Jason Feger, the Week 1 2025 Hell Tour Champion, clarified his comments criticizing tracks for not opening their pit gates “by a reasonable time” especially when the tracks know teams and drivers are driving overnight.

Feger originally posted, “Yearly reminder to all tracks and promoters. There is absolutley ZERO reason to not have the gates open by a reasonable time if we are coming from a race the night before. It’s a major inconvenience for teams to unload and reload or have to move. These cars require tons of work. Let alone when it’s this hot outside nothing gets done as fast. Also then we waste a ton of time standing in pit pass lines 2 miles long in 100 degree sun and 1/2 the time you aren’t even selling passes yet. It’s really simple open the pit pass window, sell passes for like a hour, then clear pits. Or shut the gate and put 2 people in a golf cart and go around and sell the passes in the pits. Pretty shitty that you want to inconvenience all the teams that are coming to put on a show for the work of 2 people to do. If this offends you then you are probably part of the problem.”

He would later add an update stating, “This post is not directed at one certain track/promoter. Unfortunately this happens way too much especially on this tour.”

While Feger indicated he was not speaking about any specific track, the Hell Tour, which Feger has been following, was heading to Tri-City yesterday and it appeared Gordy Gundaker, whose parents own Tri-City believed the post was indeed about Tri-City. Gundaker wrote in his own post, “Regarding the shit on social media today, I try not to read too much into a lot of it. And it only took about reading 3 comments on Tri Citys , Jason Feger and Jason Palubicki’s post to remind me why I try to stay off of social media.”

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and both of those guys are great friends of mine,” he continued. “But here’s the thing that most forget. Mom and Dad own and operate Tri City. They are going to run it how they deem fit. And if you don’t like it, then that’s honestly just too bad. Don’t come. This day and age has brought so much entitlement to the morons who sit at home and don’t even come out to support our track, or any other for that matter.”

“They have poured their blood, sweat and tears into that place for 21 years, just to get reprimanded by a bunch of whiny b****es on social media who think they know better, but have never owned or operated a thing in their entire lives,” Gundaker added. “Do they do everything correct? No. Do you?? No. But one thing about mom and dad that I will always respect, is they don’t bulls**t about how hard they work or how much they have given to the Midwest and the Dirt Racing community. You social media warriors will be the death of this sport, or another track, or something else along the line and then you’ll b***h they left after they do.”

Feger replied to this post writing, “Well said bud. I’m sure not trying to bash your family or track. This happens to often on tour and i usually have to post every year about it. I even offered solutions and why we need in. It’s not a bash post. This happens several times a week. As you know on this deal every hour counts. Especially when races have been extra running late and the travel is far. Id help clear the pits or maybe the sanctioning body you are paying could send 2 people to clear the pits instead of sitting at the hotel.”

Of note, following Feger’s original post, Highland Speedway, which will host the Hell Tour on Saturday announced it was adjusting its pit gate times on Friday night. It revealed it will open the gates between 8-10 pm for local drivers on Friday night. They will then reopen the pit gates 2 hours after the Hell Tour feature at Farmer City concludes and will remain open for 1-2 hours. Outside of this, it will open on Saturday morning at 10 am.

Paducah International Raceway also announced it would open its gates for Summer National drivers heading to Clarksville from Highland on Saturday night. It wrote on Facebook, “Paducah International Raceway will be available for any and all traveling teams coming from Highland going to Clarksville to stay the night and work on equipment. We can also turn the pit lights on to help as well. There is a camp ground next to the track for fans traveling with campers as well or if running generators campers can also park on the grounds. All we ask is please pick up afterwards and any trash stacked in a neat pile and we will dispose of for you. Just trying to do our part and help where we can! ”

Now, Feger has issued a much lengthier clarification on his original post. He wrote, “Looks like my post yesterday struck some nerves. I really was not directing that post to one promoter or track. This happens all over the country all the time. There was no bashing, I stated why we need gates open and possible solutions or ways I think are better to let us in. It just happen to be on that day. For the promoters/tracks that go above and beyond THANKS for helping and understanding I’m sure you probably don’t get told that enough. This sport takes tracks, promoters, drivers, sponsors, and FANS to be successful. Idk why people wouldn’t want to do what makes life easier for all and work together but you see in this sport lots of times they don’t.”

“For the promoters that don’t understand let me flip the script,” he continued. “You work all week to prepare for one race at your track. Now run back to back nights at that same track throw in a 3.5 hour drive and have someone tell you that you can’t start track prep, stock coolers, food ,clean ect till 12-1 let me know how that works. It doesn’t. Fyi i cant even imagine how hard or the logistics of tracks that run 2-3 days in a row. I see promoters that do and how wore out and exhausted they are afterwords. For Sam and [World Racing Group] send your guys to clear the pits if the track doesn’t have enough help.”

Feger then reiterated his point from his original post, “My opinion for most places and by far the best for teams is to let us in. When you’re ready to sell passes lock the gate send 2 people around in a golf cart. Start at one end and work your way through back to the pit gate and then sell in the pit shack and open the gate. I hate when tracks clear pits and then start selling passes. Someone should be selling a hour before you clear the pits. Then clear the pits. Ya i can stand in 100 heat for a hour even though i hate it. But i get ticked off when theres grandmas, grandpas, children that it’s very hard on.”

“Most teams spend a whole week to prep for 2-3 nights of racing. When races are over early and drives are short it’s not so bad. But do 30 late nights long drives 100 degree heat every hour matters,” he said. “If you can save a team of 4 people 2-3 hours a day you can see how it would add up in a hurry. No business would want to hundred of wasted man hours a month.”

“I love this sport and have dedicated and sacrificed a lot for it. I try to go above and beyond for tracks and fans. When I make post its not meant to bash I want this sport to be great for decades to come. I will always speak my mind if I think it can help or sport become better or if i think someone was wronged. Thats just who I am,” Feger concluded.

What do you make of Feger’s complaints and solutions?

NEXT: Gordy Gundaker Addresses Naysayers After DIRTcar Summer Nationals Stop At Tri-City Got Rained Out