPEEDWAY.
Jason qualified pretty darn good 21st out of 116 cars. Putting him on the pole of a loaded third heat. Outside Jason was his good friend Jeep Van Wormer. Three bad starts forced a single file restart. On that restart -- Jason was on a string around the top of the track. Jason thought Jeep was right on his tail due to the fact he usually would have been. Unfortunately, Jason couldn't see Austin signaling him due to the glare of the sun off the rigs in the infield.
In the feature Jason started fourth -- AWESOME!!!! There really was a chance for him to have a top 5 or 10, he was running a very solid 5th around lap 30 he started to fade. Come to find out, the right rear was losing pressure. That meant the stagger would be all messed up on the car. DARN IT!! But as they say, that's racing.
Here's the video from the heat race thanks to ABON!! Thanks so much ABON!!! aka Tony.
So what's been going on -- all kinds of stuff -- so where to start --
THE DREAM AT ELDORA SPEEDWAY.
Jason qualified pretty darn good 21st out of 116 cars. Putting him on the pole of a loaded third heat. Outside Jason was his good friend Jeep Van Wormer. Three bad starts forced a single file restart. On that restart -- Jason was on a string around the top of the track. Jason thought Jeep was right on his tail due to the fact he usually would have been. Unfortunately, Jason couldn't see Austin signaling him due to the glare of the sun off the rigs in the infield.
In the feature Jason started fourth -- AWESOME!!!! There really was a chance for him to have a top 5 or 10, he was running a very solid 5th around lap 30 he started to fade. Come to find out, the right rear was losing pressure. That meant the stagger would be all messed up on the car. DARN IT!! But as they say, that's racing.
Here's the video from the heat race thanks to ABON!! Thanks so much ABON!!! aka Tony.
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