By John Bisci – March 25, 2016, St. Louis Region – The 2016 bracket-racing season at Gateway Motorsports Park’s NHRA-sanctioned Dragplex will open on Saturday, March 26. Classes in competition will include: VP Racing Fuels Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, Super Pro Motorcycle, Trophy and Jr. Dragster (Thunder, Lightning and Rookie divisions). Dragplex gates will open at 9 a.m. with time trials at 11 a.m., followed by eliminations.

Bracket racers will have the opportunity to practice today with a Test ‘n’ Tune session scheduled to run from 3-9 p.m.

The 2016 season consists of 15 points-paying events. Scheduled dates include: March 26, April 2, April 9, April 10, April 23, April 24, May 14, June 11, July 1, July 2, July 16, July 30, Aug. 14, Sept. 3 and Sept. 4.

Defending Dragplex champions include: Jeremy McKague (VP Racing Fuels Super Pro), John Ratulowski (Pro), Aaron Hagen (Sportsman), Phil Humphrey (Bike Index), Charles Willis Sr. (Super Pro Bike), Danny Ratulowski (High School), Clayton McGinnis (Jr. Dragster Lightning) and Lindsey Schmidt (Jr. Dragster Thunder).

GOOD FRIDAY TEST ‘N’ TUNE — FRIDAY, MARCH 25

(Added to Gateway event schedule on March 16) – Times may be adjusted for temperatures.

1 p.m. — Gates, credential sales and pit parking opens.

2 p.m. — Tech inspection and fuel sales begin.

3 p.m. — Test ‘n’ Tune begins.

5 p.m. — Top Fuel concessions open.

7 p.m. — Fuel sales conclude.

8 p.m. — Test ‘n’ Tune run card sales conclude; Tech inspection concludes.

8:30 p.m. — Final call to staging lanes.

8:45 p.m. — Back of staging lanes closes.

9 p.m. — Conclude racing, Top Fuel concessions closed.

9:30 p.m. — Gates closed, credential sales conclude. No re-entry into facility until Saturday at 9 a.m.

10 p.m. — Pit sweep. Saturday credentials required for overnight stay.

Testing fees and admission:

Gateway bracket points member (Bracket or Jr.): $30 car and driver.

Non-member: $50 car and driver.

Friday-only crew or spectator pass: $15.

Weekend crew or spectator pass: $30 (two-day wristband).

Please note: Saturday credentials and tech cards will be sold on Friday, March 25. Anyone staying over will be required to purchase weekend credentials at time of entry. Overnight gate security will be provided.  Please note that vehicles will not be permitted to re-enter the facility after 9:30 p.m. until credentials re-open on Saturday morning. No one will be permitted into the pit area without a valid wristband. Schedule is tentative and subject to change. Times may be adjusted for temperatures and/or car count.

BRACKET RACE NO. 1, JR. DRAGSTER RACE NO. 1 — SATURDAY, MARCH 26

9  a.m. — Gates, pit parking, racer registration opens.

10 a.m. — Tech inspection.

11 a.m.

First Jr. Dragster time trial.

First Trophy time trial.

Second Jr. Dragster time trial.

Second Trophy time trial.

Noon — Top Fuel concessions open.

Noon

Pro Bracket time trial / Box ¼-mile Bonus time trial.

Super Pro time trial / No Box ¼-mile Bonus time trial.

Super Pro Motorcycle time trial.

Sportsman time trial.

Trophy and Jr. Dragster eliminations begin.

Second round of time trials for all classes.

2:30 p.m. (approx.)

First round of Bracket Series eliminations.

Second round of Bracket Series eliminations.

Race Car “Time Only” runs begin following second round.

1/4-Mile Bonus eliminations begin following second round.

Please note: schedule is an approximate estimate and is subject to change for various reasons. Time trials in Super Pro and Pro will be contested as ¼-mile to accommodate racers needing runs for the ¼-mile Bonus class. The Bonus race is a non-points program. In the event of weather, priority will be given to completing all point series classes.

Entry fees and admission:

VP Racing Fuels Super Pro (1/8-mile points): $65.

Pro (1/8-mile points): $55.

Sportsman (¼-mile points): $40.

Super Pro Motorcycle (¼-mile points): $40.

Trophy (¼-mile points): $30.

Jr. Dragster Thunder (points): $30.

Jr. Dragster Lightning (points): $30.

Jr. Dragster Rookie (non-points): $30.

Spectator and crew passes: $15.

Time Only Runs (4-8 p.m.):  $50 run card

¼-mile Box vs. No-Box Combo: $60 entry fee. Box class will race Box until final. No-Box class races No-Box until final. Box winner will race No-Box winner for $1,000-to-win and $400 to runner-up.

Please note:  Points will not be earned until a registration form and points fee is provided to registration. Please complete your registration to earn points.  No grace period will be issued.

Registration procedures:  After purchasing your tech card at the front gate, complete your tech card and bring it to the staging lanes along with your car. Once your car has been inspected and our tech officials have signed off on the card, please proceed to the tech shack in front of the staging lanes. You will sign the racer waiver at the tech shack and receive your racer wristband which will be placed on your left arm. Any driver going down the track must have the racer wristband on the left arm.

Racer entry:  All racers will enter Gateway Motorsports Park via IL-203 main entry and will follow this signs to the north access gate.  Follow the signs to racer registration.

For more information, please call GMP at (618) 215-8888 or visit www.gatewaymsp.com. Follow GMP on Facebook and Twitter.

The vision for the new Gateway Motorsports Park is to create a racing lifestyle that attracts enthusiasts, professionals, amateurs and car lovers by harnessing the energy and passion of the thousands of racing fans in the heart of the Midwest.

Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering nearly 200 acres, Gateway is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the region, encompassing a ¼ mile NHRA-sectioned drag strip, 1.25-mile superspeedway, 1.6-mile road course, a state-of-the-art Karting facility and a new 14-acre, multi-purpose dirt off-road venue.