Known as the “High Side Hustler” in the dirt Late Model world, Jason Feger reminded everyone why he earned the nickname on Friday night at Farmer City Raceway.
In a quest for his second DIRTcar Summer Nationals Late Models championship, the Bloomington, IL driver had to drive a flawless night around his home track for his 33rd Hell Tour win.
In every category that the Late Models touched the 0.25-mile surface, Feger was at the top of the board in every event. He was the fastest in Hot Laps, set the Qualifying Quick Time, and won his Heat race for a front row starting spot.
Feger and 2024 event winner Garrett Alberson led the field to the green flag, with Feger taking the lead on the opening lap by driving his No. 25 to the top side of the track.
Behind Feger, Tyler Erb passed around Alberson on Lap 6 by following Feger on the cushion as the two championship-chasing drivers sat in first and second place.
While the two drivers followed each other around the track, they grew the distance on the field to over four seconds by the halfway point, while Blaze Burwell and Brandon Sheppard fought for third place.
The 2013 Summer Nationals champ got by Burwell by riding the high line, then slicing down the track to cut Burwell’s opportunity to respond on Lap 26.
“Rocket Shepp” began to cut time on the two leaders as lapped traffic interrupted their rhythm in the closing laps of the Feature. Feger cut through the middle to pass cars on the cushion while “Terbo” grew impatient and used any passing opportunity available to stay within grasp of the lead.
Despite the two drivers putting in full effort to chase Feger in the final laps, they could not stop the local driver from crossing the twin checkered flags for his 33rd career tour win, and retaking the overall points lead by three points over Erb.
“The car was great all night,” Feger said. “I think we were fast in Hot Laps, Qualifying, won the Heat, and won the Feature, so you can’t complain. The car was just on rails all night long. I had to run some weird lines, but it was really good in those lines, and I was honestly wanting lap traffic because I felt like I was good anywhere.”
Up Next: The DIRTcar Summer Nationals Late Models and DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals enter the penultimate race of Week 3 at the “World Famous” Highland Speedway on Saturday night, June 28.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every DIRTcar Summer Nationals race live on DIRTVision.
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 25F-Jason Feger[2]; 2. 1-Tyler Erb[4]; 3. B5-Brandon Sheppard[8]; 4. 58-Garrett Alberson[1]; 5. 44-Blaze Burwell[3]; 6. 4G-Bob Gardner[7]; 7. 18D-Daulton Wilson[14]; 8. 89-Mike Spatola[5]; 9. 24-Ryan Unzicker[20]; 10. 40B-Kyle Bronson[6]; 11. 50K-Kayden Clatt[13]; 12. 38T-Dylan Thornton[18]; 13. 75-Dillon McCowan[19]; 14. 15-Clay Stuckey[22]; 15. 5-Mark Whitener[15]; 16. 17SS-Brenden Smith[11]; 17. 17SR-Brody Smith[12]; 18. (DNF) 31M-Tyler Millwood[16]; 19. (DNF) 14JR-Trey Mills[10]; 20. (DNF) 18-Shannon Babb[17]; 21. (DNF) 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[9]; 22. (DNF) 1W-Donny Walden[21]
