Everything You Need To Know: Gateway Dirt Nationals
Everything You Need To Know: Gateway Dirt Nationals
FloRacing gets you ready for the Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals with entry lists, daily schedules and need-to-know information prior to the event.
The Race(s)
The Gateway Dirt Nationals is an indoor racing event held December 2-4 at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis. This year's event will feature three divisions of dirt track racing: Super Late Models, Midgets and Open Wheel Modifieds.
The inaugural Gateway Dirt Nationals were held in 2016. After four consecutive years of racing at the dome, the event was not held in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The Track
Kevin Gundaker, the promoter of Tri-City Speedway, is the man behind building the race track. Gundaker and his crew began building the track last week to have it ready for this week's event.
The track itself is a 1/5-mile, semi-banked dirt oval that results in tight-quarters racing. The dirt used to build the track is stored nearby and only used once a year for this event.
The Format
There will be two nights of preliminary racing on Thursday and Friday. Drivers have been split up into two groups and each driver will only participate in one night of preliminary action.
The Super Late Model format for preliminary nights will include hot laps, qualifying, heat races, b-mains and a 25-lap feature.
Open Wheel Modifieds prelims will have hot lap qualifying, heat races, one b-main and a 20-lap feature.
Midgets will have hot lap qualifying, heat races and a 20-lap feature each night.
Based on preliminary night action, eight drivers in each division will be locked into Saturday's main events. The rest will participate in last chance qualifiers prior to the main events on Saturday.
Saturday's Super Late Model feature will be 40 laps and pay $30,000 to win. Open Wheel Modifieds and Midgets will each race 30 laps for a $10,000 payday.
Entry List
Super Late Models - Click Here
Open Wheel Modifieds - Click Here
Midgets - TBA
Storylines
- Nick Hoffman will likely need a few reminders to breathe throughout the Gateway Dirt Nationals. In addition to driving his own Elite Modified Chassis, he'll be driving a Late Model for Scott Bloomquist Racing and a Midget for RAMS Racing.
- Will a well-known star bring home the Super Late Model victory or will we witness an underdog victory? In four previous events, we've witnessed both of these things happen. National stars Scott Bloomquist (2016) and Bobby Pierce (2017 & 2018) conquered the dome prior to a popular underdog win for West Virginia racer Tyler Carpenter in 2019. All three drivers are expected to be back at the dome chasing another victory.
- There will likely be a new winner in the Midget division. 2018 winner Christopher Bell and 2019 winner Kyle Larson are not expected to compete, opening the door for a first-time winner at Gateway.
- A pair of former Gateway Dirt Nationals Modified winners will be looking to become the first repeat winners in the division. 2018 winner Mike Harrison and 2017 winner Ray Bollinger will both be in pursuit of a second Gateway trophy.
- What division will produce the best race of the weekend? We've seen great races from all three divisions in prior years, and it will interesting to follow along to see which division(s) brings the Gateway crowd to its feet this time around.
- Four-time World 100 winner Jonathan Davenport has enjoyed a strong finish to his 2021 season with a sweep of the World Finals at Charlotte, a Castrol FloRacing Night in America championship and his fourth career World 100 victory. He'll look to put a cherry on top with his first Gateway Dirt Nationals victory.
- After finishing second in 2019, World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion Brandon Sheppard will once again partner with Sprint Car star Donny Schatz and drive the No. 15 Late Model at Gateway.
How to Watch
STREAMING: Watch the 2021 Gateway Dirt Nationals on FloRacing. SIGN UP HERE.
On Your TV: Now Available on Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast & Apple TV.
Cast: Cast to your smart TV including Vizio, Samsung and LG TVs.
On The Go: Download the FloSports app on iOS or Android.
Event Schedule
Thursday & Friday Schedule
3 p.m. - On-Track Activity Begins
- Super Late Model Hot Laps
- Midget Hot Laps
- Modified Hot Laps
4:40 p.m. - Qualifying Begins
- Super Late Models (2 Laps)
- Midgets (2 Laps)
- Modifieds (2 Laps)
6:10 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
6:15 p.m. - Racing Begins
- Super Late Models Heats(Six Heats - 8 Laps Each)
- Midget Heats (Three Heats - 8 Laps Each)
- Super Late Model C-Main (10 Laps)
- Modified Heat Races (3 Heats - 8 Laps Each)
- Super Late Model B-Main (12 Laps)
- Midget B-Main (8 Laps)
- Modified B-Main (8 Laps)
9:40 p.m. - Feature Races
- Super Late Models (20 Laps - $5,000 to Win)
- Midgets (20 Laps - $3,000 to Win)
- Modifieds (20 Laps - $3,000 to Win)
Saturday Schedule
3 p.m. - On-Track Activity Begins
- Super Late Model Last Chance Qualifiers (3 Races - 10 Laps Each)
- Super Late Model Redraw
- Super Late Model Last Chance Qualifiers (3 Races - 10 Laps Each)
- Super Late Model Hot Laps
- Midget Redraw
- Midget Last Chance Qualifiers (4 Races - 10 Laps Each)
- Midget Hot Laps
- Modified Redraw
- Modified Last Chance Qualifiers (4 Races - 10 Laps Each)
- Modified Hot Laps
7 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
7:45 p.m. - Super Late Model Main Event (40 Laps - $30,000 to Win)
8:50 p.m - Midget Main Event (30 Laps - $10,000 to Win)
9:50 p.m. - Modified Main Event (30 Laps - $10,000 to Win)