The Dome at America's Center
Fast Facts: VP Gateway Dirt Nationals
By Robert Holman
DirtonDirt.com weekend editor
Second annual VP Racing Fuels Gateway Dirt Nationals
Dates: Nov. 14-16 (Two $5,000-to-win preliminary features Friday and one $30,000 feature Saturday)
Track: The Dome at America’s Center (fifth-mile temporary clay oval)
Sanction: Unsanctioned
Purse: $30,000-to-win
Tickets: Adult general admission is $25 on Thursday; Reserved seating $25-$35-$45 Friday and $35-$45-$55 Saturday.
Pay-per-view: DirtonDirt.com is providing live video of every lap of Late Model and modified action. The programs features multiple announcers, multiple cameras, on-screen race lineups and a live timing and scoring feed. Prices are $24.99 Thursday, $29.99 Friday and $34.99 Saturday. Follow this link for complete information.
Event website: www.gatewaydirt.com
Gateway Dirt Nationals phone: 314-786-2636
Last year’s winners: Scott Bloomquist and Shannon Babb
Notes: The VP Racing Fuels Gateway Dirt Nationals returns to the Dome at America’s Center for the second straight year. … In last year’s historic indoor event, Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., won the first Late Model race in the Dome, topping Darrell Lanigan and Jason Feger to win a $5,000 preliminary feature. … Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., won last year’s $20,000 finale, as he outran Don O’Neal and Brandon Sheppard. … For the second year in a row, event promoter Cody Sommer enlisted Kevin Gundaker to construct the fifth-mile temporary dirt oval inside the Dome. … Gundaker and his wife Tammy promote Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill., about 15 miles from The Dome. … The track was constructed in four fewer days this year than during the inaugural event. … In preparing the track this season, Gundaker used 50 more truckloads of dirt, making the track 60 feet wide in corners (10 feet more than last year) and 50 feet wide on straightaways (5 feet more than last year). … The Dome, which will seat up to 70,000, was home to the St. Louis Rams NFL football team from 1995-2015. … Along with NFL football, The Dome has hosted NCAA basketball tournament games, college football, Monster Jam trucks, AMA Supercross and concerts including U2, the Rolling Stones, Guns N’ Roses, Taylor Swift and ’N Sync. … The Late Model field is set to be split into two preliminary programs after Thursday's time trials. ... A pair of Friday Late Model programs include heats, consolations and 20-lap features. ... The top four finishers from each of Friday's $5,000-to-win Late Model preliminary features are locked into the first four rows of Saturday's $30,000-to-win event (those eight drivers will redraw for position) ... Modifieds are also in action with time trials and heat races Thursday and consolation races Friday. … Watch all the Gateway action live via pay-per-view at DirtonDirt.com.
(Complete Gateway Dirt Nationals coverage)
Gateway Dirt Nationals winners
Year: Winner, hometown
2016: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn. (Dec. 17)
2016: Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill. (Dec. 16)
(Complete race history)
Event Schedule
Wednesday
1 p.m. - Competitor parking begins
9 p.m. – Registration Trailer Closes
Midnight - Upon completion of parking, America’s Center Doors will close
Thursday
11 a.m. - Pit doors open
1 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting and press conference
2 p.m. - Spectator doors open
3 p.m. - On-track activity for Late Models and modifieds
Hot laps
Time trails
Modified heats
Late Model Race of Champions
(Pits close one hour after final checkered flag)
Friday
11 a.m. - Pit doors open
1 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting and press conference
2 p.m. - Spectator doors open
3 p.m. - On-track activity for Late Models and modifieds
Late Model heat races
Modified consolation races
Late Model consolation races
Modified feature (20 laps)
First Late Model feature (20 laps)
Second Late Model feature (20 laps)
(Pits close one hour after final checkered flag)
Saturday
11 a.m. - Pit doors open
1 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
2 p.m. - Spectator doors open
3 p.m. - On-track activity for Late Models and modifieds
Late Model consolation races
Modified consolation races
Opening Ceremonies
Late Model feature
Modified feature
(Pits close one hour after final checkered flag)
Tickets
Thursday
General admission only: $25
Pit pass: Additional $20
Friday
Reserved seating only: $25-$35-$45
Two-day reserved seating ticket: $55-$75
Pit pass: Additional $20
Saturday
Reserved seating only: $35-$45-$55
Two-day reserved seating ticket: $55-$75
Pit pass: Additional $20
Camping
St. Louis RV Park: www.StLouisRvPark.com or 314-241-3330.
