DirtonDirt Dispatches
Dispatches: Caution opens door for Feger's Lincoln victory
Jason Feger makes the winning pass. (brendonbauman.com)
Notes and quotes from Independence Day weekend Dirt Late Model specials, including DIRTcar Summer Nationals and other events (look for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series coverage from Ohio’s Mansfield Speedway elsewhere):
Surprising Feger victory
Halfway through Thursday’s DIRTcar Summer Nationals event at Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway, Tanner English appeared to be en route to his first back-to-back series victory while Jason Feger’s chances of winning a fifth series race at the quarter-mile oval were minimal.
But everything changed after a lap-19 caution with pole-starting English getting into a tussle for the lead with fellow front-row starter Sam Seawright, giving Feger an opening. The Bloomington, Ill., driver took it, going underneath English and Seawright on the backstretch and sliding in front of English exiting turn four en route to a 30-lap victory.
"I didn't think we had a car to win. I didn't feel that great,” said Feger, who notched his fifth Summer Nationals victory of the season, matching his career-high from 2025.
Feger set fast time but a flat tire in heat action put him back to the third row of the feature lineup. He was holding onto fourth with 12 laps remaining, but the caution for debris changed everything.
“I was really hoping that restart would play out just like it did there,” Feger said. “Them guys, I don't think I would have been able to pass them because they wouldn't have started sliding each other like that. I was the only one up front there that was really kind of committed to that bottom, and I just don't think they knew kind of what was down there and how to run it, and it just worked out and I had it timed just perfect and took the shot and then went on top and do what we do.
"This feels good. We've won a lot of them here in Lincoln and I've got a lot of great fans here and it’s always special.”
English, the Benton, Ky., driver who won the previous night at Farmington (Mo.) Empire Speedway, struggled exiting turn two after the restart. Seawright dove under him in turn three on the 19th lap, going in too hard and hitting the turn-four wall with English making contact in trying to get back ahead. All the while Feger was making up ground on the low side.
“I think if the caution don't come out, nobody stands a chance,” a disappointed English said. “I don't know. I wish it would've just went green and checkered and been a boring race and I’d have led the whole thing. But that's how these places go, you know. He's awful good here at this place. Usually I'm terrible here. That's probably the best I've ever been here.”
The caution and ensuing battle with Seawright proved to be English’s undoing.
“That 16 car slid me there and broke my momentum, and it let him by me and it just kind of killed my rhythm,” English said. “I had a pretty good line going there before that caution. I just didn't take off on the start.” — DIRTvision and staff reports
Streaming schedule
Among upcoming Dirt Late Model special and sanctioned events available via live streaming:
Thursday, July 2
• DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway (DIRTVision)
• Save A Lot American Crate All-Star Series at Willard (Ky.) Speedway (Dirt Rich TV)
• American Crate Late Model Series at Rocket Raceway Park in Petty, Texas (RaceON)
Friday, July 3
• Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at Mansfield (Ohio) Speedway (FloRacing)
• DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Red Hill Raceway in Sumner, Ill. (DIRTVision)
• Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, Tenn. (ArrowVision Live)
• Limited Late Models at Wartburg (Tenn.) Speedway (Dirt Rich TV)
• Structural Buildings WISSOTA Challenge Series at Gondik Law Speedway in Superior, Wis. (Dirt Race Central)
• Nutrien Ag Solutions Revival Super Dirt Series at Callaway Raceway in Fulton, Mo. (ArrowVision Live)
• Rogers-Dabbs Crate Racin’ USA 604 Series at Cochran (Ga.) Motor Speedway (Crate Racin’ USA TV)
• Karl Chevrolet Premier Late Model Tour at Davenport (Iowa) Speedway (IMCA TV)
• American Crate Late Model Series at Hunt County Raceway in Greenville, Texas (RaceON)
• Crate Racin’ USA 602 Sportsman Series at Pine Ridge Speedway in Guntown, Miss. (Crate Racin’ USA TV)
Saturday, July 4
• Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio (FloRacing)
• DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Highland (Ill.) Speedway (DIRTVision)
• Rogers-Dabbs Crate Racin’ USA 604 Series at Cochran (Ga.) Motor Speedway (Crate Racin’ USA TV)
• Greg Hodnett Classic Super Late Models at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway (FloRacing)
• Save A Lot American Crate All-Star Series at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va. (Dirt Rich TV)
• Nutrien Ag Solutions Revival Super Dirt Series at Nevada (Mo.) Speedway (ArrowVision Live)
• Structural Buildings WISSOTA Challenge Series at Gondik Law Speedway in Superior, Wis. (Dirt Race Central)
• Best Plumber 604 Crate Late Model Racing Series at Thunder Mountain Speedway in Corbin, Ky. (Thunder Mountain Speedway TV)
• Crate Racin’ USA 602 Sportsman Series at Pine Ridge Speedway in Guntown, Miss. (Crate Racin’ USA TV)
• American Crate Late Model Series at Grayson County Speedway in Sherman, Texas (RaceON)
Sunday, July 5
• DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Macon (Ill.) Speedway (DIRTVision)
• Nutrien Ag Solutions Revival Super Dirt Series at Electric City Speedway in Butler, Mo. (ArrowVision Live)
Monday, July 6
• DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Kankakee (Ill.) County Speedway (DIRTVision)
Tuesday, July 7
• DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Montpelier (Ind.) Speedway (DIRTVision)
