ST. LOUIS — The annual Kubota Gateway Dirt Nationals kicked off Thursday night at The Dome at America’s Center with Bobby Pierce earning his 31st victory of the dirt late model season.
Pierce, who started on the pole after his team won the Hellraizer Jacks Pit Stop Challenge, chase Mike Harrison at the start, but grabbed the lead on lap four of the fifth-mile temporary race track.
Pierce led the remainder of the 25-lap event to bank the $10,000 top prize. It was his fifth career victory inside the Dome.
Harrison raced home in second spot, while Brandon Sheppard, Brian Shirley and Nick Hoffman completed the top five.
Michael Leach was the fast qualifier for the 62-car field with a fast lap of 11.795 seconds.
Saturday’s finale will pay $70,000 to win.
The finish:
Bobby Pierce, Mike Harrison, Brandon Sheppard, Brian Shirley, Nick Hoffman, Ashton Winger, Jason Feger, Ryan Gustin, Dustin Linville, Joey Tanner, Jason Jameson, Chris Simpson, Dylan Thornton, Ethan Dotson, Dustin Sorensen, Scott Bell, Tanner Collins, Tyler Peterson, Trevor Gundaker.
