{"id":33233,"date":"2020-09-29T14:20:12","date_gmt":"2020-09-29T18:20:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dirtcar.com\/?p=33233"},"modified":"2020-10-01T10:53:26","modified_gmt":"2020-10-01T14:53:26","slug":"homegrown-hero-albany-saratoga-dirtcar-pro-stock-racer-gears-up-to-kick-off-oktoberfast-at-home-track","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dirtcar.com\/dirtcar-ne\/pro-stocks\/homegrown-hero-albany-saratoga-dirtcar-pro-stock-racer-gears-up-to-kick-off-oktoberfast-at-home-track\/","title":{"rendered":"HOMEGROWN HERO: Albany-Saratoga DIRTcar Pro Stock Racer Gears Up to Kick Off OktoberFAST at Home Track"},"content":{"rendered":"
Family-owned team takes on huge week of DIRTcar Racing on DIRTVision, Oct. 6-11<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
BALLSTON SPA, NY \u2014 The full-fendered DIRTcar Pro Stocks visually stand out amongst the four premier DIRTcar Northeast Series, and the standout class has standout drivers like Jay Fitzgerald, who has wheeled a Pro Stock since 1996.<\/span> Fitzgerald and his family-run race team out of Ballston Spa, NY, are set to take on <\/span>DIRTcar OktoberFAST<\/span><\/a> presented by <\/span>DIRTVision<\/span><\/a>, which runs Oct. 6-11 at iconic dirt tracks across New York. The DIRTcar Pro Stock Series presented by <\/span>COMP Cams<\/span><\/a> is set to race three times over the six-day DIRTcar Racing extravaganza, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Fitzgerald\u2019s home track Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Next, the Pro Stocks roll to Utica-Rome Speedway on Wednesday, Oct. 7, and then return to the schedule for the OktoberFAST finale at Weedsport Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 11. Every night of racing will be broadcast live around the world on DIRTVision.<\/span><\/p>\n But how did it all begin? Much the same way so many race car drivers get their start \u2014 a passed down passion for racing from Mom and Dad.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI have been going to Albany-Saratoga Speedway (Malta, NY) since I was three. My parents and my aunt and uncle were faithful Albany fans and we went every Friday night,\u201d said Fitzgerald. \u201cIn fact, my parents\u2019 house is only 10 minutes from the track. Currently where I live is only 10 minutes from the track so Albany has been my home since I was three.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Fitzgerald\u2019s father owned a salvage yard in the 1970s. Salvage yards were goldmines for drivers and race car builders back then. One could find control arms, carbs, and even whole cars to take racing. That\u2019s how the Fitzgerland and the Older families hooked up initially, and how a young Jay was introduced to the true life of a racer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cRight around the corner from my house was a great friend of my Dad\u2019s, Marc Older. He raced all through the \u201970s. Marc\u2019s brother started racing in the \u201980s and before I could drive those guys would pick me up every weekend to go to the races. I got to go to the pits and I was only 10 years old. I learned a lot about life on those rides in the hauler,\u201d Fitzgerald said with a laugh.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Although he learned a lot early, Fitzgerald didn\u2019t jump straight into DIRTcar Pro Stocks. He cut his teeth on an enduro car and then raced a half-season in street stocks. In 1996, he made his first Pro Stock start.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Recently, Fitzgerald has gone all-in with his race team and brand new race shop where he\u2019ll run his classic car part business: <\/span>Classic Muscle Parts<\/span><\/a>. Work funds the racing but it\u2019s friends and family that fuels it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPast couple of years we\u2019ve gone all-in with chasing the Series. We did a lot of racing last year. I absolutely loved going to Canada last year,\u201d Fitzgerald noted. \u201cMy girlfriend, my stepdaughter, and I go on the road together. My stepdaughter is 16 and she is a real deal crew chief. She knows her stuff.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In fact, we might just see a two-car team roll out of the Fitzgerald shop with the young lady behind the wheel in the near future. Stay tuned.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/a>2020 has been a trying year for everyone and opportunities to race have been minimized. However, many DIRTcar sanctioned tracks opened the gates for Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship points and live streaming. Fitzgerald accumulated 26 starts in 2020, which is impressive given the circumstances. That also means his ride needs a look over before running three DIRTcar Pro Stock Series presented by COMP Cams races in six days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOur car is completely apart right now.\u201d Fitzgerald said. \u201cWe took the rear end out and that is getting looked at. We are going through all the suspension, changing springs, and any wear items. You don\u2019t want part failures in the middle of a week like this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Fitzgerald is excited to join the convoy of race cars crossing New York for OktoberFAST, but at least the first night, Tuesday, Oct. 6, is right at home at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAlbany is my home so we are hoping for good things. We\u2019ve had a great car all year but the level of competition is so high,\u201d noted Fitzgerald. \u201cI looked at the Feature lineup a few weeks ago at Albany and every driver but one was a multi-time Feature winner.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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