Alaska celebrities take the wheel Saturday at North Star Speedway

WASILLA — North Star Speedway is already the Valley’s hot spot for racing action on its paved oval track. But on Saturday, the Wasilla raceway will be home to a who’s who of Southcentral Alaska celebrity.

Veteran drivers will take a step away from their cars and let a special group of VIPs take a spin around the track during North Star’s celebrity races Saturday night at North Star Speedway in Wasilla.

“We have a pretty good range of local personalities coming out,” North Star race promoter Jason McDonald said Thursday.

McDonald said KWHL’s Bob Lester corralled the group of Alaska celebs and convinced each to strap on a helmet and slide Dukes of Hazard-style into a legends car.

“It’s quite a different group,” McDonald said. “Looks like Bob has everyone from Miss Alaska to radio hosts to sports guys to the Aces coach to Willow Palin.”

Lester and fellow KWHL jock Porno Brad will join Eddie Maxwell of Country Legends and KFQD’s Joe Campbell on the track.

Alaska Aces head coach Brent Thompson, Mrs. Alaska Sarah Smith-Dixon, Alaska Fighting Championship promoter Sarah Johnston, KTUU sports reporter Charlie Sokaitis and anchor Todd Walker, and former Gov. Sarah Palin’s daughter, Willow, are all among the local celebrities scheduled to compete.

“It’s quite a group of people to come meet and talk to,” McDonald said.

McDonald said the star-studded field will be divided into to race heat. The top drivers from each will compete in a feature race. The celebrities will fly solo around the track, but North Star veterans will be on hand to coach the new drivers.

“It takes a little getting used to,” McDonald said.

Thompson will also have the Kelly Cup in tow. The Aces recently won the East Coast Hockey League’s most prized possession, besting the Kalamazoo Wings in Game 5 of the ECHL’s final series.

“I think it will be a big deal,” McDonald said. “It’s not every year we win the Kelly Cup.”

Qualifying races start at 4:30 p.m., with the full schedule of racing beginning at 5:30. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for fans ages 10-15. Children 10 and under are free.

See northstarspeedway.com for more.

North Star Speedway race results

May 28

Bandoleros:

Heat 1 — 1. Will McDonald; 2. Demi McDonald; 3. Jessica Elridge; Heat 2 — 1. Demi McDonald; 2. Jessica Eldridge; 3. Nic Unruh; Feature race — 1. Demi McDonald; 2. Jessica Eldridge; 3. Will McDonald.

Baby grands:

Heat 1 — 1. John Klayum; 2. Larry Theobald; 3. Paul Houston; Heat 2 — 1. Paul Houston; 2. Larry Theobald; 3. Demi McDonald; Feature race — 1. John Klayum; 2. Larry Theobald; 3. Jeff Landrum.

Thunderstocks:

Heat 1 — 1. Eric Wittner; 2. Jim Langland; 3. Jon Jensen; Heat 2 — 1. Eric Wittner; 2. Jim Langland; 3. Stephen Moretti; Feature race — 1. Keith Jones; 2. Eric Wittner; 3. Stephen Moretii.

Legends:

Heat 1 — 1. Jeff Landrum; 2. Tim Workman; 3. Mike Thomas; Heat 2 — 1. Tim Workman; 2. Mike Braddock; 3. Rodney Pucak; Feature race — 1. Mike Thomas; 2. Rodney Pucak; 3. Mike Braddock.

North Star Speedway race results

May 29

Bandoleros:

Heat 1 — 1. Will McDonald; 2. Demi McDonald; 3. Jessica Eldridge; Heat 2 — 1. Demi McDonald; 2. Will McDonald; 3. Jessica Eldridge; Feature race — 1. Demi McDonald; 2. Will McDonald; 3. Jessica Eldridge.

Thunderstocks:

Heat 1 — 1. Jim Langland; 2. Keith Jones; 3. Jon Jensen; Heat 2 — 1. Stephen McElroy; 2. Keith Jones; 3. Jim Langland; Feature race — 1. Jim Langland; 2. Stephen Moretti; 3. Keith Jones.

Legends:

Heat 1 — 1. Mike Thomas; 2. Tim Workman; 3. Bryan Barber; Heat 2 — 1. Mike Thomas; 2. Bryan Barber; 3. Andy Workman; Feature race — 1. Mike Thomas; 2. Bryan Barber; 3. Andy Workman.