Unleash the Dirt Racing Thrill at Gateway

Preliminary Night Highlights

Ricky Thornton Jr and Freddie Carpenter set the front row for the main event, setting the stage for an intense battle. As the 25 laps of dirt late model racing got underway, the drivers faced various challenges. In the early stages, most of the field was glued to the inside lane, struggling to make the top work. But as the race progressed, the action intensified.

Thornton Jr showed his prowess by knocking the inside wall as he rolled into turn one but managed to hold the lead. Nick Hoffman took over 2nd place and started to close in. With 20 laps to go, the tension was palpable. By 14 laps to go, Thornton Jr had caught the tail of the field and the leader was forced to the top lane. As the laps ticked down, Thornton Jr was driving away from Hoffman. However, a setback occurred when Spencer Hughes slowed with a flat tire, bringing out a caution.

Heat Races Drama

In the heat races, the competition was fierce. In Heat 1, Ricky Thornton Jr dominated, followed closely by Myles Moos, Carson Ferguson, Devin Moran, Amelia Eisenschenk, Matthew Tribble, Cyle Forgy, Kyle Mixon, Jon Kirby, Jayme Zidar, and Rusty Schlenk. Heat 2 saw Nick Hoffman take the lead, with Bobby Pierce, Ryan Unzicker, Spencer Hughes, Michael Seibers, Steven Dotson, Zach Wohlers, Glen Hounshell, Chris McKeehan, Brody Yarbrough, and Scott Bell also putting on a show.

Heat 3 was a close battle between Tanner English, Josh Rice, Jason Welshan, Manny Falcon, Cody Bauer, Grimsley Fulford, Greg Kimmons, Matt Koch, Devon Andrews, and Megan Sanders. Heat 4 was won by Freddie Carpenter, followed by Derek Fisher, Gavin Cowan, Dean Carpenter, Ryan Wilson, Brenden Smith, Corey DeLancey, Blake Higginbotham, Evan Koehler, Jared Bamberger, and Brandon Carpenter. Heat 5 was a battle between Carter Schlenk, Jordan Barbee, Jack Riggs, Delbert Crum III, James Nash, Cole Babcock, TeeJay Janousek, Dylan Thompson, Jonathan Woods, Darin Weisinger Jr, and Chase Collins. Heat 6 was won by Gordy Gundaker, with Austin Howes, Hudson O’Neal, Dakota Smith, Daniel Adam, Dustin Rollins, Kylan Garner, Brody Smith, Chris Fetter, and Cameron Reynolds also competing.

LCQ Action

In the LCQs, the competition was just as intense. In B Feature 1, Carson Ferguson took the lead, followed by Spencer Hughes, Ryan Unzicker, Devin Moran, Jason Welshan, Cody Bauer, Manny Falcon, Amelia Eisenschenk, Steven Dotson, Matthew Tribble, Grimsley Fulford, and Michael Seibers. In B Feature 2, Jack Riggs took the lead, followed by Hudson O’Neal, Dean Carpenter, Delbert Crum III, Brenden Smith, Daniel Adam, Cole Babcock, Ryan Wilson, Dakota Smith, James Nash, Dustin Rollins, and Gavin Cowan.

Late Model Main Event

In the late model main event, Ricky Thornton Jr emerged victorious, taking home the $5,000 prize. Nick Hoffman finished 3rd, followed by Gordy Gundaker, Myles Moos, Freddie Carpenter, Bobby Pierce, Derek Fisher, Tanner English, Ryan Unzicker, Josh Rice, Hudson O’Neal, Carter Schlenk, Jordan Barbee, Austin Howes, Jack Riggs, and Spencer Hughes. Unfortunately, Spencer Hughes had to retire due to a flat tire.

Modified Division

In the modified division, Trevor Neville dominated the practice and qualifying rounds. In the heat races, Trevor Neville won Heat 1, followed by Jordan Grabouski, Joseph Thomas, Dave Hess Jr, Tim Ward, Dave Wietholder, Chase Allen, and Rodney Sanders. Heat 2 was won by Trent Young, followed by Zane DeVilbiss, Tanner Mullens, Tyler Davis, Rick Conoyer, Ryan Ayers, Gary Dillon, and Jack Sartain. Heat 3 was won by Kenny Wallace, followed by Jeff Larson, Kyle Steffens, Jimmy Lennex Jr, Tyler Peterson, Cole Czarneski, Chaz Baca, and Chris Soutiea. Heat 4 was won by Dylan Thornton, followed by Tom Berry Jr, KC Burdette, Dean Hoffman, Tim Nash, Jimmy Owens, and Jim Chisholm.

In the LCQ, Tim Ward took the lead, followed by Tyler Peterson, Jimmy Owens, Cole Czarneski, Jim Chisholm, Ryan Ayers, Chaz Baca, Jack Sartain, Gary Dillon, Tim Nash, Rick Conoyer, Dave Wietholder, Chase Allen, Rodney Sanders, and Chris Soutiea. In the modified main event, Trevor Neville emerged victorious, followed by Jordan Grabouski, Trent Young, Dylan Thornton, Kenny Wallace, Tyler Peterson, Tanner Mullens, Tim Ward, Zane DeVilbiss, Tyler Davis, Dean Hoffman, KC Burdette, Jimmy Lennex Jr, Jeff Larson, Kyle Steffens, and Tom Berry Jr.

Don't miss the Gateway Dirt Nationals video highlights for both the late models and the modifieds. For more information and to stay updated on all the dirt racing action, visit the Gateway Dirt Nationals website.