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Nov. 4, 2010 5:58 a.m. Feffman New Reader

Gateway International Raceway Shutting Down

By Pablo Elizalde Thursday, November 4th 2010, 09:40 GMT

The Gateway International Raceway, host to CART, IndyCar and NASCAR races in the past, is closing down, parent company Dover Motorsports has announced.

The circuit hosted its final NASCAR Nationwide event last month and Dover Motorsports said it would not be seeking to run any NASCAR events on the track from 2011.

Dover Motorsports said it has been in discussions with "several" interested purchasers.

"Gateway is a tremendous facility in a great racing community, but we are simply unable to operate it with an acceptable return," said Denis McGlynn, CEO of Dover Motorsports.

"We truly appreciate the many years of dedication shown by our Gateway employees and their efforts to make Gateway such a great destination for all those passionate about our sport - from racing fans and drivers to sponsors, team owners and sanctioning bodies."

Gateway, located near St. Louis, hosted CART races from 1997 to 2000, then being the home of IndyCar events until 2003.
Nov. 4, 2010 9:20 p.m. 4eyes HalfDork

DAMN
My wife and I learned corner worker stuff there. And I have a lot of good memories of the place, driving and working.
Nov. 5, 2010 8:26 a.m. Duke SuperDork

Wow, that's not that old for an investment that big to get offloaded.
Nov. 5, 2010 10:14 a.m. stroker Reader

I wish they could put the little road course that was there before the oval back...
Nov. 5, 2010 10:25 a.m. Ranger50 Reader

Feffman wrote:

"Gateway is a tremendous facility in a great racing community, but we are simply unable to operate it with an acceptable return," said Denis McGlynn, CEO of Dover Motorsports.

If the place was OPEN, it COULD have a decent return. If there was a HINT of rain, they shut down this year. Total bullcrap.

It is just the way the place is situated is wrong. I have heard they are LEASED land and the lease is up.

Plus what do a bunch of neanderthal circle jerkers know about running a good dragstrip?

Brian
Nov. 5, 2010 10:32 a.m. triumph5 HalfDork

Duke wrote:

Wow, that's not that old for an investment that big to get offloaded.

Ontario Motor Speedway comes to mind.