Photo Credit - Ryan Roberts
The Gateway Dirt Nationals always surpirses us with a new winner especially on prelim nights. Last night was no exception as Mike Spatola led all 25 laps for his first career win inside the 1/5th mile track inside The Dome at America's Center. Ashton Winger and Brandon Sheppard completed the podium and lock themselves into Saturday's $30,000 to win main event.
The night kicked off with Brandon Overton topping Group A qualifying in his new ride after departing with Wells Motorsports. Overton moved over to the Longhorn Factory Team ride bringing along a new crew chief as well. Anthony Burroughs left SSI Motorsports to join Overton with the Factory team. They started off with a bang but unfortunatley fell out of his heat race after contact with RF tire causing it to go flat.
Two time Gateway Dirt Nationals champion Tyler Carpenter would top Group B qualifying. Caprenter always a threat to win but settled for a ninth place finish in the 25 lap preliminary feature.
Heat race winners were Kyle Hammer,Ryan Gustin, Spatola, BShepp, Jadon Frame, and Ashton Winger. There was a fun side bet involving Ashton Winger if he would win last night. FloRacing commentators Dustin Jarrett and Ben Shelton would shave Winger's hair but his hair was safe with his runner up spot.
Last year's Gateway Dirt Nationals champion Brandon Sheppard would finsih third from his fifth starting spot and was cahllenging Winger for second before the checkers fell.
Spatola was challenged early in the feature by Winger but for the most part controlled the pace up front. Spatola later said in victory lane that he and Winger been texting all week and that Winger jokingly told "Opie" that he was going to wreck him.
Spatola drives a Rocket Chassis powered by Pro Power Racing Engines. Mike has always showed speed at Gateway but bad luck has hurt his finishes in the past before he broke through last night to get that elusive win.
Tonight the other half of the drivers will compete for a complete show with hot laps starting at 3pm. Last night went very smooth with only a few delays for track rework and one fence repair when Brayden Berry parked it in the backstretch fence.
Friday Night Feature
MIKE Spatola
Winger
B. Sheppard
Gustin
Frame
Johns
Owens
Hammer
Carpenter
Gundaker
Babb
Davenport
Simpson
Feger
Joiner
Ledford
Mitchell
Melvin
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