Preliminary night rosters for the Kubota Gateway Dirt Nationals were revealed Monday night, setting the stage for one of the year’s most anticipated dirt racing events at The Dome at America’s Center from Dec. 4-6.

Rosters were determined during a draft show in which promoters Cody and Emma Summer each selected their team of drivers for the event. Cody's team of drivers will compete during Thursday's preliminary night, while Emma's team will race during Friday's preliminary night. 

More than 100 dirt late model drivers are divided between Thursday and Friday preliminary programs, each looking to lock into Saturday’s $30,000-to-win main event. A total of 64 invited Modified drivers were also split into two preliminary nights on Thursday and Friday. 

Full prelim night rosters for both divisions can be viewed at the bottom of this story. 

Thursday Night Lineup

Thursday’s roster includes a mix of national contenders and regional favorites, led by Brandon Sheppard, Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman, Tyler Erb, and Devin Moran. Veterans Shannon Babb, Jason Feger, and Mike Spatola add experience to the field, while up-and-comers such as Ashton Winger, Dylan Thornton and Carson Ferguson will look to make their mark early in the weekend.

The Thursday roster also features notable entries including Brian Shirley, Ryan Gustin, and Don O’Neal, along with a strong group of midwestern racers like Trevor Gundaker, Kyle Hammer, and Dustin Sorenson.

Friday Night Lineup

Friday’s field features another loaded roster with Ricky Thornton Jr., Jonathan Davenport, and Hudson O’Neal headlining the night. They’ll be joined by Brandon Overton, Tyler Carpenter, Tanner English and Mike Marlar, as well as several regional standouts including Josh Rice, Gordy Gundaker, Ryan Unzicker, and Garrett Alberson.

Veteran names such as Jimmy Owens, Rusty Schlenk, and Kyle Bronson are also part of the Friday program, along with younger stars like Zack Dohm, Drake Troutman, and Camaron Marlar.

Format and Outlook

Each preliminary night will serve as a full race program, with the top three finishers from Thursday and Friday advancing directly to Saturday’s championship feature. The remaining drivers will race through consolation events for the final transfer spots into the main event.

The Kubota Gateway Dirt Nationals continue to be one of the most unique events in motorsports, bringing dirt late model and modified racing indoors to downtown St. Louis. The 2025 edition is expected to draw thousands of fans to The Dome at America's Center, the former home of the NFL's St. Louis Rams. 

Fans unable to attend the spectacle in person can watch all three nights live on FloRacing. If you're not already a FloRacing subscriber, click here to sign up today. 

2025 Gateway Dirt Nationals Prelim Night Rosters

Super Late Models

Modifieds