Jason Feger retaliated on Carson Hocevar by driving over his left rear under caution
On Thursday night, the Gateway Dirt Nationals hosted the opening night of the three-day show in Downtown St. Louis. The track is a 1/5-mile bullring dirt track under the roof of the Dome at Americas Center.
It didn’t take long for drama to unfold.
In the 5th dirt late model heat race, Jason Feger restarted on the pole following an early yellow. The rules are Delaware Double File. That means the leader is on the front row by himself with 2nd and 3rd lining up on row two.
Watch the Jason Feger vs Carson Hocevar video below.
Feger launched from the middle lane. He was cutting down the banking for a late apex to get a jump. However, Hocevar who started in the inside second row already had his nose on the inside.
As Feger came down, Hocevar was run into the inside wall. The two drivers made contact and Feger suffered a flat left rear.
There’s no hot pit in the Gateway Dirt Nationals. With the flat tire, Feger was out of the race. But, he wanted to take Hocevar with him.
As cars rolled around under caution, Feger ran over the left rear of Hocevar. He ripped off the entire door in the process.
Feger and Hocevar exited the race. Both drivers will return on Saturday with an uphill battle to make the main event.
Hocevar will compete in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2024.
Carson Hocevar forms late model team
Carson Hocevar comments
“I’m still new to this Delaware Double. Still new to this, I haven’t been in a dirt late model in 8 months,” Hocevar told Flo Sports.
“I figured I could kinda poke to his left rear. I don’t know if that’s wrong, I see a lot of guys kinda poke.”
He added, “I kinda watch dirt late models a lot. Hit the inside wall and checked up as quick as I could. His left rear was flat, right away.”
“So, I apologize to them if I did something wrong. A couple of officials came over and said they didn’t see anything. There’s two parties right, I could have got a little more room but there’s no spotters either so he doesn’t know I’m there.”
“The retaliation after, is a little much. Just in the fact, he like landed at my helmet. If I had my hand out or anything, that almost takes your hand off.”
“Maybe next time hit me in the back. Not go for my head.”
“I looked at the replay, I was kinda further than I wanted to be.”
Hocevar’s 2023 NASCAR season ended in a similar fashion. Heim retaliated on him, ending his race at Phoenix.
Carson Hocevar vs Corey Heim at Phoenix Raceway (Video)
Jason Feger comments
“I don’t know that i was really that angry. Just, if I’m not going to finish, you’re not going to finish,” Feger stated.
“Just a dumb bone-head move. We’re both pretty much in transfer spots, 1 lap into the race. He just run up over my left rear on the start and gave me a flat tire.”
“If he took me out. I was going to make sure he didn’t finish too. I really hate doing that, I know fans get excited. But, that’s not how we’re suppose to race.”
“There’s nothing to really say I don’t think. In my mind, we’re even now.”
“I mean, he knows he screwed up, I’m sure. That’s just part of racing.”
Gateway Dirt Nationals Results: December 14, 2023
