2018 Gateway Dirt Nationals date

[Shiny Side Up 18]

November 29, 30, December 1.

[hoosier race fan]

November 29, 30, December 1.

I wonder why they would move it a few weeks earlier. That would be the weekend before PRI. Maybe a midget/sprint date later, but that may create a conflict with DuQuoin.

[CIRF]

The only way St. Louis will hurt Du Quoin is if they schedule directly against Du Quoin with a USAC or POWRi sanction.

I was at Du Quoin last night for the USAC National Midget show and they had 56 cars and a totally full grandstand. The racing was absolutely top notch with the A-main being in the top 5 of the best races we've seen all year. 2 of the 4 qualifiers were exemplary races, as well. It was possible to pass without knocking the guy out of the way and the show was run in a timely fashion.

Compared to years past the St. Louis show appeared not to have hurt Du Quoin at all and I doubt that Du Quoin hurt the St. Louis event. If it did I reckon it was minimal.

I would be very surprised if St. Louis would schedule an open wheel event of any kind directly against Du Quoin. However, stranger things have happened. It would be a shame if something like that happened. Racing of all ilk's doesn't need infighting, it needs cooperation for everyone to survive and thrive. Hopefully the people who promote the St. Louis event understands all of that.

[slmcrewchief99]

Its about trying to make it easier on the fans because its so close to xmas. I personally have no problem at all with it.

[jr29]

The event has been a success both years and I can't imagine moving it a couple weeks will do much of anything to hurt it.

[turnleftandgasit]

Read on FB that this weekend is IL shotgun weekend for deer. That could cause an issue for some if this is true.

[CIRF]

Personally, we're kinda' glad that the 2018 St. Louis date isn't once again scheduled directly against Du Quoin. The past 2 years our group has opted to go to Du Quoin due to the fact that Du Quoin does all but guarantee a very good racing program run in a timely fashion with ticket, lodging, parking and concession prices being far more reasonable as compared to St. Louis.

It's a no brainer when all things are considered. With St. Louis 2 weeks prior to the traditional Du Quoin date we'll be able to attend the final night of the St. Louis event. St. Louis is a full hour and a half closer than Du Quoin and we'll be able to make the trip back home without having to pay exorbitant, larger city lodging prices. Then 2 weeks later go to Du Quoin which is traditionally one of the best shows we attend all year! Win-win.

[Mud Packer]

The 2018 USAC Midget schedule is already out and they have the DuQuoin midget show on Friday December 14th next year instead of on Saturday. Kind of strange since this has always been a Saturday night show. Now the Gateway Dirt Nationals event moves up a couple of weeks. Just a thought here. They tested midgets and sprints in the dome earlier this week. Maybe a chance the promoter is looking to add a midget date on Saturday December 15th at the dome. Stranger things have happened.

[blncfn57]

Seen a response from Cody (I think on twitter) that said "Dome is booked several years out on some things and that weekend is only available option".

[CIRF]

The 2018 USAC Midget schedule is already out and they have the DuQuoin midget show on Friday December 14th next year instead of on Saturday. Kind of strange since this has always been a Saturday night show. Now the Gateway Dirt Nationals event moves up a couple of weeks. Just a thought here. They tested midgets and sprints in the dome earlier this week. Maybe a chance the promoter is looking to add a midget date on Saturday December 15th at the dome. Stranger things have happened.

MP, you make a good point that I'd completely forgotten about in regards to the USAC National Midget schedule showing Friday night December 14th as the date for the 2018 Du Quoin event. Many of us who follow major league midget racing passed it off as a possible typo but it's starting to look like that might not be the case.

There may well be something else going on that USAC would change a traditional, and very successful Saturday date to Friday. There is no way that a Friday date would be as advantageous as Saturday night given that may folks that would be travelling a distance wouldn't be able to make it due to work schedules, etc. Some car owners and crews would be in somewhat in the same situation.

A two night midget show just 90 minutes apart involving the major players in midget racing would be a fun deal if pulled off properly!

[Mud Packer]

MP, you make a good point that I'd completely forgotten about in regards to the USAC National Midget schedule showing Friday night December 14th as the date for the 2018 Du Quoin event. Many of us who follow major league midget racing passed it off as a possible typo but it's starting to look like that might not be the case.

There may well be something else going on that USAC would change a traditional, and very successful Saturday date to Friday. There is no way that a Friday date would be as advantageous as Saturday night given that may folks that would be travelling a distance wouldn't be able to make it due to work schedules, etc. Some car owners and crews would be in somewhat in the same situation.

A two night midget show just 90 minutes apart involving the major players in midget racing would be a fun deal if pulled off properly!

I really don't have any inside information, however it seems strange to me to change to a Friday night at DuQuoin when the Saturday date has been successful. I did see that they tested both midgets and sprint cars at the dome earlier and was wondering what this might become.

I guess we will see if anything does come out of this but I would say that a two day show at DuQuoin and St Louis would be advantageous for car owners and drivers. Some of them come from a long way away and the payout for two shows could be an advantage to adding more to the mix.

From a fans prospective I guess we will see. It would definitely be bigger draw but would they have the disposable income at that time of year for the extra days. I hope if it does happen that both shows would be successful.

[fryefan]

The 2018 USAC Midget schedule is already out and they have the DuQuoin midget show on Friday December 14th next year instead of on Saturday. Kind of strange since this has always been a Saturday night show. Now the Gateway Dirt Nationals event moves up a couple of weeks. Just a thought here. They tested midgets and sprints in the dome earlier this week. Maybe a chance the promoter is looking to add a midget date on Saturday December 15th at the dome. Stranger things have happened.

IF they were going to have Midgets at the Dome, then it would have to be the same week/weekend as the latemodels & modifieds, not 2 weeks later.

The dome has events going on every weekend and Cody's bunch is not going to pay to move the dirt in and out of the dome twice.

[fryefan]

Personally, we're kinda' glad that the 2018 St. Louis date isn't once again scheduled directly against Du Quoin. The past 2 years our group has opted to go to Du Quoin due to the fact that Du Quoin does all but guarantee a very good racing program run in a timely fashion with ticket, lodging, parking and concession prices being far more reasonable as compared to St. Louis.

It's a no brainer when all things are considered. With St. Louis 2 weeks prior to the traditional Du Quoin date we'll be able to attend the final night of the St. Louis event. St. Louis is a full hour and a half closer than Du Quoin and we'll be able to make the trip back home without having to pay exorbitant, larger city lodging prices. Then 2 weeks later go to Du Quoin which is traditionally one of the best shows we attend all year! Win-win.

I am elated that they will be on different weekends next year, as I would like to attend both shows.

[CIRF]

IF they were going to have Midgets at the Dome, then it would have to be the same week/weekend as the latemodels & modifieds, not 2 weeks later.

The dome has events going on every weekend and Cody's bunch is not going to pay to move the dirt in and out of the dome twice.

Common sense dictates that you're probably right.

I am elated that they will be on different weekends next year, as I would like to attend both shows.

You and me both, fryefan. I haven't been able to attend the Saturday night finale' at St. Louis because our group always opted for what we thought was a sure thing over in Du Quoin. Never seen a bad show at Du Quoin, on the other hand St. Louis was, and still is to a certain extent, an unknown commodity. We'll probably will attend the Saturday night finale' at St. Louis now that there is no conflict.

[thexfactor0210]

I was kind of let down by the "huge" announcement that keot being pumped up. Was hoping Cody would announce a midget date or some huge additions to the LM purse. Oh well