If I was giving the Gateway Dirt Nationals a letter grade...........

[jog49]

.......and the feature race was 8 miles!

[turnleftandgasit]

I don't have anything against the mods, just thinking about a class that would cause less track damage. I like the LM only idea, and the twin heats, but instead of passing points, run it with a full invert from 1st to 2nd heat. Low points start up front, like a go kart race.

[BN247]

I give it a solid B. Some things to be done to make the racing better. Drop the mods, widen the straights so high side guys can keep their momentum, and add a little more banking. All of which sounds like might happen next year. Once we got guys on the track that new what they were doing, the racing was great. From a logistics standpoint I think the organizers get an A+. Other then a lot of cautions and track prep, they keep things moving and were prepared.Friday night was worth the price of admission. Glad I went and looking forward to next year. They get any more people to show, they will have to open the top sections. Bottom bowl was almost full.

[cjsracing]

ptown I see you keep harping on the time it took to run the show. My thoughts on this is most people came from far away, stayed in St. Louis so it's not like they have to get home. They are making a weekend of it so why is it a big deal to sit for 8 hours watching a sport you love?

[ride height]

The event has alot of potential. It needs a major sponsorship, and ESPN level TV The DOD outfit did pretty well, but it doesnt reach mainstream america, which is why dirt LM racing doesnt ever grow to a bigtime sport. The DOD crew was pretty entertaining actually. I liked the fly by seat of pants coverage, which im sure takes talent to pull off. At least they are knowledgeable about the drivers and such or so it seemed. Im sure they will play it all back and see where they can improve. At this point im just glad somebody aired the race so we could watch. To be fair, its got to be a chore for announcers to keep you on edge of your seat when there is a yellow every one or two laps. Thats a lot of " fill" time to come up with things to talk about. Im for dropping mods, and I race a mod. There is just too much carnage out there with so many mods trying to hammer their way into the feature, plus it beat the pi$$ out of the track.

[powerslide]

I don't believe you are going to see them drop the mods. 100 late models isn't enough to entertain for 3 days. I think they need to find better dirt or get rid of the VP track wetter junk, that dirt was like the stuff you see at rodeo's it just doesn't pack together well.

This isn't the first indoor race. The chili bowl does this every year, along with a couple others. These guys will get better with time, I hope they get a chance to go observe a couple of the other great indoor events and really take notes on what they do to prep the track, it maybe the bringing it in an packing it down from the start that they missed on or it maybe the dirt itself. Maybe a berm around the inside instead of the tires next year, not sure if that will work with the late model noses dragging the ground though.

[turnleftandgasit]

Do you think they will get more LM next year? It seems to be a hit with the fans, but did 100 lm drivers watching on DoD think the same and will have too be there next December?

[turnleftandgasit]

VP is title sponsor, I doubt that the track wetter is going anywhere.

[ptown]

VP is title sponsor, I doubt that the track wetter is going anywhere.

Yup and too much moisture in the track pretty much ruined it for Saturday.

[calverton]

Wrong they didn't enough water it that much they tilled it up too much

[ReignMan23]

Heard from the grapevine. Todd Staley, the USMTS and USRA sanctioning body president, is trying to get the rights to the mod's for next year's Gateway Nationals. I think his end goal is to make it a USMTS modified race that would come after the Jamboree. Not sure if he will get this done, but just a rumor. Also, I think they should up the late model purse to 40-50 thousand to make it a crown jewel. Hopefully this should bring any "big names" that decided not to show. Other than that, A++++. We are racing in December, Bloomquist keeps on rollin, life is good.

[Ryan21mid]

Before we go upping the purse to 40-50k to win they need to pay down through the field. Pierce said they got $100 for running 12th Friday. Haven't heard any other figures but Sheppard and at least two others said the payout needs work. Was told if you didn't make the A-Main you went home with nothing as well. Not complaining but for $200 to enter + all the other fees the drivers had to pay, they weren't compensated very well it sounds like.

[Clayton_Wetter]

Wrong they didn't enough water it that much they tilled it up too much

I agree, loose dirt needs more water to bond better and it lessons the loose fluff.

[plunks7]

Heard from the grapevine. Todd Staley, the USMTS and USRA sanctioning body president, is trying to get the rights to the mod's for next year's Gateway Nationals. I think his end goal is to make it a USMTS modified race that would come after the Jamboree. Not sure if he will get this done, but just a rumor. Also, I think they should up the late model purse to 40-50 thousand to make it a crown jewel. Hopefully this should bring any "big names" that decided not to show. Other than that, A++++. We are racing in December, Bloomquist keeps on rollin, life is good.

If you raise the purse you will lose the little Teams. Which you will have less cars. A better payout through-out the field would make more sense, than paying more to Win!!!!!! JMO

[Bubstr]

Before we go upping the purse to 40-50k to win they need to pay down through the field. Pierce said they got $100 for running 12th Friday. Haven't heard any other figures but Sheppard and at least two others said the payout needs work. Was told if you didn't make the A-Main you went home with nothing as well. Not complaining but for $200 to enter + all the other fees the drivers had to pay, they weren't compensated very well it sounds like.

This if true, is justifiable to complain about. Paying $200 entry fee and getting half of it back after beating 80% of the entries, you should get your entry fee back at least. That is wrong, I don't care who you are. There was a lot that wasn't told about this race before you got there, and then they wonder why the negativity.