Dirt Late Model racing's indoor spectacle, the Kubota Gateway Dirt Nationals at The Dome at America’s Center, takes over Downtown St. Louis for the event's ninth running this week.

Rising above the chaos from the ninth-starting spot, Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., powered around racelong leader Mark Whitener on the lap-17 restart and never let up for Friday's prelim victory at the Kubota Gateway Dirt Nationals presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts inside The Dome at America's Center. Thornton pocketed $10,000 in topping Whitener by 4.097 seconds.

It was Thornton's 19th Dirt Late Model victory of 2025. Whitener of paced the opening 16 laps until giving way to Thornton on the lap-17 restart. Hudson O’Neal battled Whitener for the lead until contact in the lead battle cut down his right-rear tire, forcing him to pull off the fifth-mile racetrack on lap 13.

A lap later, the battle for second pitting Floridians Brenden Smith and Kyle Bronson went awry when Smith’s slider attempt triggered Bronson to spin into the outside wall. A noticeably frustrated Bronson emerged from his car and walked to Smith’s race car under the red flag to vent his displeasure.

Drake Troutman was one spot out of a lock-in position for Saturday’s main event until his left-rear tire went flat during the lap-17 caution period following contact from Donald McIntosh.

Four cautions slowed the 25-lap main event: the first on lap six for debris; lap 14 for Bronson’s wreck after a fierce battle with Smith for second went awry. Sixth-running Josh Rice clipped Bronson’s car in the incident, but the Kentucky driver was able to continue; lap 16 for 14th-running Carson Hocevar and lap 17 for fifth-running Donald McIntosh and eighth-running Wil Herrington.

Friday's Kubota Gateway Dirt Nationals Late Model Results At The Dome

Friday's Kubota Gateway Dirt Nationals Modified Results At The Dome