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NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS RUNS AT GATEWAY MOTORSPORTS PARK THIS WEEKEND

Courtesy Gateway Motorsports

–by Keith Brake

This weekend Gateway Motorsports Park will play host to the AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals. This event spans three days with gates opening at 7:30 AM on Friday the 29th and wrapping up around 4:00 PM on Sunday the 1st of October. The event features races from Sportsman’s class to Top Fuel & Funny Car along with some Pro Stock Motorcycle races.

Adding to the excitement of this years event, Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car qualifying will take place under the lights. As if the 10,000-horsepower, 330-mile-per-hour action from the nitro-burning machines wouldn’t be enough, the header flames will be in full view in all their glory after the sun goes down.

Expectations of performance are high for the event. Funny Car driver Ron Capps (currently in 2nd place in the Mello Yello Countdown) said “We’re gonna see track records fall for sure.” when asked about the upcoming event. Top Fuel Dragster pilot Brittany Force (currently in 4th place in the countdown) noted how important this event is : “In the Countdown, there are only six races, and they’re all important. But St. Louis is the halfway point, so you’ve got to make sure you’re still on your game, still fighting and hanging in there to the final few.”

Fans of Leah Pritchett (Papa John’s Top Fuel Dragster for Don Schumacher Racing)  will be able to meet her at the Papa John’s location on Belt Line Road in Collinsville, Illinois, from 5-6 p.m. on Thursday. When asked about the races this weekend at Gateway Prichett said “We’ve got one of the best race cars in the cool weather so we’re looking forward to St. Louis, back in the winner’s circle is where we want to be and we feel good about St. Louis.”

Spectator gates will open at 7:30 a.m. each day and kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult. Every ticket is a pit pass. Friday’s Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster qualifying will take place under the lights. To purchase tickets or obtain additional information, please call (618) 215-8888 or visit www.gatewaymsp.com.

 

Important inbound traffic and parking information for this weekend’s AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park:

For fans who are purchasing “day-of” parking (for cars and motorcycles) — or who already have obtained one of the following parking passes: Suite/VIP parking pass, ADA parking, Orange West, Gold Key or Motorcycle Parking — please use the following instructions for the quickest and most efficient way into Gateway Motorsports Park for the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals on Friday, September 29 through Sunday, October 1.

The easiest step simply is to enter “1905 Collinsville Road, Fairmont City, IL” into your mapping app or GPS device.  (That is the physical entry point to the Gateway Dirtplex and west access road). Once you reach 1905 Collinsville Road, you will turn right at the Dirtplex and will have the quickest and most efficient route into the facility.

FROM ST. LOUIS:

Please follow I-55/70 to Exit 4 and exit right onto Illinois 203 South. You will proceed approximately 1/4-mile to Collinsville Road. Turn right onto Collinsville Road (at the BP station) and the Dirtplex entry gate is approximately 1/8-mile on the right.

FROM COLLINSVILLE/EDWARDSVILLE:

Please follow I-55 South to Exit 4A and follow Illinois 203 South to Collinsville Road. Turn right onto Collinsville Road (at the BP station) and the Dirtplex entry gate is approximately 1/8-mile on the right.

“We would like to emphasize that this route reduces front gate congestion and cross traffic from the truck stop traffic,” said Gateway Motorsports Park Executive Vice President and General Manager Chris Blair. “This route will get you into the facility quicker and into your seats faster. Gateway Motorsports Park is working closely with the Archview Meadows Development on the west side of our property line to provide improved parking and traffic for the NHRA event.

“As a reminder, there is a $20 per vehicle parking charge (cash only) and motorcycle parking is $10 in the Gateway Harley Davidson Motorcycle Parking lot.”

 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

6:30 a.m. — Parking lots open.

7:30 a.m. — Spectator gates open.

8:30 a.m. — Sportsman class racing begins.

Noon — Midway opens.

3:30 p.m. — Pro Mod qualifying session.

4:15 p.m. — Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock qualifying session.

5 p.m. — Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster qualifying session.

6 p.m. — Pro Mod qualifying session.

6:30 p.m. — Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock qualifying session.

7:15 p.m. — Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster qualifying session.

8:15 p.m. — Jet Dragsters and fireworks.

8:20 p.m. — Track closed.

 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

6:30 a.m. — Parking lots open.

7:30 a.m. — Spectator gates open.

8:30 a.m. — Sportsman class racing begins.

9:30 a.m. — Midway opens.

Noon — Pro Mod qualifying session.

1:15 p.m. — Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock qualifying session.

2 p.m. — Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster qualifying session.

3 p.m. — First round of Pro Mod eliminations.

3:30 p.m. — First round of Factory Stock Showdown eliminations.

3:45 p.m. — Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock qualifying session.

4:30 p.m. — Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster qualifying session.

7 p.m. — Track closed.

 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1

6:30 a.m. — Parking lots open.

7:30 a.m. — Spectator gates open.

9 a.m. — Midway opens.

10 a.m. — Pre-race ceremonies.

11 a.m. — First round of Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster eliminations.

Noon — First round of Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock eliminations.

12:20 p.m. — Second round of Pro Mod eliminations.

12:45 p.m. — Second round of Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster eliminations.

1:15 p.m. — Second round of Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock eliminations.

1:30 p.m. — Semi-final round of Pro Mod eliminations.

2 p.m. — Second round of Factory Stock Showdown.

2:15 p.m. — Semi-final round of Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster eliminations.

2:33 p.m. — Semi-final round of Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock eliminations.

2:40 p.m. — Final round of Pro Mod eliminations.

3 p.m. — Final round of Factory Stock Showdown eliminations.

3:30 p.m. — Final round of Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock eliminations.

3:37 p.m. — Final round of Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster eliminations.

3:45 p.m. — Track closed.

Schedule subject to change. Revised Sept. 17.

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