The Dome at America's Center
Fast Facts: Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals
By Aaron Clay
DirtonDirt.com weekend editor
Dates: Dec. 14-16 (split-field 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)
Purse: $30,000-to-win finale (pair of $5,000-to-win prelim features)
Primary sponsors: Castrol and O’Reilly Auto Parts
Sanction: None
Last year’s winner: Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, earned his first event triumph
Live streaming: FloRacing
Tickets: Reserved seating is $35-$45 on Thursday and Friday, $45-$55 Saturday (more info below)
Website: gatewaydirt.com
Track phone: (314) 786-2636
Notes: The Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals returns to the Dome at America’s Center for the seventh annual edition, with O’Reilly Auto Parts returning as the presenting sponsor. … For the second straight year the event opens with two preliminary nights of racing action featuring a full-show for Super Late Models and Modifieds on Thursday and Friday. The 143 Super Late Model entrants will be split with half competing the first preliminary night and the other half the next night. … Thursday and Friday’s top three finishers each secure a starting spot in Saturday’s 40-lap, $30,000-to-win main event. … Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, led the final seven laps to earn an emotional victory in last year’s race, winning just days after losing his father. … Tyler Carpenter of Parkersburg, W.Va. (2019 and ’21) and Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill. (2017 and ’18) are each two-time Gateway winners looking to end successful seasons with their third event triumph. … Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., won 2016’s 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., will be competing in 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 last-chance consolation (winner transfers) will be held prior to Saturday’s main event.
Gateway Dirt Nationals winners
Year: Winner, hometown
2022: Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
2021: Tyler Carpenter, Parkersburg, W.Va.
2020: cancelled
2019: Tyler Carpenter, Parkersburg, W.Va.
2018: Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
2017: Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
2016: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Weekend purses
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 finale
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 marshaling, load in/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. - Driver’s meeting; fuel storage and fueling lane opens
2 p.m. - Dome spectator gates open
3 p.m. - On-track activity
- 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)
(Pits cleared and closed 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. - Driver’s meeting; fuel storage and fueling lane opens
2 p.m. - Dome spectator gates open
3 p.m. - On-track activity
- 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)
(Pits cleared and closed 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. - Driver’s meeting; fuel storage and fueling lane opens
2 p.m. - Dome spectator gates open
3 p.m. - On-track activity
- Super Late Model qualifiers (10 laps)
- Super Late Model six locked-in hot laps
- Modified qualifiers (12 laps)
- Modified six locked-in hot 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: Multiday tickets sold out
Reserved seating: $35-$45
Pit pass: $25 (with ticket purchase), $50 (without ticket)
Friday
Two-day reserved: Multiday tickets sold out
Reserved seating: $35-$45
Pit pass: $25 (with ticket purchase); $50 (without ticket)
Saturday
Reserved seating: $45-$55
Pit pass: $25 (with ticket purchase); $60 (without ticket)
