Due to potential conflicts with other tracks and series schedules, the 2022 WinterNationals schedule at East Bay Raceway Park has been revised. The new schedule opens up opportunities for additional classes not previously involved, allowing for increased participation.
The 46th annual WinterNationals will open with five divisions. V-8 Warrior/Thunderstocks, Street Stocks, Gladiators, Mini Sprints and Micro Sprints will have a practice session on Wednesday, January 19 before beginning three nights of racing. The V-8 Warriors/Thunderstocks will compete for $300 to win on Thursday and Friday with the winner’s share jumping to $500 on the Saturday night finale. The Street Stocks will see an increased purse each night with winner’s take being $400 on Thursday, $500 on Friday and $1,000 on Saturday. Gladiators, Mini Sprints and Micro Sprints will receive $150 for the winner of each class on Thursday and Friday with $300 as the top prize on Saturday.
Five nights of UMP DIRTcar /East Bay Raceway Park Open Wheel Modified racing will begin on Tuesday, January 25. The Tuesday and Wednesday shows will pay $1,000 to the Modified winner with fans getting a special admission price of only $10 to watch the action. The Thursday (January 27) show will add the Top Gun Sprints for the remaining three nights of the week. Modified winners receive $1,500 for victory on Thursday and Friday with the Saturday winner taking home $5,000. Top Gun Sprints compete for $1,000 to win each night. A practice session for the two divisions will be held on Monday, January 24.
Late Model fans won’t want to miss the appearance of the Crate Racin’ USA 602 and 604 divisions as they face three nights of action. The opening night (Thursday, February 3) will see the 602s battle for $500 to win with the 604 winner receiving $2,500. That same prize awaits Friday’s 604 winner, but the stakes double for the 602s as a top prize of $1,000 awaits. The final night of these two classes sees the biggest [payout with $5,000 to win for the 604 champ and $2,500 for the 602 winner.
The annual appearance of the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series will once feature six nights of racing. The action begins Monday, Feb. 7 after a Sunday practice day. The top national competitors will battle it out with the purses increasing throughout the week. The winner of the Saturday finale will once again nab $15,000. In 2021, five different winners appeared in Victory Lane with only Tyler Erb able to double down on the week, including the Saturday finale.
For the third year, the All-Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprints will thunder at the Clay by the Bay with two nights on the schedule. Valentine’s Day (Monday, February 14) starts off the action with the second show on Tuesday, February 15, each offering $6,000 to win. Last year, Mother Nature took the first night, but Donny Schatz grabbed the feature win on night #2 with eventual 2021 All-Star Champion Tyler Courtney grabbing fourth in his East Bay 410 Sprint debut. This year, the All Stars will be joined by the Mini Sprints, making a return appearance in the 46th annual WinterNationals.
The action concludes with the 21st running of the Ronald Laney Memorial King of the 360s. Preliminary events on Thursday and Friday (Feb. 17 and 18) pay $2,000 to winning driver. The Saturday finale carries a top prize of $10,000 to close the WinterNationals with a bang. The 360s will be joined by three nights of racing in Mod Lites with the Saturday winner taking home $500.
Additional information can be found here