One of the most anticipated motorsports events of the season is upon us. Full-size race cars will be swapping 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. 

The Race(s)

The Gateway Dirt Nationals is an indoor racing event held December 1-3 at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, the former home of the St. Louis Rams NFL football team. This year's event will feature two divisions of dirt track racing: Super Late Models and Open Wheel Modifieds. 

The inaugural Gateway Dirt Nationals were held in 2016. After four consecutive years of racing at the dome, the event was not held in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. The event returned last year in thrilling fashion and is back again in 2022 for the sixth edition of #DirtinDecember.

The Track

Kevin Gundaker, the promoter of Tri-City Speedway, is the man behind building the race track. Gundaker and his crew began building the track more than a week ago to have it ready for this week's event. 

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. 

VIDEO: Modified driver Kenny Wallace and FloRacing's Matthew Dillner checked in on the track build last week. 

The Format

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, 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 $40,000 to win. Open Wheel Modifieds will race 30 laps for a $10,000 payday. 

Super Late Model Preliminary Night Rosters

VIDEO: Take a look back at the top five moments from last year's Gateway Dirt Nationals. 

Open Wheel Modifieds Preliminary Night Rosters

Storylines

- Ricky Thornton, Jr. is preparing for a busy week in St. Louis as he will double dip in the Super Late Model and Open Wheel Modified divisions. Thornton previously pulled double-duty in both 2019 and 2021 but has struggled to find good luck inside the dome, with a best finish of 15th in last year's Super Late Model A-Main. 

- Will Tyler Carpenter become the first three-time winner of the Gateway Dirt Nationals? The West Virginia driver has won the last two Super Late Model main events and has a shot at the hat trick this weekend. 

- Bobby Pierce, the 2017 and 2018 race winner, also has a shot at becoming the first three-time winner of the event. "The Smooth Operator" has finished 11th (2019) and 19th (2021) since his last win inside The Dome at America's Center. 

- With over 140 drivers entered for the Super Late Model portion of the event, both nights of preliminary racing feature some of the biggest names in the sport. Thursday's field includes Bobby Pierce, Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Ryan Unzicker, Shannon Babb and Tanner English. Friday's field features names such as Devin Moran, Hudson O'Neal, Mason Ziegler, Scott Bloomquist, Tyler Carpenter and Tyler Erb. 

- How will NASCAR Truck Series driver Carson Hocevar fare in his third career dirt late model start? Hocevar made his dirt late model debut during the "Chasing The Dreams" features at Eldora Speedway in September and finished 11th after starting 19th. He then recorded a DNQ during the opening night of the World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway in November. 

- The Modified division has yet to see a repeat A-Main winner at the Gateway Dirt Nationals. Three drivers will have the chance to accomplish that feat on Saturday, as 2017 winner Ray Bollinger, 2018 winner Mike Harrison and 2021 winner Tyler Peterson have all entered the event. 

- Can Kenny Wallace score the hometown victory in St. Louis? "The Hermanator" won a preliminary feature in 2018 and went on to record his best finish of seventh in Saturday's A-Main. Prior to the event, Wallace showed off his city in a Tour De St. Louis with FloRacing's Matthew Dillner. 

VIDEO: Kenny Wallace took us to his favorite stops in St. Louis prior to the Gateway Dirt Nationals. 

How to Watch

Event Schedule (All times listed are CST)

Thursday, December 1

3 p.m. - On-Track Activity Begins

Super Late Model Hot Laps

Super Late Model Qualifying

Modified Qualifying/Hot Laps

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 2

3 p.m. - On-Track Activity Begins

Super Late Model Hot Laps

Super Late Model Qualifying

Modified Qualifying/Hot Laps

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 3

3 p.m. - On-Track Activity Begins

Super Late Model Qualifiers (12 Laps)

Super Late Model Hot Laps (Top Six Lock In)

Modified Qualifiers (12 Laps)

6 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies

Super Late Model LCQ

Modified LCQ

Super Late Model A-Main (40 Laps)

Modified A-Main (30 Laps)