LINCOLN, Ill. — October 17, 2026 — Jason Feger held off Tanner English by roughly one-tenth of a second in a photo finish Saturday, highlighting the opening night of the 2026 DIRTcar Fall Nationals at Lincoln Speedway.
The event drew 114 entries across four divisions: 22 DIRTcar Super Late Models, 33 Taco Bell DIRTcar Modifieds, 38 DIRTcar Pro Modifieds and 21 DIRTcar Pro Late Models. The Super Late Model and Modified features also carried Bennett Memorial lap-leader bonuses and additional awards.
Feger and English take title fight to the stripe
Feger entered the weekend 13 points behind English in the DIRTcar Super Late Model national standings. The rivals were almost inseparable from qualifying onward: Feger’s 12.928-second lap edged English’s 12.929, and both won heat races to share the feature’s front row.
Mike Spatola led early from third before Feger took control on lap five. A late caution erased Feger’s advantage and brought English back to his rear bumper. The two raced side by side and nose to tail through the closing laps, with Feger winning the drag race to the checkered flag. Spatola finished third, Ryan Unzicker fourth and Daniel Adam fifth.
The result keeps the $25,000 national championship in play heading into Sunday’s final program.
Alexander controls deep Modified field
Collin Alexander of Clinton, Illinois, delivered a complete night in the Taco Bell DIRTcar Modified division. He was fastest in his qualifying group at 13.935 seconds, won his heat and started the 25-lap feature from the pole.
Alexander stayed in front while Ray Bollinger closed late. Bollinger finished second, followed by Austin Friedman and Brayden Doyle. National points leader Mike McKinney charged from 21st to fifth in a 33-car field that also included Kenny Wallace, Brian Lynn, Carter Sinkhorn, Matthew Baker and Brandon Roberts.
Sheppard and Doyle add feature wins
Colby Sheppard won the 20-lap DIRTcar Pro Late Model feature from the pole. Newly crowned national champion Braden Johnson trimmed Sheppard’s lead in the closing laps but finished second. Ryan Miller, Austin McCarty and Brandon Sweitzer completed the top five.
In the DIRTcar Pro Modified feature, Brayden Doyle took the lead from Drake Compton following a restart and survived another caution with two laps remaining. Kade Ballinger finished second, Tim Luttrell third, Drew Schwartz fourth and national points leader Zach Whaley fifth. Compton finished sixth, keeping his championship battle with Whaley alive for Sunday.
Sunday finale schedule
The Fall Nationals conclude Sunday, October 18, with DIRTcar Stock Cars joining the four Saturday divisions. Pit gates open at 1 p.m., grandstands at 2 p.m., the driver meeting is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., qualifying hot laps at 4 p.m., opening ceremonies at 5 p.m. and racing at 5:30 p.m.
Grandstand admission is $25 for adults, while children 11 and under are admitted free.
Source: Lincoln Speedway / Track Enterprises. Photo: Event Horizon Photo, previously supplied to Pitmark Racing Co. for Fall Nationals coverage.
For event information, visit LincolnSpeedwayIL.com.
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