Gateway 2008: Everything You Need To Know!

Bret Kepner

New Member
Joined
Apr 1, 2004
The following is the first look at the 2008 Gateway International Raceway Drag Racing Format and Schedule by anybody, anywhere.

You're welcome from Bret Kepner Photos.com.




An expanded 2008 drag racing season marks the biggest news for Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois. Among the notable changes is a series of seven late-year Open Test-and-Tune events on Saturday afternoons which will tentatively extend the ‘08 schedule into the month of December! The GIR facility has adopted new admission prices as well as a definitive weather policy. Additionally, GIR will retain its eight-event Midnight Madness series and has added new events to its list of some of the most prestigious major championships in drag racing.


Here’s what’s new and what’s not:


Event Weather Parameters and Policy

The new weather-mandated gate policy will cancel any event in GIR’s regular weekly series programs if the forecasted temperature for the day of the event is under 40 degrees Fahrenheit or over 99 degrees Fahrenheit. For evening events, the minimum temperature for safe competition will be 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Updates on the day of each event will be available at Gateway Raceway.com.



Tuesday SX Performance Street Car Shootout Series Events

The 2008 Street Car Shootout Series will be comprised of twenty-four events beginning on April 1st and ending on October 14th. Open test-and-tune action will be complimented by the popular SX Performance SCSS program in which the sixteen quickest entries (based on elapsed time) earn “Fastest Street Car Qualifier” decals.

As in 2007, the four quickest overall qualifiers will compete in heads-up eliminations for trophies. The structure of the SCSS Season Point Championship will continue to award one point to each driver qualifying in the Super Sixteen field at each event as well as one bonus point awarded to each driver qualifying in the top four positions each week.

The SCSS will again feature three categories including the Street Car Shootout, (for the four quickest entries regardless of configuration), the Sport Tuner Shootout, (for all passenger cars except Rear-Wheel-Drive of eight cylinders or more), and the Super Truck Showdown, (for all utility vehicles). In the Sport Tuner Shootout and in the Super Truck Showdown, the two quickest qualifiers in each category will compete in heads-up eliminations for trophies.

NOTE: For the 2008 season, six-cylinder rear-wheel-drive entries, (i.e., Toyota Supras, Buick Regal Grand Nationals, Nissan 350Zs), will be classified as Sport Tuner vehicles. Previously, RWD6 machines were eligible only for SCSS competition but may now compete in both divisions.

Each week, all finalists in all three categories will receive one free car and driver admission to the SCSS series, (to be used during the 2008 season), a disc of digital photos from Bret Kepner Photos.com, and will be awarded new, larger trophies. SCSS sponsor SX Performance Fuel Systems often awards non-contingent product prizes at selected events, as well.

For the third consecutive year, High School Eliminator bracket racing program will be contested on designated Tuesday nights. The scheduled dates for the 2008 High School Eliminator point-earning events are April 1st, April 15th, April 22nd, May 6th, May 27th, June 17th, July 1st, July 22nd, July 29th, August 12th, and August 19th. The High School Eliminator championship is open to all High School students possessing valid High School identification and parental consent, if required. The program is sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association with a point series determining a season champion and series finalists are eligible to compete in Indianapolis, Indiana at the NHRA Division III Sportsman Finals in September. High School Eliminator vehicles may not run quicker than 12.00 seconds per NHRA rules.

Likewise, the Rankin Technical Institute Student Challenge is scheduled to compete on September 16th, September 23rd, September 30th, October 7th and October 14th.

Gates open at 5 PM with racing until 10 PM. SCSS qualifying takes place from 6:30 PM until 9 PM. The semi-finals of the Street Car Shootout will commence at 9:20 PM with the final rounds in all three divisions at 9:45 PM.

Spectator admission to SCSS events is $10. Contestant Admission for 2008 is $20 or $15 for all drivers with two or more passengers purchasing a spectator admission. The $15 contestant admission is also available to all current High School or College Students possessing valid school identification.



Wednesday Test-N-Tune Events

The GIR Slicks-N-Bikes Test-N-Tune program begins its forty-second year with no changes to the traditional Wednesday program comprised of twenty-four events beginning on April 2nd and ending on October 15th. Timed trials are available for cars with purpose-only racing tires (slicks and drag radials) and all street or strip motorcycles. Gates open at 5 PM with timed trials until 10 PM. The Doc’s Harley-Davidson Street Bike Shootout will continue in 2008 with a “suicide” qualifying session at 7:30 PM and eliminations for the four quickest qualifiers beginning at 8:30 PM.

Spectator admission for Wednesday Test-N-Tune events is $10. Contestant Admission for 2008 is $25. Contestant admission for all motorcycle riders and Junior Dragster racers is $20. Contestant Admission of $20 for all drivers with two or more passengers purchasing a spectator admission.



Open Test-N-Tune Events

Along with the scheduled Tuesday SCSS and Wednesday Slicks-n-Bikes programs, Gateway International Raceway will also host ten Open Test-N-Tune events, (open to all vehicles), beginning with the season-opening Icebreaker event on Saturday, March 15th and Saturday, March 22nd. Gates open at 10 AM with racing until 4 PM. An Open Test-N-Tune event will also be held on Wednesday, March 26th, from 6 PM until 10 PM.

New for 2008 will be a seven-event Saturday Open Test-N-Tune fall event series beginning on October 25th and continuing (tentatively) through December 6th. Gates open at 8 AM with racing until 5 PM.

Spectator admission to Open Test-N-Tune events is $10. Contestant Admission for 2008 is $25.



Saturday Bracket Racing Series

Gateway continues its weekly bracket racing series with ten point-earning events and two open competition meets. Each event includes competition in Pro Motorcycle, Super Pro, Cash Bash (1/8th mile), Pro, Street and Junior Dragster Eliminators. Gates open at 12 noon. Five point-earning events will also host the 2008 Quick 32 (eighth-mile) series.

Spectator admission to GIR weekly bracket racing events is $10. Contestant Admission for 2008 has been lowered by $5 in Pro Motorcycle, Super Pro, Cash Bash (1/8th mile), Pro and Street Eliminators.



Major Championship Events

The 2008 season includes the return of the NHRA Division 3/5 National Open, The Screamin’ Eagle All-Harley Drag Racing Association Nationals, the Number One Parts, Incorporated (NOPI) Sport Compact Nationals, Monster MoPar Weekend XXIV, the United Black Drag Racers Association “Black Sunday Weekend XIV”, the MegaBucks Bracket Racing Championships, the new four-day World Street Car Challenge, the new Nostalgia Drag Racing Nationals, the Drag News Magazine All Star Bracket Racing Tour, the Jerry Haas Race Cars Factory Hot Rod Showdown and “Pinks! All Out“. The premiere event on the GIR schedule, the National Hot Rod Association O’Reilly Midwest Nationals, will be held May 2nd through May 4th, 2008.



Gateway Drag Racing School

For the twelfth consecutive year, GIR will offer a free Drag Racing School comprised of five seminars which cover every facet of street car racing and bracket racing. The classes are open to every racer, crew member, spouse, child, significant other, friend of a friend, or housepet. GIR’s Drag Racing School conducts Thursday classes, (usually on the first Thursday of), each month from May through September. The dates for the 2008 GIR Drag Racing School are May 8th, June 5th, July 10th, August 7th and September 4th. No fees or registration are required. Classes begin at 7 PM and conclude by 10 PM.



Closed Dates

As in the past, there are several dates throughout the racing season during which Gateway International Raceway will be closed. In 2008, those dates will be:

April 29 (Tuesday), April 30 (Wednesday):
Closed due to preparations for the NHRA O’Reilly Midwest Nationals

May 13 (Tuesday), May 14 (Wednesday):
Closed due to preparations for the World Street Car Challenge

June 24 (Tuesday), June 25 (Wednesday):
Closed due to preparations for the “Pinks! All Out”

July 15 (Tuesday), July 16 (Wednesday), July 18 (Friday), and July 19 (Saturday):
Closed due to reconfiguring for the NASCAR/Nationwide stock car event on the oval track

September 2 (Tuesday), September 3 (Wednesday), September 5 (Friday), and September 6 (Saturday): Closed due to reconfiguring for the NASCAR/Craftsman Truck event on the oval track




Disclaimer

Since this information has not been officially released by Gateway International Raceway as of 1/4/2008, any and/or all information in this message may change at any time.



For the third consecutive year, this information is being made available FIRST to YOU. Thanks to all of you for supporting the place!





2008 Gateway International Raceway Drag Racing Schedule

3/8/2008 Sat NHRA Chassis Certification/Gateway VIP Inspection (no racing)
3/9/2008 Sun NHRA Chassis Certification/Gateway VIP Inspection (no racing)
3/15/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #01 (10 AM-4 PM)
3/22/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #02 (10 AM-4 PM)
3/26/2008 Wed Open Test-n-Tune Event #03 (6 PM-10 PM)
3/28/2008 Fri NHRA National Open
3/29/2008 Sat NHRA National Open
3/30/2008 Sun NHRA National Open
4/1/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #01
4/2/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #01
4/4/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8-3) #1
4/5/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #01
4/8/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #02
4/9/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #02
4/12/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #02
4/15/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #03
4/16/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #03
4/18/2008 Fri AHDRA Harley Nationals
4/19/2008 Sat AHDRA Harley Nationals
4/20/2008 Sun AHDRA Harley Nationals
4/22/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #04
4/23/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #04
4/25/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8-3) #2
4/27/2008 Sun Model T Ford Show and Swap
4/29/2008 Tue Closed (NHRA Event)
4/30/2008 Wed Closed (NHRA Event)
5/2/2008 Fri NHRA Midwest Nationals
5/3/2008 Sat NHRA Midwest Nationals
5/4/2008 Sun NHRA Midwest Nationals
5/6/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #05
5/7/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #05
5/8/2008 Thu GIR Drag Racing School #1
5/9/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8-3) #3
5/10/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #03
5/13/2008 Tue Closed (WSCC Event)
5/14/2008 Wed Closed (WSCC Event)
5/15/2008 Thu World Street Car Challenge
5/16/2008 Fri World Street Car Challenge
5/17/2008 Sat World Street Car Challenge
5/18/2008 Sun World Street Car Challenge
5/20/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #06
5/21/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #06
5/27/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #07
5/28/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #07
5/31/2008 Sat Nostalgia Nationals
6/1/2008 Sun Nostalgia Nationals
6/3/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #08
6/4/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #08
6/5/2008 Thu GIR Drag Racing School #2
6/6/2008 Fri Jr. Dragster Challenge
6/7/2008 Sat Jr. Dragster Challenge
6/8/2008 Sun Jr. Dragster Challenge
6/10/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #09
6/11/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #09
6/13/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8-3) #4
6/14/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #04
6/15/2008 Sun Impalapalooza 2008
6/17/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #10
6/18/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #10
6/24/2008 Tue Closed (Pinks! All Out Event)
6/25/2008 Wed Closed (Pinks! All Out Event)
6/28/2008 Sat Pinks! All Out
6/29/2008 Sun Pinks! All Out
7/1/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #11
7/2/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #11
7/8/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #12
7/9/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #12
7/10/2008 Thu GIR Drag Racing School #3
7/11/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8-3) #5
7/12/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #05
7/15/2008 Tue Closed (Oval Track Event)
7/16/2008 Wed Closed (Oval Track Event)
7/18/2008 Fri Closed (Oval Track Event)
7/19/2008 Sat Closed (Oval Track Event)
7/22/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #13
7/23/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #13
7/26/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #06
7/29/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #14
7/30/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #14
8/1/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8-3) #6
8/2/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #07
8/5/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #15
8/6/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #15
8/7/2008 Thu GIR Drag Racing School #4
8/9/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #08
8/12/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #16
8/13/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #16
8/16/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #09
8/19/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #17
8/20/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #17
8/23/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #10
8/26/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #18
8/27/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #18
8/29/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8-3) #7
9/2/2008 Tue Closed (Oval Track Event)
9/3/2008 Wed Closed (Oval Track Event)
9/4/2008 Thu GIR Drag Racing School #5
9/5/2008 Fri Closed (Oval Track Event)
9/6/2008 Sat Closed (Oval Track Event)
9/9/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #19
9/10/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #19
9/12/2008 Fri UBDRA Black Sunday XIV
9/13/2008 Sat UBDRA Black Sunday XIV
9/14/2008 Sun UBDRA Black Sunday XIV
9/16/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #20
9/17/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #20
9/19/2008 Fri Monster MoPar XXIV
9/20/2008 Sat Monster MoPar XXIV
9/21/2008 Sun Monster MoPar XXIV
9/23/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #21
9/24/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #21
9/26/2008 Fri MegaBucks Bracket Event #1
9/27/2008 Sat MegaBucks Bracket Event #1
9/28/2008 Sun MegaBucks Bracket Event #1
9/30/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #22
10/1/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #22
10/3/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8-3) #8
10/4/2008 Sat Bracket Racing and Awards
10/7/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #23
10/8/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #23
10/11/2008 Sat Run 'n Gun Kit Car Wars
10/14/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #24
10/15/2008 Wed Slicks/Bikes Test-N-Tune #24
10/18/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Season Finale
10/25/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #04 (10 AM-4 PM)
11/1/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #05 (10 AM-4 PM)
11/8/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #06 (10 AM-4 PM)
11/15/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #07 (10 AM-4 PM)
11/22/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #08 (10 AM-4 PM)
11/29/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #09 (10 AM-4 PM)
12/6/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #10 (10 AM-4 PM)




2008 Gateway International Raceway Tuesday SCSS Schedule

4/1/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #01
4/8/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #02
4/15/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #03
4/22/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #04
5/6/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #05
5/20/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #06
5/27/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #07
6/3/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #08
6/10/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #09
6/17/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #10
7/1/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #11
7/8/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #12
7/22/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #13
7/29/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #14
8/5/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #15
8/12/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #16
8/19/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #17
8/26/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #18
9/9/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #19
9/16/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #20
9/23/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #21
9/30/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #22
10/7/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #23
10/14/2008 Tue SCSS Street Car Event #24




2008 Gateway International Raceway Midnight Madness Schedule

4/4/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8 PM-3 AM) #1
4/25/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8-3) #2
5/9/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8-3) #3
6/13/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8-3) #4
7/11/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8-3) #5
8/1/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8-3) #6
8/29/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8-3) #7
10/3/2008 Fri Midnight Madness (8-3) #8




2008 Gateway International Raceway Open Test-N-Tune Schedule

3/15/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #01 (10 AM-4 PM)
3/22/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #02 (10 AM-4 PM)
3/26/2008 Wed Open Test-n-Tune Event #03 (6 PM-10 PM)
10/25/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #04 (10 AM-4 PM)
11/1/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #05 (10 AM-4 PM)
11/8/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #06 (10 AM-4 PM)
11/15/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #07 (10 AM-4 PM)
11/22/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #08 (10 AM-4 PM)
11/29/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #09 (10 AM-4 PM)
12/6/2008 Sat Open Test-n-Tune Event #10 (10 AM-4 PM)




2008 Gateway International Raceway Bracket Racing Schedule

3/28/2008 Fri NHRA National Open
3/29/2008 Sat NHRA National Open
3/30/2008 Sun NHRA National Open
4/5/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #01
4/12/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #02
5/10/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #03
5/15/2008 Thu World Street Car Challenge
5/16/2008 Fri World Street Car Challenge
5/17/2008 Sat World Street Car Challenge
5/18/2008 Sun World Street Car Challenge
6/6/2008 Fri Jr. Dragster Challenge
6/7/2008 Sat Jr. Dragster Challenge
6/8/2008 Sun Jr. Dragster Challenge
6/14/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #04
7/12/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #05
7/26/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #06
8/2/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #07
8/9/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #08
8/16/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #09
8/23/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Series #10
9/12/2008 Fri UBDRA Black Sunday XIV
9/13/2008 Sat UBDRA Black Sunday XIV
9/14/2008 Sun UBDRA Black Sunday XIV
9/19/2008 Fri Monster MoPar XXIV
9/20/2008 Sat Monster MoPar XXIV
9/21/2008 Sun Monster MoPar XXIV
9/26/2008 Fri MegaBucks Bracket Event #1
9/27/2008 Sat MegaBucks Bracket Event #1
9/28/2008 Sun MegaBucks Bracket Event #1
10/4/2008 Sat Bracket Racing and Awards
10/18/2008 Sat Bracket Racing Season Finale
 
All St. Louis-area TurboBuick.com members need to pay close attention to this change in Tuesday night SCSS rules:

NOTE: For the 2008 season, six-cylinder rear-wheel-drive entries, (i.e., Toyota Supras, Buick Regal Grand Nationals, Nissan 350Zs), will be classified as Sport Tuner vehicles. Previously, RWD6 machines were eligible only for SCSS competition but may now compete in both divisions.

I have a feeling there will be a few Buick winners this year! ;)
 
Thanks Bret! That is a lot of racing! Yes, we should have a few Buick winners this year. I've finally got a new trans/converter so I'm hoping to step it up a little too.

See ya at the track, Craig
 
Thanx Bret! i'm glad to see our season is actually extended..... and i own a SPORT TUNER!!!!....yay - Bring on the rice!!!!:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :cool: j/k [kinda]
 
Well, it's up to Powell, Nolan and Corn to cook the rice! :biggrin:

With Huber's four-cylinder RWD Mustang running 9-teens at 152 mph, there was no reason to keep you guys out of it anymore. I think you'll all do well.
 
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