Gateway International Raceway to Re-Open, Host NHRA

(Warren Johnson, Robert Hight, Tony Schumacher, and Michael Phillips visited the Winner's Circle at Gateway International Raceway's 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Series event. The facility sat vacant in 2011 but will host the NHRA Midwest Nationals again 2012 after it was announced St. Louis businessman and former professional racer Curtis Francois has leased the facility. Gateway International Raceway photo)

On Nov. 3, 2010, Dover Motorsports Inc., shut down Gateway International Raceway. I was the PR director there for the last four seasons it was in operation. On Thursday, it was announced Curtis Francois has leased the track and that the NHRA Full Throttle Series will return to the St. Louis area Oct. 5-7, 2012. If you care, HERE are my thoughts on the return of Gateway.

Hight, Schumacher, Johnson, Phillips Win at GIR

(Photo by Miranda Hoffman)

Defending NHRA Full Throttle Series Funny Car champion Robert Hight took the win over Jack Beckman at the AAA Insurance NHRA Nationals at Gateway International Raceway Sunday.

In one of the most improbable wins in the sport, Warren Johnson earned his 97th career Pro Stock win after his semi-finals opponent, Mike Edwards, broke prior to the burnout and his finals competitor, Jeg Coughlin Jr., lost his engine at the starting line.

Seven-time and defending Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher earned his 63rd career win while Michael Phillips took the victory in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

The full wrap up story will be up at Globe-Democrat.com shortly.