The winner of a new last-chance race at Dec. 1-3's Gateway Dirt Nationals will transfer into the $30,000-to-win finale with an additional $9,200 in purse money going to the 11 other Super Late Model competitors in the final preliminary event at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Mo.

“For several years I’ve seen racers miss the show by one or two spots and I can’t help but to feel their pain," said Cody Sommer, promote of Dirt Late Model racing's lone indoor event. "To go from start money in the main event to tow money is a massive hit in the gut not just because of the excitement but also financially for those teams. I really wanted to try and find a way to get more money to more teams that don’t get lucky enough to make it in the main event Saturday night. I also know what it is like to be just one or two spots out and wish I had one more chance. Well, now these guys have that chance. A chance to put it on the line one more time.”

The second-place finisher in the last-chance race earns $1,500 with $1,250 for third and $1,000 for fourth down to $500-to-start money in the 12-car event among drivers who failed to transfer to the main event through Dec. 3's qualifying races at the temporary fifth-mile oval (all other drivers receive $100 tow money).

Sommer announced other format tweaks including the top three finishers from Dec. 1-2's $5,000-to-win preliminary features being locked into Saturday's finale (down from four drivers previously). The six locked in drivers will draw for starting spots among the first three rows. Drivers other than the six locked in drivers will compete in qualifying races and, for 12 non-transferring drivers, the new last-chance race.

Officials closed Super Late Model registrations with a record 144 teams entering the sixth event. Including modified drivers, competitors from 29 states and Canada are entered.