ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Freddie Carpenter of Parkersburg, W.Va., and Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., topped their Super Late Model qualifying groups Thursday at The Dome at America's Center in time trials for weekend's fourth annual Arizona Sports Shirts Gateway Dirt Nationals.
Babb, winner of the first-ever Dome feature in 2016, was the event’s overall fast qualifier among 86 entries with a lap of 11.098 seconds on the temporary fifth-mile oval.
While Babb topped Group B time trials, Carpenter, a 17-race winner among six tracks in 2019, topped Group A with a lap of 11.174 seconds.
Carpenter and Babb will start on the pole of first heat races in Friday’s split-division programs with the next five quickest qualifiers also earning pole position for heat races.
Friday’s program includes heat races, consolation races and 20-lap main events paying $5,000-to-win for each group of Late Models.
The top three finishers in each of Friday’s main events will be locked into the redraw for the first three rows of Saturday’s $30,000-to-win weekend finale.
Time trials (unofficial)
Group A
Pos. Driver (car no.), hometown, time
- Freddie Carpenter (K), Parkersburg, W.Va., 11.174
- Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 11.201
- Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., 11.210
- Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 11.235
- Rusty Griffaw (16), Festus, Mo., 11.299
- Ryan Unzicker (24), El Paso, Ill., 11.396
- Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 11.410
- Scott James (83), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 11.467
- Jeremiah Hurst (58), Dubuque, Iowa, 11.522
- Tyler Carpenter (28), Parkersburg, W.Va., 11.550
- David Seibers (18), Chapel Hill, Tenn., 11.560
- Buddy Isles (11), Littleton, N.C., 11.569
- Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 11.591
- Scott Geaschel (4E), Collinsville, Ill., 11.629
- Bob Gardner (4G), Washington, Ill., 11.633
- Derek Fetter (32), Troy, Ill., 11.698
- Logan Roberson (17), Waynesboro, Va., 11.738
- Mike Fryer (44w), Freeport, Ill., 11.750
- Chad Zobrist (78), Highland, Ill., 11.777
- Myles Moos (84), Lincoln, Ill., 11.839
- Brandon Pralle (56), Ashkum, Ill., 11.865
- Michael Jacober (5), Highland, Ill., 11.873
- Daniel Jacober (22), Highland, Ill., 11.889
- Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 11.919
- Brandon Sheppard (15), New Berlin, Ill., 11.952
- Trevor Gundaker (11), St Charles, Mo., 11.967
- Brett Miller (10), Metamora, Ohio, 11.991
- Matt Shipley (44), Weston, Ohio, 12.046
- Jason Riggs (81), Harrisburg, Ill., 12.060
- Billy Green (49), Walton, Ky., 12.115
- William Stile Jr. (51), Muse, Pa., 12.152
- Bobby McGehee (Mc20), Drummond, Okla., 12.201
- Robert Ardry (127), La Vergne, Tenn., 12.388
- Jason Zobrist (87), Highland, Ill., 12.390
- Vance Wilson (155), New Haven, Mo., 12.569
- Jason Welshan (29), Rockford, Tenn., 12.662
- Robbie Stuart (6R), DeRidder, La., 12.681
- Adam Schrag (311), Hutchinson, Kan., 12.820
- Mike Hammerle (16H), St Charles, Mo., 13.075
- Brandon Tibaldi (16), Almo, Ky., 13.358
- Chris Nash (354), Portage, Mich., 13.554
- Maria Hankins (63), Bennett, Colo., 14.282
- Brayton Laster (13), Greenwood, Ind., no time
Group B
- Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 11.098
- Scott Ward (37), Hayit, S.D., 11.332
- Patrik Daniel (75), Wills Point, Texas, 11.352
- Kevin Smith (2), Caldwell, Ohio, 11.462
- Blair Northdurft (76), Renner, S.D., 11.529
- Payton Looney (15), Republic, Mo., 11.594
- Eric Hickerson (98), Linden, Tenn., 11.645
- Allen Weisser (25w), Bartonville, Ill., 11.648
- Kip Hughes (60), Enid, Okla., 11.711
- Scott Bell (45), East Prairie, Mo., 11.725
- Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 11.762
- Gordy Gundaker (11), St Charles, Mo., 11.771
- Ricky Thornton (99rt), Chandler, Ariz., 11.781
- Joe Denby (27), Decherd, Tenn., 11.782
- Duane Chamberlain (20c), Richmond, Ind., 11.792
- Jason Wagner (J12), East Peoria, Ill., 11.792
- Chris Osborne (61), East Peoria, Ill., 11.810
- Matt Henderson (00H), Loudon, Tenn., 11.811
- Jadon Frame (J8), Winchester, Tenn., 11.855
- Joey Coulter (2), Troutman, N.C., 11.921
- Levi Ashby (1A), Cumberland Furnace, Tenn., 11.983
- Rusty Schlenk (91), McClure, Ohio, 12.007
- Mike Glasscock (30), LeRoy, Ill., 12.019
- Paul Roider (23), Columbia, Ill., 12.026
- Ruben Mayfield (0), Lenoir City, Tenn., 12.041
- Manny Falcon (995), Pine Grove, La., 12.090
- Jeff Herzog (11), Festus, Mo., 12.149
- Brian Mullins (626), Cincinnati, Ohio, 12.190
- Jeff Curl (12), Fairbury, Ill., 12.282
- Greg Kimmons (27), Pleasant Plains, Ill., 12.355
- Cody Holtkamp (23), Holts Summit, Mo., 12.369
- Scott Halley (H20), New Haven, Mo., 12.496
- Matt Koch (96), Aviston, Ill., 12.500
- Mike Schulte (27), Summerfield, Ill., 12.540
- Mark Shipman (57s), Grandview, Texas, 12.564
- Jason Schierkolk (12s), Casper, Wyo., 12.611
- Jeb Simmons (86), Wentzville, Mo., 12.770
- Mike Epplett (99), Holton, Mich., 12.996
- Michael Santangelo (58s), Harahan, La., 13.020
- Michael Guldenpfenning (91), Muscatine, Iowa, 13.079
- Tegan Evans (T22), Clinton, La., 13.353
- Derek Perkins (22*), Oakdale, La., no time
- Chase Allen (130), Midlothian, Texas, no time
Pre-qualifying notes
The Dirt Late Model field for the fourth annual Arizona Sport Shirts Gateway Dirt Nationals numbers 86, the first time the event hasn’t reached the 90-entry mark. … Gateway promoter Cody Sommer began Thursday’s drivers’ meeting by praising the team of officials and staff he has assembled to present the spectacular in the Dome. “When you can have an event and it can function without your presence (like when Sommer left during track construction to attend last week’s Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Indianapolis), that’s when you know you have succeeded,” said Sommer, who gave special credit to his “right-hand man” Jacob Nord. … When competitors were allowed to walk the fifth-mile oval for the first time after the drivers’ meeting, they saw a speedway that sports a concrete inside wall in the corners for the first and a noticeable progressive banking in hopes of promoting more passing. … The only action for Late Models on Thursday is two groups of time trials after hot laps that will determine lineups for Friday’s heat races. The division’s qualifying will be followed by a full program for open-wheel modifieds and midgets; those classes have their fields cut in half with 25 modifieds and 19 midgets racing this evening. … Reigning World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series champion Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., is driving WoO sprint star Donny Schatz’s No. 15 Dirt Late Model. … Among notable first-time Dome entrants is Scott James of Bright, Ind. … Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., is driving the same battle-tested Pierce Race Car that he’s piloted in all three previous Gateway events, including his $30,000 victories each of the last two years. … Pierce and Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., are pulling double-duty with both Late Model and modified entries. … Several other drivers who have enjoyed success in Late Model action are competing only in the modified ranks, including Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, Timothy Culp of Prattsville, Ark., Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., Kyle Strickler of Mooresville, N.C., and Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C. … Erb’s modified ride as a teammate to Will Krup of Mount Carmel, Ill., marks his first-ever modified start, though he has previously hot-lapped one of the cars. … St. Charles, Mo., brothers Gordy and Trevor Gundaker are entering the same Late Model event for just the fourth time. … Two teams have demonstrated some Christmas spirit with the holiday less than a week away: Chad Zobrist of Highland, Ill., has a stuffed bear clad in Santa apparel perched on his trailer while Patrik Daniel of Wills Point, Texas, has adorned the roof of his trailer with a Christmas tree and an array of presents (boxes of racing products) arranged underneath it. … Mike Fryer of Freeport, Ill., returned to the car of Monroe, Wis., driver David Webster that Fryer drove last year at the Dome. Fryer’s is without his own car after it was destroyed in a wreck at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway. ... Jeremiah Hurst of Dubuque, Iowa, needed wrecker service during Thursday's hot laps because his car's shifter linkage broke and caused his transmission to stick in high gear. His crew immediately began making repairs in hopes of being ready for time trials.
Correction: Fixes first-time starter note to remove Freddie Carpenter.
Pre-qualifying setup
Super Late Models will race only against the clock Thursday for the fourth annual Arizona Sports Shirts Gateway Dirt Nationals, the indoor event at The Dome at America's Center that’s become a fixture of offseason action on the dirt racing schedule.
The Late Model field will be split into two groups for Thursday’s time trials, which will set up Friday’s action featuring two complete programs of heats, consolations and 20-lap features paying $5,000-to-win. The top three finishers from each of Friday’s two preliminary features will be locked in to Saturday’s $30,000-to-win main event.
Along with Late Models, Thursday’s program will include complete programs for modifieds and midgets DirtonDirt.com is offering live pay-per-view coverage from the three-day event.
Qualifying order
Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown
- Trevor Gundaker (11), St Charles, Mo.
- Derek Fetter (32), Silex, Mo.
- Robbie Stuart (6R), DeRidder, La.
- Jason Zobrist (87), Highland, Ill.
- Rusty Griffaw (16), Festus, Mo.
- Daniel Jacober (22), Highland, Ill.
- Maria Hankins (63), Bennett, Colo.
- Scott Geaschel (4E), Collinsville, Ill.
- Ryan Unzicker (24), El Paso, Ill.
- Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill.
- Buddy Isles (11), Littleton, N.C.
- Scott James (83), Lawrenceburg, Ind.
- Robert Ardry (127), Lavergne, Tenn.
- Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn.
- Brett Miller (10), Metamora, Ohio
- Bobby McGehee (Mc20), Drummond, Okla.
- Brandon Pralle (56), Ashkum, Ill.
- Mike Fryer (44w), Freeport, Ill.
- Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill.
- Vance Wilson (155), New Haven, Mo.
- Tyler Carpenter (28), Parkersburg, W.Va.
- Freddie Carpenter (K), Parkersburg, W.Va.
- Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark.
- Billy Green (49), Walton, Ky.
- Adam Schrag (311), Hutchinson, Kan.
- Bob Gardner (4G), Washington, Ill.
- Michael Jacober (5), Highland, Ill.
- Matt Shipley (44), Weston, Ohio
- Logan Roberson (17), Waynesboro, Va.
- David Seibers (18), Chapel Hill, Tenn.
- William Stile Jr. (51), Muse, Pa.
- Brandon Tibaldi (16), Almo, Ky.
- Myles Moos (84), Lincoln, Ill.
- Brayton Laster (13), Greenwood, Ind.
- Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky.
- Brandon Sheppard (15), New Berlin, Ill.
- Jason Welshan (29), Rockford, Tenn.
- Chad Zobrist (78), Highland, Ill.
- Mike Hammerle (16H), St Charles, Mo.
- Jason Riggs (81), Harrisburg, Ill.
- Chris Nash (354), Portage, Mich.
- Jeremiah Hurst (58), Dubuque, Iowa
- Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill.
Group B
- Joe Denby (27), Decherd, Tenn.
- Joey Coulter (2), Troutman, N.C.
- Eric Hickerson (98), Linden, Tenn.
- Mike Glasscock (30), LeRoy, Ill.
- Ricky Thornton (99rt), Chandler, Ariz.
- Payton Looney (15), Republic, Mo.
- Greg Kimmons (27), Pleasant Plains, Ill.
- Kip Hughes (60), Enid, Okla.
- Scott Bell (45), East Prairie, Mo.
- Blair Northdurft (76), Renner, S.D.
- Paul Roider (23), Columbia, Ill.
- Jason Schierkolk (12s), Casper, Wyo.
- Jadon Frame (J8), Winchester, Tenn.
- Matt Henderson (00H), Loudon, Tenn.
- Allen Weisser (25w), Bartonville, Ill.
- Scott Halley (H20), New Haven, Mo.
- Michael Guldenpfenning (91), Muscatine, Iowa
- Mark Shipman (57s), Grandview, Texas
- Derek Perkins (22*), Oakdale, La.
- Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga.
- Rusty Schlenk (91), McClure, Ohio
- Chris Osborne (61), East Peoria, Ill.
- Brian Mullins (626), Cincinnati, Ohio
- Duane Chamberlain (20c), Richmond, Ind.
- Scott Ward (37), Hayit, S.D.
- Kevin Smith (2), Caldwell, Ohio
- Matt Koch (96), Aviston, Ill.
- Jeb Simmons (86), Wentzville, Mo.
- Chase Allen (130), Midlothian, Texas
- Mike Schulte (27), Summerfield, Ill.
- Gordy Gundaker (11), St Charles, Mo.
- Ruben Mayfield (0), Lenoir City, Tenn.
- Cody Holtkamp (23), Holts Summit, Mo.
- Patrik Daniel (75), Wills Point, Texas
- Levi Ashby (1A), Cumberland Furnace, Tenn.
- Michael Santangelo (77), Harahan, La.
- Jason Wagner (J12), East Peoria, Ill.
- Tegan Evans (T22), Clinton, La.
- Mike Epplett (99), Holton, Mich.
- Jeff Curl (12), Fairbury, Ill.
- Jeff Herzog (11), Festus, Mo.
- Manny Falcon (995), Pine Grove, La.
- Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill.
Thursday’s schedule
8 a.m. - Competitor parking for late arrivals opens
10 a.m. - Registration and credential office opens
10 a.m. - Fuel storage and check-in opens
10:30 a.m. - Vendor row early access
11 a.m. - Pit area, vendor row and VIP Club opens
1 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
2 p.m. - Spectator doors open
3 p.m. - On-track activity for Late Models, modifieds and midgets
- Hot laps
- Time trials
7 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
- Modified heat races (8 laps)
- Midget heat races (8 laps)
- Modified consolation (12 laps)
- Midget consolation (12 laps)
- Modified feature (20 laps)
- Midget feature (20 laps)
9 p.m. - Registration and credential office closes
(Pits close one hour after final checkered flag)