The racing life of Jason Fitzgerald has been like the life of a gypsy. A life that has taken him to a multitude of tracks and different places around the country. For some drivers, they drive at one track and one track only. Circumstances such as financial ones may keep them there or just because they have a sort of comfort zone there are some of the reasons why they don't venture out to different tracks. Jason believes that to be a better driver it takes going out to different tracks and racing against different caliber drivers is what helps to make a better driver.
Jason started out his early career racing at Jax Raceway in Jacksonville, Florida in 1993. His uncles built chassis for modifieds and this is where he cut his teeth. Racing only the last half of the season, he collected his first ever win at the last race. The next few years he averaged 10 wins a year but never ran a full season. In 1998 he decided to get into a late model and in driving the late model it took him to different tracks around the area and thus began the gypsy life. He became friends with a driver who is pretty popular in his own right named Earl Pearson Jr., when he raced with him at Jax Raceway and went on the road on and off with him to help on the crew during the next few years.
In 2000, Jimmy Carter gave Jason an opportunity to drive for him at several local tracks which brought him a track championship at Putnam County Speedway. After driving for Carter he began driving for Massengill Racing in a super late model. He joined the Carolina Clash Series in the super late model and in the 2006-2007 season he went to work for Earl Pearson Jr. full time on the crew but eventually family obligations brought him back home. For any driver being away, it's always hardest on the family and making family priority is what has to balance out a driver's lifestyle. No driver worth his salt will tell you they could do it on their own without their family's support. Coming back home, he began driving for Murrell Mixon in the Southern All Star Series and the NLMS. In 2009 he won the championship in the Southern All Stars and in 2009 he won the NLMS championship. Then 2011 rolled around and he was asked to come work as crew chief for Earl Pearson Jr. at Labonte Racing and the team manager for Pearson and driver Brad Mead.
Fitzgerald came home once again to be with his family and back to car owner Mixon which is where he is now. GRT asked him to drive their chassis and Fitzgerald accepted which brought about the GRT by Fitzgerald chassis which is a GRT chassis that Jason puts his own special touch to. Running his chassis now are drivers like, Cale Simons, Cody Simons, Donnie Chappell and Brandon Dewitt. To say they are doing well in the chassis would be an understatement. Dominating is a word that comes to mind. Jason isn't one to hoard his knowledge. He freely shares set ups with his drivers and gives input at every track they go to. He never leaves them out of the loop. Putting his name and reputation on the line each and every time is what keeps him driving for success.
Aside from a DNF after being taken out in a race at Ocala he hasn't finished out of the top 4. Being successful at different tracks is something that he's learned how to accomplish from his early career. Staying at one track, he thinks, makes you only as good as the guys you race against which after a while isn't giving you any variety and racing one track won't teach you what you need to know about setting up a car. Jason says staying at one track would bring about boredom for him that wouldn't produce any sort of challenge. He needs the different competition and the variety of conditions each track brings. If you have the opportunity or money to get out and drive at other places, Fitzgerald believes you should take it and believes the experience will only make you a better driver.
Don't ever be scared to venture out is his advice to other drivers. Even if you run in last place at a new track the experience will make you learn what to do better the next time. You should put yourself in different conditions. This gypsy life he has led is what has brought him to where he is today and part of the success he has been part of aside from the fact he has natural driving talent which is another important factor in making a good driver. His wins at different tracks this year is what proves that experience will get you the big trophy. He's not afraid of getting to a track he's never been and racing against new competition, in fact, it's what he welcomes. The rest of the year is what he's looking forward to with confidence and he's taking nothing for granted, knowing everything is fleeting in racing. A win one week may be great but there's always a race the next. He understands this and uses it to strive each week to be bigger and better. This is a driver that can get to where he wants to go and can teach others something important. To never be scared or intimidated, and to never back down from getting out there and trying something new. You're only as good as your willing to go and Jason is definitely one of the best.
