Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250

**Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250**
Venue:	Gateway International Raceway
Main sponsor:	Dodge
First race:	1997
Distance:	250 miles (402.3 km)
Number of laps:	200
Former names:	Gateway 300 (1997) Carquest Auto Parts 250 (1998-2001) Charter Pipeline 250 (2002-2003) Charter 250 (2004) Wallace Family Tribute 250 (2005) Busch Silver Celebration 250 (2006) Gateway 250 (2007)

The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 was a NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race that was held at Gateway International Raceway from 1997 to 2010 .

history

Elliott Sadler won the very first race of the season on a hot July day. That year it was called the Gateway 300 before being renamed Carquest Auto Parts 250 for the period 1998-2001 . Due to complaints about the extreme hot weather in July, the race for the 1998 season took place in October, which Dale Earnhardt junior won. For the 1999 season, the race was moved back to July, but took place as a night race. This season's winner was Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The 2000 edition was won by newcomer Kevin Harvick and at the same time he set a new racing record. The following year, the winner was also Kevin Harvick. After being renamed Charter 250 in the 2002 season, Greg Biffle won the race.

In the 2003 season the race was moved to May and at the same time took place again as a day race. Having dominated the second half of the race, Mike Bliss ran out of gas on the final lap and Scott Riggs won the race. In the following season it was held again as a night race, which Martin Truex junior won.

In 2005, Rusty Wallace completed his final season in the Nextel Cup . In his honor it was decided to hold the race as the Wallace Family Tribute 250 . Wallace himself took part in the race, but retired shortly after half time. The winner was Reed Sorensen . In the 2006 season it took place again in July with Carl Edwards as the winner, in 2007 Sorensen won the race for the second time. Carl Edwards won the race for the second time under the name Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 .