BROWNSTOWN, Ill. — Jason Feger knew his first DIRTcar Summer Nationals feature win of the season had to be right on the horizon.
If three-straight podium finishes in his last three races was any clue, then he was due any day. Friday night at the Brownstown Bullring, he finally broke through.
In dominant fashion, Feger led all 50 circuits around the quarter-mile, formerly known as Fayette County Speedway, and bagged the $10,000 grand prize.
“It feels really good, especially being a $10,000-to-win,” Feger said. “That’s kinda like winning two.”
Feger started on the outside front row, won the mad dash into the first corner and began pacing the field around. The laps clicked off as fellow Summer Nationals champions Billy Moyer Sr. and Shannon Babb followed close behind.
Only one caution slowed the action and restacked the field right before the halfway point, but little changed out front as Feger continued to show the way.
As the final laps closed in, so did Moyer and Babb to the rear of Feger. Soon, the lapped traffic in front of Feger became undeniable, but he chose to stay put instead of making the risky move with the other leaders right on his tail.
“It’s nice knowing you’ve got guys back there that probably aren’t going to make bonehead moves and race you clean,” Feger said. “They know when it might not be their night, and they’re just going to get their money and keep everything in one piece. That was definitely peace of mind.”
Feger elected to chase the lapped cars back to the finish line, scoring his 24th career Summer Nationals feature win. He came into the night leading both the week two and overall points standings and has since expanded that gap with the victory.
Two races remain on the docket in week two, but Feger likes his chance to be there with a shot at the $10,000 weekly champion’s check come Sunday night. Though, he does acknowledge the pitfalls that beset so many teams on the road.
“We’ve just gotta stay focused,” Feger said. “You’re one flat tire away, or broken motor, or big wreck – anything can happen. We’ve just gotta keep digging away and take it one night at a time.
“Obviously, everything’s rolling good. But you never know when the bad luck’s gonna come get you.”
The finish:
Feature (50 Laps): 1. 25-Jason Feger[2]; 2. 21-Billy Moyer Sr[4]; 3. 18-Shannon Babb[1]; 4. 2S-Stormy Scott[6]; 5. 21J-Billy Moyer Jr[7]; 6. 7T-Drake Troutman[11]; 7. 14M-Morgan Bagley[3]; 8. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[10]; 9. 12-Ashton Winger[24]; 10. 33-Mike Harrison[16]; 11. 36-Logan Martin[5]; 12. 24-Ryan Unzicker[19]; 13. 94-Austin Rettig[9]; 14. 26H-Kyle Hammer[12]; 15. 31AUS-Kye Blight[20]; 16. 38-Thomas Hunziker[13]; 17. 4G-Bob Gardner[21]; 18. (DNF) 42-Chad Finley[18]; 19. (DNF) 35-Claude Walker[23]; 20. (DNF) 11D-Brian Diveley[17]; 21. (DNF) 54-Dane Dacus[14]; 22. (DNF) 21N-Logan Nickerson[8]; 23. (DNF) 16-Rusty Griffaw[22]; 24. (DNF) 6K-Michael Kloos[15]