The winner of Saturday night’s late model finale at St. Louis’ Gateway Dirt Nationals will get to strap in in a NASCAR Truck Series vehicle next year at Knoxville.
The event and NASCAR Truck Series team Niece Motorsports announced on Wednesday that it will give a truck to the winner of Saturday’s action in St. Louis for the annual race at Knoxville.
Since the event started in 2016, its been a fan favorite to racing fans that don’t want the off-season to win. Scott Bloomquist won the first edition of the race while Bobby Pierce captured the 2017 and ’18 crown. Tyler Carpenter will return this weekend to defend his 2019 championship, since the 2020 event was canceled due to COVID-19.
“That’s a big deal because a lot of people dream of that opportunity and unless they have a bunch of money to go rent a ride or do something like that, they don’t get that opportunity,” Gateway Dirt Nationals promoter Cody Sommer said in a press release. “I just can’t help but to think about and imagine if we had that last year and Tyler Carpenter got to run the NASCAR series.”
In 2021, the race at Knoxville featured dirt names like Donny Schatz and Brian Brown, as well as NASCAR drivers from different tours.
“So many of us at this organization cut our teeth in racing at dirt tracks,” Niece Motorsports General Manager Cody Efaw said in the release. “I truly believe that these drivers are some of the most talented in the country, so we’re excited to give someone another platform to showcase their abilities.”
This weekend’s action will be streaming live on FloRacing each night – Thursday through Saturday – through the platform.
“It’s a really cool opportunity. Niece Motorsports jumping in and being a part of the event, it’s exciting to have that,” Sommer said. “That’s definitely got to turn it up a notch. You’re not just thinking about $30,000 anymore; you’re thinking about getting the opportunity of a lifetime to drive a NASCAR Truck at Knoxville.”
