Capitol Speedway has all of the excitement of NASCAR, and dust

WILLOW - There's a place in the Mat-Su Valley where smells, sounds and dust don't waft. They seek you out and bludgeon you.

The sound of revving engines vibrates the body, and hearts race with anticipation to see which car will cross the finish line first.

No, this isn't a NASCAR race. It's a feature race at Capitol Speedway, a track right in the Valley's backyard.

People cram shoulder to shoulder to stand with complete strangers or plant their butts firmly on unforgiving wooden benches. Surrounding it all is a constant cloud of dust that hangs in the air, choking out breath and burning eyes.

The three-eighth mile dirt track with banked corners, located along Parks Highway just north of Willow, has been drawing a dirt-loving crowd for 29 years.

Wes Wallace, the track's owner and chief operator, worked hard to make the speedway what it is. Although, he still does have a hefty wish list.

Wallace said he's proud of the dirt he stands on, part of the oval he and other racing enthusiasts carved out in the small community of

Willow.

Wallace said the track hosts racers from all over. While most drivers come from Anchorage and the Valley, others call Kenai and Fairbanks home.

Where the driver comes from isn't the only thing that varies at the track. It's also what they drive.

Cars range from pricey, hand-built machines tailored to race on packed dirt to cobbled-together vehicles that are kept running with little more than a bit of bubble gum and the love of competition.

Brad Cutway, has been racing at the track for more than 25 years, and has more invested in his No. 49 sprint car than he would like to mention.

&#8220This year is it,” Cutway said. &#8220I've been at this too long. It's time to retire and let the young guys have their turn.”

His plans to hang up the keys to his race car at the end of the season does not mean he is not up for a good race. He drove to victory in the sprint car trophy dash, which featured one of those younger guys.

At the other end of the spectrum is 18-year-old Steven Vile of Willow.

Vile has been driving his 1988 four-door Oldsmobile at the track for two seasons.

During the races, the hood of the vehicle is held on by a couple of bolts and large washers secured by a cotter pin.

&#8220It's a low budget operation,” Vile said. &#8220My dad, a friend and brother in-law are my crew.”

Playing in the dirt is second nature for Vile, who admits his favorite toy as a child was the pile of dirt in the backyard.

Unlike other kids his age, who are either building hot rods or big 4x4s, Vile likes the economics of dirt track

racing.

&#8220I've got a friend with a hot car and he is burning up his tires all the time,” Vile said. &#8220You don't wear out tires racing on dirt.”

The mix of old and young, with the high dollar and low budget cars, is just what Wallace wants at the track.

&#8220We try to create a family atmosphere to try to get kids involved, because they are our next generation,” Wallace said. &#8220Having entry level racing gets more people involved. And once in the pits, everyone is either a driver or part of the crew. It doesn't matter how much the car you work on is worth.”

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@

frontiersman.com.