Alaska Raceway Park celebrating 60 years of family friendly racing

BUTTE — Alaska Raceway Park is zooming through its 2024 race season which marks 60 years of family friendly racing that's been enjoyed by racers across the state.

“It's been pretty amazing. Sixty years is a pretty big accomplishment. There's not many places that can say they've been here that long,” Alaska Raceway Park owner Michelle Lackey Maynor said.

Alaska Raceway Park is a multi-faceted racing complex that offers a variety of high speed events with a NHRA drag strip and NASCAR oval track. It has achieved numerous accomplishments over the years such as featuring world record racers and being a runner-up in the NASCAR Advancement My Track Challenge.

“We're a little racetrack in the middle of nowhere, but we're on the national level. There's so many people that know about us,” Lackey Maynor said.

The addition of the oval track in 2016 was a major milestone that brought Alaska Raceway Park to a whole new level, according to Lackey Maynor.

“We went from being a drag strip to being a motorsport facility. It's humbling to see this.”

Lackey Maynor started overseeing Alaska Raceway in recent years after her parents Earl and Karen Lackey passed the role onto her. She said that her parents spent many years maintaining and improving the facility while juggling full time jobs.

“Mom and Dad worked their tails off keeping this track running,” Lackey Maynor said.

Earl marveled at the fact Alaska Raceway has stood the test of time all these years.

“It's pretty impressive that the track stands some of the ups and downs over the long haul. It says a lot for the sport itself,” Earl said.

The Butte-based race facility first opened in 1964 and it was operated on leased land as Polar Dragway by Lee and Fern Nelson and their sons Ron and Larry for the next 30 years. The track featured numerous names over the years such as Thunder Valley Raceway, Valley Raceway, Big Valley Raceway, and Polar Raceway.

The Lackeys and other race enthusiasts Jack (Randy) Harris, Louie Kirk, John Childs, Jerry Schreiner, Gregg Gunnarson, and Kristen Kinn purchased the racing operation from Lee Nelson in 1994 and the name was changed to Alaska Raceway Park after being incorporated as Top End Inc.

“It needed to change hands and it needed to get back into shape,” Earl said.

Earl and Karen eventually purchased the corporate stocks from the other owners and became the sole owners in 1998. Earl said it's been a family affair ever since. They raised their own family at the racing facility while offering a wholesome and fun experience to individuals and other local families over the years whether they're participating in the racing or watching the high speed action from the sidelines.

“I think what we've done is got a bunch of folks that are involved in racing," he said.

Today, Alaska Raceway features two playgrounds, one near the drag strip and another near the oval track so spectators can enjoy the races while their children go between watching alongside them to playing in a safe enclosure. Alaska Raceway also has numerous youth racing programs throughout each race season.

“We try to make sure the whole family's here," Earl said.

Lackey Maynor said that one of her favorite aspects of growing up at Alaska Raceway and working there has always been the people that cycle through their gates. She said that Alaskans from across the state gather there each year and many of them have formed lasting friendships with the staff and their fellow racers.

“The biggest thing is just the amount of community that we've created in Alaska," she said.

Alaska Raceway Park held a variety of racing events over Fourth of July weekend. Other than having to cancel Saturday’s activities due to weather, Lackey Maynor said it was a great weekend.

“We had a lot of fun," Lackey Maynor said. “Things have been really fantastic. So many people have been coming out here to check it out. It's just been a really great season.”

Alaska Raceway will be celebrating its 60 year anniversary with a fireworks show as the season comes to a close over Labor Day weekend.

“We just hope people can come out and help us celebrate the rest of the season," Lackey Maynor said.

Longtime Alaska Raceway participants Sean Chappell, Mike Roxbury, and Harold Pigott can usually be found near their cars joking amongst themselves while performing vehicle maintenance between race events.

Chappell said that he's been racing there since the 1980s and eventually moved to the Butte community from Anchorage to be closer to the action.

“The Valley is where it's at," Chappell said.

Chappell said that he enjoys the adrenaline rush of racing and that's one of the reasons he keeps coming back.

“I don't know what else I'd do, maybe fishing but the fish ain't that fast enough,” Chappell said with a laugh. “You gotta have some sort of release. It's just fun. This is great, great therapy. As soon as you start the car up, all your cares go away.”

Chappell said that he's glad Alaska Raceway has been around for 60 years. The other reason he keeps coming back is the supportive atmosphere.

“It's just like a family," Chappell said.

Roxbury spoke highly of Lackey Maynor's savvy business sense. He said that her inclusion of concerts and other community events on top of the normal racing activities has brought a lot of attention to the facility.

“Michelle has an open mind,” Roxbury said. “This place grew a lot. A lot of people have shown up.”

Pigott said that Alaska Raceway is a valuable asset to the Mat-Su Valley and surrounding state.

“It's awesome out here," Pigott said.

For more information about Alaska Raceway Park, visit raceak.com.