The Dome at America's Center
Fast Facts: Ninth annual Kubota Gateway Dirt Nationals
By Aaron Clay
DirtonDirt weekend editor
Dates: Dec. 4-6 ($10,000-to-win preliminary features Thursday and Friday before Saturday’s $70,000-to-win finale)
Track: The Dome at America’s Center (fifth-mile temporary clay oval)
Location: St. Louis, Mo.
Purse: $70,000-to-win
Race sponsors: Kubota and O’Reilly Auto Parts
Sanction: None
Live streaming: FloRacing
Last year’s winner: Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., who became a back-to-back Gateway winner
Tickets: Reserved seating is $29-$49 on Thursday and Friday, $39-$59 Saturday. Details below.
Websites: gatewaydirt.com
Track phone: (314) 786-2636
Notes: Some of the nation’s best competitors invade The Dome at America’s Center for the ninth annual Kubota Gateway Dirt Nationals presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts, featuring the most lucrative payouts in event history. … The three-day program kicks off with 25-lap, $10,000-to-win prelims on Thursday-Friday (up from $5,000-to-win last year) before Saturday’s 40-lap, $70,000-to-win finale (up from $30,000-to-win). … Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., became the event’s third two-time winner last year after Bobby Pierce appeared to break a driveshaft on the final lap. … Pierce, of Oakwood, Ill., was chasing his third Gateway Dirt Nationals triumph (2017-’18). … Tyler Carpenter of Parkersburg, W.Va., earned back-to-back wins (2019-’21) after the event was cancelled in 2020 amid Covid-19. … Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, scored an emotional victory there in 2022 after the recent passing of his father. … The late Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., topped 2016’s first event held at The Dome. … The Best Appearing Car Awards will pay $1,000 apiece for Late Models and modifieds, which are on the undercard nightly. … The event will Late Model drivers to use multiple tire brands. ... 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
2024: Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
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’s prelim features
1. $10,000
2. $5,000
3. $2,500
4. $2,000
5. $1,800
6. $1,500
7. $1,400
8. $1,300
9. $1,200
10. $1,100
11-20. $1,000
Saturday’s finale
1. $70,000
2. $20,000
3. $10,000
4. $6,000
5. $4,000
6. $3,900
7. $3,800
8. $3,700
9. $3,600
10. $3,500
11. $3,400
12. $3,300
13. $3,200
14. $3,100
15. $3,000
16-20. $3,000
Event schedule
Wednesday
10 a.m. - Registration and credentials open
10 a.m. - Fuel storage and check-in opens (Cole Street docks)
11 a.m. - Reserved competitor parking begins (row A and B)
1 p.m. - Vendor setup begins
2 p.m. - Reserved competitor parking begins (row C and D)
5 p.m. - Reserved competitor parking (row E and F)
6 p.m. - Unreserved competitor parking (stall unload)
8 p.m. - Fuel storage closes
9 p.m. - Registration and credentials close
9 p.m. - Reserved competitor parking and vendor setup closes.
9 p.m. - Pit area cleared and closed
Thursday
8 a.m. - Competitor parking (late arrivals)
10 a.m. - Registration and credentials open
11 a.m. - Pits open, technical inspection begins
11 a.m. - Fuel storage and fueling lane opens (Cole Street docks)
1 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
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)
Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Modified consolations (8 laps)
Pit stop challenge
Feature events
Late Models (25 laps)
Modifieds (20 laps)
(Pit area cleared, closes one hour after final checkered flag)
Friday
10 a.m. - Registration and credentials open
11 a.m. - Pits open, technical inspection begins
11 a.m. - Fuel storage and fueling lane opens (Cole Street docks)
1 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
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)
Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Modified consolations (8 laps)
Pit stop challenge
Feature events
Late Models (25 laps)
Modifieds (20 laps)
(Pit area cleared, closes one hour after final checkered flag)
Saturday
10 a.m. - Registration and credentials open
11 a.m. - Pits open, technical inspection begins
11 a.m. - Fuel storage and fueling lane opens (Cole Street docks)
1 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
2 p.m. - Grandstands open
3 p.m. - On-track activity
Late Model non-qualifiers (12 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)
7 p.m. - Opening ceremonies, driver introductions
Feature events
Late Models (40 laps)
Modifieds (30 laps)
Tickets
Thursday
Reserved seating: $29-$49 (limited seating available)
Three-day reserved: sold out
Three-day fan pit pass upgrade: $80
Three-day competitor pit pass: $160
Friday
Reserved seating: $29-49 (limited seating available)
Two-day reserved: $112
Fan pit pass upgrade: $80
Saturday
Reserved seating: $39-$59 (limited seating available)
Fan pit pass upgrade: $80
