Everything You Need To Know: 2022 Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals
Everything You Need To Know: 2022 Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals
Preliminary night rosters, daily schedules and need-to-know information for the 2022 Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals in St. Louis.
One of the most anticipated motorsports events of the season is upon us. Full-size race cars will be swapping paint inside a football stadium this week during the Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals. We get you ready for the big event with need-to-know information including entry lists, daily schedules, storylines and more.
The Race(s)
The Gateway Dirt Nationals is an indoor racing event held December 1-3 at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, the former home of the St. Louis Rams NFL football team. This year's event will feature two divisions of dirt track racing: Super Late Models 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 event returned last year in thrilling fashion and is back again in 2022 for the sixth edition of #DirtinDecember.
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 more than a week ago 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.
VIDEO: Modified driver Kenny Wallace and FloRacing's Matthew Dillner checked in on the track build last week.
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.
Based on preliminary night action, six 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 $40,000 to win. Open Wheel Modifieds will race 30 laps for a $10,000 payday.
Super Late Model Preliminary Night Rosters
Thursday | Friday |
Adam Elliott | Alan Brown |
Austin Fox | Amelia Eisenschenk |
Austin Theiss | Andy Picklesimer |
Blake Higginbotham | Austin Horton |
Bob Gardner | Austin Howes |
Bobby Pierce | Austin Seelig |
Brandon Tibaldi | Brady Lear |
Brandon Sheppard | Brent Rhodes |
Braxtin Barber | Buddy Brogan |
Brayton Laster | Carson Hocevar |
Brian Speelman | Casey White |
Brian Wolfmeier | Chris Nash |
Chad Zobrist | Cody Bauer |
Chase Burda | Cody Holtkamp |
Chris Simpson | Colin Shipley |
Chris Fetter | Colton Collins |
Chris Carpenter | Cyle Forgy |
Colt Smith | Daniel Jacober |
Dakota Smith | David Seibers |
Daniel Adam | Delbert Crum |
Dewayne Kiefer | Derek Fetter |
Doug Tye | Devin Moran |
Erik Thorne | Dylan Knowles |
Freddie Carpenter | Garrett Alberson |
Gordy Gundaker | Gregory Kimmons |
Jacob Ulrich | Harry Hanson |
Jacob Kolwyck | Hudson O’Neal |
Jacob Magee | Jadon Frame |
Jake Miller | Jason Hiett |
James Walters | Jason Welshan |
Jason Wagner | Jeremy Crisp |
Jason Feger | Jesse Lowe |
Jayme Zidar | Jody Knowles |
Jeff Neubert | Jonathan Lee |
Jeffrey Ledford | Josh Lewis |
Jeffrey Shackelford | Justin Green |
Jim Rogers | Justin Reed |
Joe Denby | Justin Carter |
Joel Willman | Kenny Collins |
John Winge | Kyle Lear |
Jonathan Woods | Lance Brasington |
Jordan Barbee | Landen Zakalowski |
Josh Boller | Mason Ziegler |
Justin White | Mario Gresham |
Kevin Smith | Mark Whitener |
Kylan Garner | Max Nelson |
Kyle Hammer | Max Baker |
Kyle Wiser | Megan Sanders |
Logan Brown | Mike Harrison |
Matt Koch | Mike Provenzano |
Matthew Tribble | Mike Spatola |
Michael King, Jr. | Moran Alexander |
Patrick Kelley | Myles Moos |
Preston Farmer | Nathan Carpenter |
Quentin White | Nicky Pennington |
Rachel Carpenter | Oscar McCown |
Ricky Thornton, Jr. | Patrik Daniel |
Robbie Stuart | Robert Ardy |
Ronnie Smith | Rockett Bennett |
Rusty Schlenk | Ruben Mayfield |
Rusty Griffaw | Rucker Orr |
Ryan Montgomery | Rylee Knoll |
Ryan Wilson | Scot Cimfl |
Ryan Unzicker | Scott Bloomquist |
Scott Bell | Steve Sheppard, Jr. |
Scott Rhoades | Timothy McKeehan |
Shannon Babb | Timothy Welch |
Steve Fairbanks | Todd Brennan |
Tanner Collins | Trevor Gundaker |
Tanner English | Tyler Carpenter |
Tegan Evans | Tyler Erb |
Timothy Welch II | Wil Herrington |
William Stile | Zach Wohlers |
VIDEO: Take a look back at the top five moments from last year's Gateway Dirt Nationals.
Open Wheel Modifieds Preliminary Night Rosters
Thursday | Friday |
Austin Holcombe | Alan Stipp |
Ben Harmon | Austen Becerra |
Clay Money | Billy Smith |
Dean Hoffman | Brandon Bollinger |
Dillon Nusbaum | Chad Bauer |
Drake Troutman | Chad Sellers |
Dylan Thornton | Charlie Mefford |
Jeff Larson | Chase Allen |
Joe Dresch | Chase Holland |
Joseph Thomas | Dave Wietholder |
KC Burdetee | Dylan Sharp |
Kyle Steffens | Ethan Dotson |
Mark Anderson | Guy Taylor |
Michael Altobelli | Jack Sartain |
Michael Ledford | Jordan Grabouski |
Mike Harrison | Jordan Wever |
Mitch Thomas | Josh Lemke |
Rick Conoyer | Kenny Wallace |
Ryan Ayers | Mike McKinney |
Ryan Toole | Peyton Taylor |
Tim Nash | Ray Bollinger |
Todd Sherman | Ricky Thornton, Jr. |
Treb Jacoby | Rob Beubauer |
Trent Young | Rodney Standerfer |
Trevor Anderson | Shane Sabraski |
Tyler Droste | Tom Berry |
Tyler Nicely | Trevor Neville |
Tyler Peterson | William Gould |
Storylines
- Ricky Thornton, Jr. is preparing for a busy week in St. Louis as he will double dip in the Super Late Model and Open Wheel Modified divisions. Thornton previously pulled double-duty in both 2019 and 2021 but has struggled to find good luck inside the dome, with a best finish of 15th in last year's Super Late Model A-Main.
- Will Tyler Carpenter become the first three-time winner of the Gateway Dirt Nationals? The West Virginia driver has won the last two Super Late Model main events and has a shot at the hat trick this weekend.
- Bobby Pierce, the 2017 and 2018 race winner, also has a shot at becoming the first three-time winner of the event. "The Smooth Operator" has finished 11th (2019) and 19th (2021) since his last win inside The Dome at America's Center.
- With over 140 drivers entered for the Super Late Model portion of the event, both nights of preliminary racing feature some of the biggest names in the sport. Thursday's field includes Bobby Pierce, Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Ryan Unzicker, Shannon Babb and Tanner English. Friday's field features names such as Devin Moran, Hudson O'Neal, Mason Ziegler, Scott Bloomquist, Tyler Carpenter and Tyler Erb.
- How will NASCAR Truck Series driver Carson Hocevar fare in his third career dirt late model start? Hocevar made his dirt late model debut during the "Chasing The Dreams" features at Eldora Speedway in September and finished 11th after starting 19th. He then recorded a DNQ during the opening night of the World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway in November.
- The Modified division has yet to see a repeat A-Main winner at the Gateway Dirt Nationals. Three drivers will have the chance to accomplish that feat on Saturday, as 2017 winner Ray Bollinger, 2018 winner Mike Harrison and 2021 winner Tyler Peterson have all entered the event.
- Can Kenny Wallace score the hometown victory in St. Louis? "The Hermanator" won a preliminary feature in 2018 and went on to record his best finish of seventh in Saturday's A-Main. Prior to the event, Wallace showed off his city in a Tour De St. Louis with FloRacing's Matthew Dillner.
VIDEO: Kenny Wallace took us to his favorite stops in St. Louis prior to the Gateway Dirt Nationals.
How to Watch
STREAMING: Watch the 2022 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 (All times listed are CST)
Thursday, December 1
3 p.m. - On-Track Activity Begins
Super Late Model Hot Laps
Super Late Model Qualifying
Modified Qualifying/Hot Laps
5 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
Super Late Model Heats (8 Laps)
Modified Heats (8 Laps)
Super Late Model B-Mains (10 Laps)
Modified B-Mains (8 Laps)
Super Late Model A-Main (25 Laps)
Modified A-Main (20 Laps)
Friday, December 2
3 p.m. - On-Track Activity Begins
Super Late Model Hot Laps
Super Late Model Qualifying
Modified Qualifying/Hot Laps
5 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
Super Late Model Heats (8 Laps)
Modified Heats (8 Laps)
Super Late Model B-Mains (10 Laps)
Modified B-Mains (8 Laps)
Super Late Model A-Main (25 Laps)
Modified A-Main (20 Laps)
Saturday, December 3
3 p.m. - On-Track Activity Begins
Super Late Model Qualifiers (12 Laps)
Super Late Model Hot Laps (Top Six Lock In)
Modified Qualifiers (12 Laps)
6 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
Super Late Model LCQ
Modified LCQ
Super Late Model A-Main (40 Laps)
Modified A-Main (30 Laps)