2023 Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals: Everything You Need To Know
2023 Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals: Everything You Need To Know
Daily schedules, preliminary night rosters and need-to-know information for the 2023 Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals in St. Louis.
One of the most action-packed motorsports events of the season is upon us. Full-size race cars will be trading paint inside a football stadium this week during the Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals. We get you ready for the big event with need-to-know information including entry lists, daily schedules, storylines and more.
Where Are The Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals Held?
The Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals are held inside The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, the former home of the St. Louis Rams NFL football team.
Gelly Excavating and a track crew that includes Kevin Gundaker, the promoter of Tri-City Speedway, are the group behind building the race track. After promoter Cody Sommer designs the layout, Gelly Excavating and the track crew begin building the track on Wednesday, eight days prior to cars hitting the race track.
The track itself is a 1/5-mile, semi-banked dirt oval that results in tight-quarters racing. The dirt used to build the track is stored nearby and only used once a year for this event.
What Divisions Race At The Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals?
This year's event will feature two divisions of dirt track racing: Super Late Models and Open Wheel Modifieds.
What Is The Format For The Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals?
There will be two nights of preliminary racing on Thursday and Friday. Drivers have been split up into two groups and each driver will only participate in one night of preliminary action.
The Super Late Model format for preliminary nights will include hot laps, qualifying, heat races, two b-mains and a 25-lap feature.
Open Wheel Modifieds prelims will have hot lap qualifying, heat races, one b-main and a 20-lap feature.
Based on preliminary night action, six drivers in each division will be locked into Saturday's main events. The rest will participate in last chance qualifiers prior to the main events on Saturday.
Saturday's Super Late Model feature will be 40 laps and pay $30,000 to win. Open Wheel Modifieds will race 30 laps for a $10,000 payday.
How to Watch The Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals
STREAMING: Watch the 2023 Gateway Dirt Nationals on FloRacing. SIGN UP HERE.
On Your TV: Now Available on Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast & Apple TV.
Cast: Cast to your smart TV including Vizio, Samsung and LG TVs.
On The Go: Download the FloSports app on iOS or Android.
VIDEO: Highlights from the 2022 Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals Late Model feature.
Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals Late Model Preliminary Rosters
Thursday | Friday |
Mike Harrison | Jimmy Owens |
Jason Feger | Ricky Thornton, Jr. |
Jake Rainey | Scott Rhoades |
Bill Wagner | Trevor Gunaker |
Kyle Mixon | Carson Ferguson |
David Marlow | Jacob Magee |
Jason Zobrist | Austin Howes |
Matt Koch | Steve Sheppard |
Layne Bellm | Joshua Dietz |
Lance Brasington | Tyler Carpenter |
Jody Knowles | Delbert Crum |
Chad Zobrist | Casey White |
Lindsey Hansen | Chris Simpson |
Josh Lewis | John Henderson |
Joe Bellm | Josh Rice |
Rachel Carpenter | Ruben Mayfield |
Micheal King | Oakley Johns |
Michael Jensen | Dakota Smith |
Josh Boller | Preston Farmer |
Austin Tettaton | Teejay Janousek |
Gordy Gundaker | Timmy Hancock |
Kip Hughes | Josh Baker |
Jordan Barbee | Joseph Hughs |
Chris Fetter | Jonathan Woods |
Matthew Norman | Brandon Tibaldi |
Bob Gardner | Darin Weisinger |
Freddie Carpenter | Derek Fetter |
Jason Welshan | Mike Kline |
Scott Cimfl | Timothy Welch |
Megan Sanders | Ted Johnson |
Rusty Griffin | Brandon Sheppard |
Erik Thorne | Kylan Garner |
Chandler Moenning | Dylan Thompson |
Jonathan Lee | Ryan Montgomery |
Morgan Alexander | Joe Denby |
Rodney Melvin | Cody Bauer |
Carson Hocevar | AJ Campbell |
Alan Westling | Spencer Hughes |
Sterling Freeman | Scott Geaschel |
Tyler Erb | Jacob Kolwyck |
Jack Riggs | Ryan Unzicker |
Dustin Rollins | Jim O’Hara |
Glen Powell | Shaun Wiltjerhunt |
Gregory Kimmons | Patrik Daniel |
Myles Moos | Scott Bell |
Zach Wohlers | Jason Knowles |
Hudson O’Neal | Jayme Zidar |
Michael Epplett | Jon Mitchell |
Mike Spatola | Robbie Scott |
Nick Hoffman | Wil Herrington |
Bobby Pierce | Daniel Adam |
Shannon Babb | Michael Luna |
Ryan Wilson | Timmy Dick |
Austin Seelig | Corey Delancy |
Jadon Frame | Brad Basey |
Kyle Hardy | Devin Moran |
Ronnie Yanacsek | Joseph Joiner |
Austin Theiss | Matthew Tribble |
Robbie Bostic | Braxton Carter |
Jason Wagner | Tanner English |
David Seibers | Donald Johns |
Matthew Ratzlaff | Jeffrey Ledford |
Quentin White | Blake Creech |
Rusty Schlenk | Brandon Englund |
Dustin Dixon | Devin Gilpin |
Bo Lockwood | Tegan Evans |
William Stile | Nicky Pennington |
Glen Hounshell | Max Baker |
Luke Bennett | Jason Miles |
Justin Carter | Manny Falcon |
Dakota Dellinger | Dylan Bates |
Chris McKeehan |
Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals Modified Preliminary Rosters
Thursday | Friday |
Tim Nash | Peyton Taylor |
Ray Bollinger | Tim Ward |
Dillon Nusbaum | Ryan Toole |
Trey Jacoby | Drake Troutman |
Gus Soutiea | William Gould |
Zach Johnson | Chase Holland |
Kenny Wallace | Guy Taylor |
Michael Ledford | Tim Luttrell |
Ricky Thornton Jr. | Mike McKinney |
Josh Lemke | Carlos Ahumada Jr. |
Justin Haley | Jordan Grabouski |
Todd Sherman | Dean Hoffman |
Michael Altobelli | Brandon Copp |
Dave Hess | Dylan Thornton |
Tyler Nicely | Jeff Parsons |
Logan Veloz | Jeff Larson |
Cody Zobrist | Austin Holcombe |
Dalton Lane | Charlie Mefford |
Jeremy Nichols | Austin Becerra |
Tyler Peterson | Rob Neubauer |
Michael Long | Mike Harrison |
Brayden Watson | Mitch Thomas |
Rick Conoyer | Chase Allen |
Trent Young | Joseph Thomas |
Clay Money | Kyle Steffens |
Trey Harris | Jimmy Lennex |
Chad Bauer | KC Burdette |
Scott Bintz | Dave Wietholder |
Jimmy Owens | Jack Sartain |
Trevor Neville | Jake Timm |
Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals Storylines
- Will we have our first three-time Gateway Dirt Nationals winner in the Super Late Model division? Tyler Carpenter (2019 & 2021) and Bobby Pierce (2017 & 2018) both enter this year's event as two-time winners looking to complete the hat trick.
- After a stellar season with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Ricky Thornton Jr. returns to The Dome to pull double-duty in the Super Late Model and Modified divisions. RTJ is the defending winner of the Modified race, and he'll be looking to complete the first-ever sweep this time around.
- Carson Hocevar, who will race full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for Spire Motorsports next season, is slated to make his second career Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals start. Hocevar qualified for the main event one year ago before finishing 12th.
- In six races thus far there has not been a repeat winner in the Modified division. Ricky Thornton Jr. (2022), Tyler Peterson (2021), Mike Harrison (2018) and Ray Bollinger (2017) will look to change that this year.
- "The Newport Nightmare" Jimmy Owens will make his Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals debut in style by pulling double-duty in the Super Late Model and Modified divisions.
Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals Schedule
(All times listed are CST)
Thursday, December 14
3 p.m. - On-Track Activity Begins
Super Late Model Hot Laps
Super Late Model Qualifying
Modified Hot Laps/Qualifying
5 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
Super Late Model Heats (8 Laps)
Modified Heats (8 Laps)
Super Late Model B-Mains (10 Laps)
Modified B-Mains (8 Laps)
Super Late Model A-Main (25 Laps)
Modified A-Main (20 Laps)
Friday, December 15
3 p.m. - On-Track Activity Begins
Super Late Model Hot Laps
Super Late Model Qualifying
Modified Hot Laps/Qualifying
5 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
Super Late Model Heats (8 Laps)
Modified Heats (8 Laps)
Super Late Model B-Mains (10 Laps)
Modified B-Mains (8 Laps)
Super Late Model A-Main (25 Laps)
Modified A-Main (20 Laps)
Saturday, December 16
3 p.m. - On-Track Activity Begins
Super Late Model Non-Qualifiers (10 Laps)
Super Late Model Qualifiers (10 Laps)
Super Late Model Hot Laps (Top Six Locked In)
Modified Qualifiers (12 Laps)
6 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
Win & You're In Super Late Model LCQ
Win & You're In Modified LCQ
Super Late Model A-Main (40 Laps)
Modified A-Main (30 Laps)