Alaska Raceway Park ready to host first races on its new oval track

PALMER —Alaska Raceway Park has been the place to go in Southcentral Alaska for drag racing. But the Butte-area raceway that sits off the Old Glenn Highway with Pioneer Peak is its backdrop could become the epicenter for Alaska motorsports.

The raceway has added a third-mile asphalt oval track, and will host the Tesoro Oval Debut races Saturday night.

“(We’re) definitely excited. It’s been quite a while,” said Michelle Lackey Maynor, who helps run Alaska Raceway Park with her parents, Earl and Karen Lackey.

Maynor said early reaction to the new oval has been great. The park hosted multiple test and tunes in late May to give local drivers a chance to circle the oval before the official races in June. Fans have also not hesitated to check out Alaska’s newest racing attraction.

“It’s been fantastic. We had quite a few racers come out, get their cars tuned up. We’ve had quite a few spectators stopping by,” Maynor said.

Not only does the park now feature an oval, but it can boast a NASCAR-sanctioned track.

Alaska Raceway Park’s oval was one of three tracks to join NASCAR this year, and become part of NASCAR’s Whelen Series, a network of nearly 60 racetracks across North America, according to an Alaska Raceway Park press release. The park will feature racing in late model, mini-stock, street stock, legends and baby grands classes on the new oval.

“It’s a super big deal. We’re part of something much, much bigger,” Maynor said of the relationship with NASCAR.

Among the perks, Maynor said, the track will crown an Alaska state NASCAR champion

Alaska Raceway Park, which opened as Polar Dragway in 1964, already featured the only International Hot Rod Association sanctioned track.

Racing on the oval track starts Saturday at 6 p.m. Gates open at 2 p.m. and qualifying runs are at 4.

For more information and a full schedule, see raceak.com.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.