Dover Motorsports closes former NASCAR track

Gateway International Raceway is ceasing all operations at the track effective immediately.

Parent company Dover Motorsports, Inc., announced the decision Wednesday.

Despite hosting two NASCAR Nationwide Series and a Camping World truck events this season, attendance had been down considerably over the last few years at the Madison, Ill., facility just outside St. Louis.

“Gateway is a tremendous facility in a great racing community, but we are simply unable to operate it with an acceptable return,” said Denis McGlyn, president and 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.”

In May 1997, the sound of CART engines marked the opening of the track. Paul Tracy won the first event. Gateway made its stock car racing debut in July 1997 with NASCAR’s Nationwide and ARCA Series races. Elliott Sadler won the inaugural Nationwide race. Mark Gibson, brother of Sprint Cup crew chief Tony Gibson, was victorious in ARCA.

Juan Pablo Montoya won the final CART event in 2000 before IndyCars moved onto the 1.25-mile oval. Al Unser Jr. won the first of three races IndyCar ran at the track.

The National Hot Rod Association has run events at Gateway's dragstrip since 1997. The last Nationals were held the first weekend in May. Drag racing dates back to the late 1960's at that site.