The Dome at America's Center
Fast Facts: Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals
By Aaron Clay
DirtonDirt.com weekend editor
Dates: Dec. 5-7 ($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 (temporary fifth-mile clay oval)
Location: St. Louis, Mo.
Purse: $30,000-to-win
Primary sponsors: Castrol and O’Reilly Auto Parts
Sanction: None
Live streaming: FloRacing
Last year’s winner: Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., earned his first Gateway triumph
Tickets: Reserved seating is $25-$45 on Thursday and Friday, $35-$55 Saturday; details below.
Website: gatewaydirt.com
Track phone: (314) 786-2636
Notes: Thunder rolls inside The Dome at America’s Center for the eighth annual Gateway Dirt Nationals, featuring indoor racing on a temporary fifth-mile oval, the lone indoor Super Late Model event of the season. … The three-day event begins with $5,000-to-win prelims on Thursday and Friday, preceding Saturday’s 40-lap, $30,000-to-win finale. … Half of the entries compete on Thursday and half on Friday with the top three finishers from preliminary features locked into Saturday’s main event. … Qualifying races (and non-qualifier races) set the rest of the Saturday’s field … Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., led all 40 laps for his first Gateway Dirt Nationals triumph in earning last year’s $30,000 top prize. … Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, scored an emotional Dome victory in 2022, just days after losing his father. … Tyler Carpenter of Parkersburg, W.Va. (2019 and ’21) and Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill. (2017-’18) each won back-to-back Gateway Dirt Nationals (2020’s race was cancelled by the pandemic). … The late Scott Bloomquist won 2016’s inaugural race inside The Dome. … Modifieds are on the undercard contesting $3,000-to-win prelims before Saturday’s $10,000-to-win finale. … Pits open at 11 a.m. and grandstands open at 2 p.m., with on-track activity at 3, daily. … Watch live on FloRacing.
Gateway Dirt Nationals winners
Year: Winner, hometown
2023: Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
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
Thursday and Friday 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
10 a.m. - Reserved competitor parking (row A and B)
10 a.m. - Registration and credentials open, fuel storage and check-in open
10 a.m. - Fuel storage opens (Cole Street docks)
1 p.m. - Reserved competitor parking begins (row C and D)
1 p.m. - Vendor setup begins
4 p.m. - Reserved competitor parking (row E and F)
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 for late arrivals
10 a.m. - Registration and credentials office opens
11 a.m. - Pits open, technical inspection begins
1 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting, fuel storage opens
2 p.m. - Grandstands open
3 p.m. - On-track activity
Late Model hot laps
Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Modified group qualifying
5 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
Late Model heats (8 laps)
Modified heats (8 laps)
Consolation races
Late Models (10 laps)
Modifieds (8 laps)
Features
Late Models (25 laps)
Modifieds (20 laps)
(Pit area cleared, closes one hour after final checkered flag)
Friday
10 a.m. - Registration and credentials office opens
11 a.m. - Pits open, technical inspection begins
1 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting, fuel storage opens
2 p.m. - Grandstands open
3 p.m. - On-track activity
Late Model hot laps
Late Model time trials
Modified group qualifying
5 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
Late Model heats (8 laps)
Modified heats (8 laps)
Consolation races
Late Models (10 laps)
Modifieds (8 laps)
Features
Late Models (25 laps)
Modifieds (20 laps)
(Pit area cleared, closes one hour after final checkered flag)
Saturday
11 a.m. - Pits open, technical inspection begins
1 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting, fuel storage and fueling lane opens
2 p.m. - Grandstands open
3 p.m. - On-track activity
Late Model non-qualifiers (10 laps)
Late Model qualifiers (10 laps)
Late Model hot laps (locked-in entrants)
Modified qualifiers (10 laps)
Modified hot laps (locked-in entrants)
Late Model consolation (10 laps)
Modified consolation (10 laps)
6 p.m. - Opening ceremonies and driver introductions
Features
Late Models (40 laps)
Modifieds (30 laps)
Tickets
Thursday
Three-day reserved: Multi-day tickets sold out
Reserved seating only: $25-$45
Three-day fan pit pass upgrade: $75
Three-day competitor pit pass: $160
Friday
Two-day reserved: Multi-day tickets sold out
Reserved seating only: $25 (limited seating available)
Fan pit pass upgrade: $75
Saturday
Reserved seating only: $35-$55
Fan pit pass upgrade: $75
