Jul. 31GRAND FORKS Jade Hastings sat next to his 8H sprint car outside Cookie's Lounge on Tuesday night.A steady stream of fans approached him to buy his t-shirts, get an autograph, express their appreciation for his 13-year racing career and ask, "Is this really it?"The Grand Forks driver, who has won the last three Northern Outlaw Sprint Association titles, posted on social media last Friday that he's stepping away from racing after a dust-up with NOSA over a Facebook post.What started with a critique of track surfaces blew up into a fine, a point reduction, and ultimately, one of the region's top drivers planning an exit from the sport in the prime of his career."Nothing's final yet," Hastings said when asked if there's any chance he races again this season. "I'd say I'm for sure going to take a couple of weeks off here, because I feel that's what I need. . . just relax and then see how I feel after that. Right now, I don't necessarily want to race too bad. I think that's why I need some time to figure it out. In a couple weeks, if I feel different, we'll probably go to Huset's once or twice and maybe Cedar Lake in Wisconsin at the end of the year."But the two-time defending points champion at River Cities Speedway won't be at The Bullring on Friday night.Outside of potentially competing in the World of Outlaws show on Aug. 28, he does not plan on competing in Grand Forks or in any NOSA races the rest of the season "unless something absolutely crazy changes.""I haven't missed a NOSA race in Grand Forks in about 10 years," Hastings said. "It will be different, for sure. I don't know how I'll feel once I hear the cars going around the track, but I'll find out."The ordeal stems back to the night of July 17th.Hastings finished eighth in a King of the Wings feature at River Cities Speedway that night. After the show, Hastings posted on Facebook about track conditions, though he didn't mention the track by name."Hey race tracks!! Fans want racing not follow the leader. Maybe it's not easy, but it's not rocket science either. Stick a screw driver in the ground once in awhile!" Hastings wrote on Facebook.He didn't think much of it, but two days later he received a call from a NOSA official informing him of a $250 fine and a 25-point deduction in the standings for the post. Hastings declined to say which official called him.According to the NOSA rulebook: "Drivers who make public comments that constitute personal attacks against trucks or NOSA officials will not be tolerated. The first violation will result in a $250 fine, loss of 25 points. 2nd violation will result in $500 fine, loss of 50 points. The penalty for a 3rd Violation will be decided by the board of directors."The short call did not sit well with Hastings."My original post, I didn't think was serious enough for anyone to really talk to me or talk to anyone about, let alone get mad and fine me over it," Hastings said. "I kind of knew I was done at that point, no matter what happened after that. So, I let all my fans hear it and they let everyone hear it, and then it blew up, for sure."Hastings said it didn't take him long to reconsider his racing future."I didn't want to race here anymore if that's how I was going to be treated, but I wasn't sure," Hastings said. "I thought about it all week. I grew closer to the decision that I didn't want to race anymore. Friday morning when I woke up, I didn't want to race. I knew I needed to make that decision. I'm sure I'll regret it at points. But also, I'm sure there will be times I'm happy I made the decision."Hastings, 28, has developed into one of the region's best sprint drivers.He's won 36 NOSA features, ranking fifth all-time behind Mark Dobmeier, Wade Nygaard, Austin Pierce and Lou Kennedy Jr.Hastings won his first NOSA points title in 2020. He followed it up with NOSA championships in 2023, 2024 and 2025.Nygaard is the only other driver to win three consecutive NOSA titles. He won six in a row from 1997-02.Hastings also has won the last two points titles at River Cities Speedway."I wouldn't say I've reflected too much," Hastings said. "A lot of fans have with me. I've heard a lot of cool stories. But I'm sure over the next week or two, it'll probably set in a little more and I'll think about all the good times and all the bad times. I'm sure it will be bittersweet."Hastings said he considered scaling back his schedule last season, but it hadn't been a thought this summer."Last year, I wanted to dial it back pretty much the whole year," Hastings said. "We had a very successful year, but I still wasn't really having any fun. Sometimes, the most fun you have is when you're chasing things. This year, we haven't had the most success, but we're trying a new race car, new engine combo, all kinds of new things that make it fun. I feel like we were really starting to get it dialed in. So, I had no thoughts of quitting at all this year."What would it take for Hastings to return to the race track on a regular basis?He said he's thought about that."Right now, I pay to race, I work on the car and I drive," Hastings said. "I do it all, kind of me and two other guys. I think I'd have to race someone else's car. It wouldn't be my stuff anymore. I'm committed to selling my stuff. I'd want to drive for someone else and possibly even be paid, just because this is such a commitment and with a kid coming, and my health is more important than racing."Hastings said his wife, Bryce, is due in November. Because of health complications with their child, they are expecting to spend at least four months in the Twin Cities before and after the birth.With that going on, Hastings said, "racing doesn't seem as important as it used to."Hastings said if he's not racing next summer, he will have plenty on his plate between being a father and fishing."I'm just in a spot in my life and old enough now that I realize I've missed out on a lot of things," Hastings said. "And if they don't want me there, I'll find something else to do."