Kenny Nowling, President of the American Drag Racing League, heads across town to the seventh of ten events on the schedule, the ADRL Hardees Gateway Drags III, with a dark cloud hovering above. And for Nowling, according to weather.com, there’s a zero chance of rain forecast this weekend.

The dark cloud has nothing to do with Mother Nature or the successful organization and everything to do with the future of Gateway International Raceway, the host of this weekend’s event.

The ADRL is based in O’Fallon, Mo., and with Gateway International announcing their departure from NASCAR, there’s a strong likelihood this year’s ADRL event will be the last.

Kenny Nowling, President of the American Drag Racing League, heads across town to the seventh of ten events on the schedule, the ADRL Hardees Gateway Drags III, with a dark cloud hovering above. And for Nowling, according to weather.com, there’s a zero chance of rain forecast this weekend.

The dark cloud has nothing to do with Mother Nature or the successful organization and everything to do with the future of Gateway International Raceway, the host of this weekend’s event.

The ADRL is based in O’Fallon, Mo., and with Gateway International announcing their departure from NASCAR, there’s a strong likelihood this year’s ADRL event will be the last.

For Nowling, the loss of the hometown event will bring forth huge ramifications.

“This weekend coming up is our largest in attendance with the exception of Dragstock [Rockingham],” said Nowling. “I believe that every sport has its majors. Right now, Virginia, Norwalk and St. Louis and Rockingham are our majors. The idea of not having an event here is deeply concerning to us.

“We were notified in advance by the Gateway management what was going on. Needless to say, we are broken hearted about it. I’m hoping and praying that someone can save the place. What a tragedy it would be for us not to be able to hold an event in our hometown.”

Gateway International recently announced their withdrawal of NASCAR sanction and their annual event. Track management told Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com that their NHRA event is still planned for 2011 fueling speculation the ADRL will return as well.

This speculation depends on track owner Dover Motorsports, Inc., weighing their options on the facility located outside of St. Louis.

“A number of options are being looked at including running Gateway as a drag strip with a road course. There’s an option to possibly sell the track. Then there’s the option to close. All of those options are being looked at equally,” confirmed Brandon Mudd, Director of Media Relations for Gateway International Raceway.