Kasts Enjoy Racing and Learning Together

The father-son tandem of Jason and Christian Kast started their racing careers together in 2021 – and are learning together along the way.

From Fairmount, N.D., the two race in the Short Tracker division. So far this season, the two have raced at I-94 EMR Speedway in Fergus Falls, Viking Speedway in Alexandria, Sheyenne Speedway in Lisbon, and Buffalo River Speedway near Glyndon. Both are off to solid starts -- Jason Kast has two top fives in six starts this season while Christian Kast has three top fives in seven starts.

Jason Kast had served as a pitman for another driver previously; the Kast family lives closer to the Meyer family, which races Wissota Late Models out of the Wahpeton area.

“My dad and I went to watch races weekly, and my neighbors are the Meyers and we watched them a lot,” Christian said. “We figured; we should hop into a car.”

“I wanted to always do it,” Jason said. “We bought some first cars, and we were a little slower with them. Then we learned to buy faster cars.”

Running a limited schedule in 2021, Christian Kast didn’t record a top five finish. He improved in 2022 with three top five finishes and has equaled that total already this season. Similarly, Jason Kast made a big jump in 2022 with 12 top five finishes.

It’s been a learning curve for both, not only in working on the car, but the driving – and the more seat time they’ve gotten, the better the results have been.

“Listen to the veterans and don’t go into the corners too fast,” Christian said of what he’s learned. “It takes patience.”

“Not to get too fast to the corners and let off a little bit. That’s helped me quite a bit to gain speed,” Jason said.

One of the perks of being in the same class is racing against each other.

“It’s fun competition, getting to race side-by-side with him,” Christian said. “I love it.”

The two work on the cars together, and Jason says the two drivers have also learned something in that process as well.

“It’s a lot of responsibility with money; you have to make the dollar last a little longer if you want to be fast,”

One thing both drivers are hungry for is that first career feature win. Jason, 47, was the track champion at Buffalo River Speedway in 2022. He led several laps of the feature at Buffalo River 10 days ago on May 21 before spinning. He has finished third twice this season and was second three times last week. J

“I’d like to get that first win,” Jason said.

Christian, 16, who will be a junior at Wahpeton High School this fall, has a best feature finish of third, including doing so at Buffalo River on May 21.

“I’d like to get that first win this year, and maybe chase down a track championship,” Christian said.

Jason Kast has plans to move up a division, perhaps as soon as next year.

“After this year, I’m going to retire this car and this class and go up to a streeter,” Jason said.

No matter if it is working on the cars on the shape, or the racing on the track, the Kasts are happy to be racing.

“The thrill of it,” Christian said., “and it’s bonding time with my dad.”

Driver profiles

Jason Kast

Age: 47

Short Tracker #3K

Residence: Fairmount, N.D.

Christian Kast

Age: 16

Short Tracker #03

Residence: Fairmount, N.D.

Sponsors: SMJ Freight Solutions, ABT Trucking, MDI, ABU Trailers, Dickinson Cages Racing, Gordon Hunter Trucking, Lillegards, State Farm Insurance, Bar and Grill #9, Bergers Auto