2018 Gateway Dirt Nationals - Midgets added to the DOME race.

[kidrock]

It's safe to say that the crowd will be substantially larger if they invite and entice the guys I mention above to show up. It's going to be very interesting to see who they invite and who will actually accept an invitation. The reality of the situation is there is no precedence or tradition attached to this event, yet. It may develop over a period of time if they continue to make a go of it, but at this point there is none. I could be wrong but due to the fact it's going to be an invitational event it's probably won't be sanctioned. Without yet any particular prestige or sanction attached it may be tough to get the marquis names like Larson, Bell, Bayston, Thorson and others to accept an invitation. Without those marquis names the midget crowd may not be as big of an addition as one might think.

We all know there will be many of the heavy hitters from the dirt late model world on hand and if the promoters can get a bunch of big name midget drivers to show up this thing could get very big in a hurry. Stay tuned!

I was thinking the same thing. If it's anything like what happened at Lincoln the crowd will be much bigger and it should be a good the show.

[kidrock]

killed it for me when you added midgets not a fan of them

To each is own but the midgets will put on a better show in my opinion.

[Tireguy17]

Nascar Banquet was Thursday November 30th this past year. That could overlap the event and prevent a driver like Larson from being at the Dome.

[Mindwalker]

Why mess with a good thing? I like all dirt racing and enjoy midgets put keeping it just lm's and mods is more favorable to me. Give other classes their own date...

[Mindwalker]

Dang I was perfectly fine with only two classes, but I wasn't asked

You and many others I'm sure.

[427c.i.]

Friday and Saturday's shows are already about 7 hours long, I really wonder what a 3rd class will do time wise?
Granted, there is a lot of down time that could possibly be utilized but after 7 hours of being stuck in a seat designed for a 120lb person, I don't know who's up for a longer show.
Especially with the concession and beer costs...I get $9 beers and $8 Cheeseburgers when the program is 3 hours long (football games that the arena, seating and pricing was built for) but when the show is 7+hours....c'mon.

[Illtsate32]

Really? I don't do twitter, or whatever it is, so I haven't seen anything to that effect. Guys like Larson and Bell were pining to be a part of this show even before it was announced? Hmmm. If you can believe the gibberish on social media then obviously the promoter has been in contact with the big guns well prior to this announcement. I'd be curious to see what the incentive would be for those guys to be anxious to race this event. Guys like Larson, Stenhouse Jr. and Bell have no real monetary incentive to be a part of it and, as I said, there is no tradition of prestige yet attached to it.A very good question arose in the sprint car section as to whether these midgets would be USAC/POWRi legal or if they're going to allow the Chili Bowl specific midgets. I'm just guessing off the top of my head but I would say there are probably a couple dozen Chili Bowl specific cars out there and if they can get those cars and drivers to participate it would be a better show than if they go USAC/POWRi rules, in my opinion.

Give us one reason why Bell, Larson, and Stehouse or any other driver in the country wouldnt want to be a part of this race, then maybe we might believe your story..obviously being the first event theres no tradition but the prestige is there already...

[TackyTracker]

maybe we get to see Larson race a LM

[golddirt]

It's just me but keep your indoor racing and midgets.

[Cardirt0]

This is a race you you could take your kid to and be great...But they have priced it out of a lot of peoples cash range...I eat No burgers at 8 bucks,,,but I eat 4 or 5 at 5 bucks over the day...Just cause I will not pay that much for a burger,,,I can see why golddirt will not go old school will all was be old school.....I can live without beer at 3 bucks a cup I know I ant paying 9....

[Mindwalker]

Complaints on burger and beer prices are useless. It is a shame however a family can't take their kids because of overpriced food that sucks anyway...

Sort of like Macdonald's... Plenty people eat that garbage and pay the price. It's simple taking advange of those who pay and nevermind the rest. Just the way it is and has always been.

[Mindwalker]

It's just me but keep your indoor racing and midgets.

Mostly just you but surly you're not entirely alone.

You are the minority here 😀

[willardboy]

Wonder what the ticket prices will bump up to? Amen on the food and beer prices! I do love a cold beer like the next guy but........ not at $9 each. Tough to take the family with the show going 7+ hours.... about have to visit the concession stands a couple times

[CIRF]

Why mess with a good thing? I like all dirt racing and enjoy midgets put keeping it just lm's and mods is more favorable to me. Give other classes their own date...

Phil, I take no issue with you're saying. But, if you had been at Lincoln last July you would see why the promoter might be anxious to throw the midgets into the mix. The crowd at Lincoln was one of the largest I've ever seen at a local, weekly racetrack. The racing was incredible in regards to both the midgets and the late models.

Give us one reason why Bell, Larson, and Stehouse or any other driver in the country wouldnt want to be a part of this race, then maybe we might believe your story..obviously being the first event theres no tradition but the prestige is there already...

It makes no difference if you believe it or not. The facts are that the St. Louis event has happened just twice. Face it, this deal isn't the World Hundred, Knoxville Sprint Car Nationals, Turkey Night Grand Prix or The Chili Bowl. Any one of those events are a resume' maker for the winner in their respective divisions and The Chili Bowl gets the winner a huge amount of national attention from the racing world as a whole.

Next November/December will be the very first time for any dirt open wheel division to be a part of it. We don't know the payout yet but besides that the midget portion will most likely be on a par with the two USAC National Midget shows at Du Quoin. In other words, it will be a nice win but nowhere near a career maker like those shows I mentioned above. Kyle Larson said in an interview recently that he wants to win The Chili Bowl more than he does the Daytona 500. Can you honestly put the St. Louis deal in the same category? I don't think so, and I know no one that does.............accept you! LOL! I really hope they can get Larson, Bell, Stenhouse, Pittman, Kasey Kahne and others to St. Louis for this deal but it's going to take more than the prestige of winning it to do it.

Ten years from now it might be a whole other story but today, not so much.

[Mindwalker]

I understand the promoters stand on this but the question is, what is the need? Have a separate date for another class. Let the fans decide what they want to see...

Midgets would be my first choice here if I seen a need, but I don't. Leave this show alone.... That's my choice.