The Dome at America's Center
Fast Facts: Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals
By Aaron Clay
DirtonDirt.com weekend editor
Dates: Dec. 1-3 ($5,000-to-win preliminary features on Thursday and Friday before Saturday’s $30,000-to-win finale)
Track: The Dome at America’s Center (fifth-mile temporary clay oval) in St. Louis, Mo.
Purse: $30,000-to-win, $2,000-to-start
Sanction: None
Last year’s winner: Tyler Carpenter of Parkersburg, W.Va., who also won this event in 2019 (the 2020 race was cancelled because of pandemic restrictions)
Streaming video: FloRacing
Tickets: Reserved seating is $25-$35-$45 on Thursday and Friday, $35-$45-$55 Saturday
Info website: www.gatewaydirt.com
Track phone: (314) 786-2636
Notes: The Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals returns to the Dome at America’s Center for the sixth annual edition with O’Reilly Auto Parts returning as the presenting sponsor. … This year’s event features two preliminary nights of racing action with a complete show for Super Late Models and modifieds on Thursday and Friday. The 144 Super Late Model entrants have been split into two groups, with each competing on only one preliminary night. … The top three finishers from Thursday and Friday will be locked in to Saturday’s 40-lap, $30,000-to-win main event. … Tyler Carpenter is going for his third consecutive Gateway victory; Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., is also a two-time Gateway Dirt Nationals winner (2017, ’18) who will be seeking his third event victory this weekend. … Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., won the inaugural $20,000 Gateway Dirt Nationals. … Modifieds are on the undercard and race for $10,000-to-win on Saturday. … Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., has entered both divisions. … Super Late Model hot laps, qualifying, heat races, consolations and a 25-lap, $5,000-to-win feature will be contested on each preliminary night. Qualifiers (top two transfer) and a new last-chance race (winner transfers) will be held prior to Saturday’s main event. ... The last-chance races add $9,200 to the weekend purse.
Gateway Dirt Nationals winners
Year: Winner, hometown
2021: Tyler Carpenter, Parkersburg, W.Va.
2020: Cancelled by pandemic restrictions
2019: Tyler Carpenter, Parkersburg, W.Va.
2018: Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
2017: Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
2016: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Weekend purses
Thursday and Friday’s preliminary features
1. $5,000
2. $2,500
3. $1,800
4. $1,500
5. $1,200
6. $1,000
7. $900
8. $800
9. $700
10. $600
11-20. $500
Saturday’s main event
1. $30,000
2. $15,000
3. $10,000
4. $5,000
5. $3,000
6. $2,500
7. $2,400
8. $2,300
9. $2,200
10. $2,100
11-19. $2,000
Event schedule
Wednesday
9 a.m. - Competitor and vendor parking
10 a.m. - Registration and credentials open, fuel storage and check-in open
1 p.m. - Reserved competitor parking begins
3 p.m. - Vendor row move-in begins
8 p.m. - Fuel storage closes
9 p.m. - Registration and credentials office closes
10 p.m. - Reserved competitor parking and vendor row move-in closes; pit area cleared and closed
Thursday
8 a.m. - Competitor parking
10 a.m. - Registration and credentials office opens
10:30 a.m. - Permitted early access (credential required)
11 a.m. - Pits open; technical inspection begins
1 p.m. - Drivers' meeting; fuel storage and fueling lane opens
2 p.m. - Spectator gates open
3 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Super Late Model time trials
- Modified hot laps/time trials
5 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
- Super Late Model heat races (8 laps)
- Modified heat races (8 laps)
Consolation races
- Super Late Models (10 laps)
- Modifieds (8 laps)
Features
- Super Late Models (25 laps)
- Modifieds (20 laps)
(Pit area cleared and closes one hour after final checkered flag)
Friday
10 a.m. - Registration and credentials office opens
10:30 a.m. - Permitted early access (credential required)
11 a.m. - Pits open; technical inspection begins
1 p.m. - Drivers' meeting; fuel storage and fueling lane opens
2 p.m. - Spectator gates open
3 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Super Late Model time trials
- Modified hot laps/time trials
5 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
- Super Late Model heat races (8 laps)
- Modified heat races (8 laps)
Consolation races
- Super Late Models (10 laps)
- Modifieds (8 laps)
Features
- Super Late Models (25 laps)
- Modifieds (20 laps)
(Pit area cleared and closes one hour after final checkered flag)
Saturday
10 a.m. - Registration and credentials office opens
10:30 a.m. - Permitted early access (credential required)
11 a.m. - Pits open; technical inspection begins
1 p.m. - Drivers' meeting; fuel storage and fueling lane opens
2 p.m. - Spectator gates open
3 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Super Late Model qualifiers (12 laps)
- Super Late Model hot laps for six locked-in drivers
- Modified qualifiers (12 laps)
6 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
- Super Late Model consolation (10 laps)
- Modified consolation (10 laps)
Features
- Super Late Models (40 laps)
- Modifieds (30 laps)
Tickets
Thursday
Three-day reserved: $105
Reserved seating only: $25-$35-$45
Pit pass: $25 (with ticket purchase), $50 (without ticket)
Friday
Two-day reserved: $75
Reserved seating only: $25-$35-$45
Pit pass: $25 (with ticket purchase), $50 (without ticket)
Saturday
Reserved seating only: $35-$45-$55
Pit pass: $25 (with ticket purchase), $60 (without ticket)
