Holiday weekend loaded for motor fans

MAT-SU — Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.

Race fans are in for a treat this weekend, with special events and nonstop auto racing planned across the Mat-Su Valley.

“We’re just going to be going, going, going,” North Star Speedway track manager Loni Mrozik said Thursday.

North Star, a paved oval track located off of Trunk Road in Wasilla, will host its Military Appreciation Day Saturday as part of its GCI Saturday Night Thunder race series. Mrozik said all military personnel with military identification will get in free on Saturday when the gates open at 4 p.m.

Racing action, with a full compliment of stock car classes, will get under way at 6:30 p.m.

Mrozik said there will be plenty of events both on and off the track, including a raffle for a track-ready $8,500 bandolero-class race car, and a burnout and car show put on by the Valley Cruisers.

While those in the stands will have something to win, there’s also plenty on the line on the track, where drivers this weekend will be gunning for a piece of a $5,000 purse put up by Lud Larson of North Star Racing Inc.

“We have all kinds of fun stuff going on,” Mrozik said.

For more information, visit the track’s Web site at www.northstarspeedway.com

Jet dragster set

to blast off

BUTTE — Ear plugs might be a good idea for race fans heading to Alaska Raceway Park in the Butte this weekend.

The quarter-mile asphalt drag strip will feature three days of racing action, with two special guests promising to provide plenty of fireworks.

Track manager Laurie Smith said that jet dragster driver Bruce Andrews will be doing passes in his souped-up dragster, which runs on jet fuel and is essentially a rocket with wheels.

“You feel your heart pounding in your chest,” Smith said. “It’s absolutely crazy.”

Andrews will join nitro funny car driver Jamie “The Alaskan Grizzly” Bodenstadt of Fairbanks on the track, and Smith said the two drivers will make as many passes as is possible over the weekend. The high-powered dragsters are set to go today and Sunday, as part of day-long racing action that will also include top eliminator, top dragster and points races. Saturday’s races will include the Valley RV King of the Street, money bracket and the Northern Diesel Performance race.

Gates open today and Sunday at 9 a.m., with racing set to begin at 10 a.m.

On Saturday, spectator gates open at 3 p.m., with eliminations set for 6 p.m.

The strip is located at Mile 10.4 of the Old Glenn Highway.

Smith said the strip is running a special promotion this weekend, with anyone bringing in or mentioning the strip’s Independence Day promotional flyer getting all three day’s admission for $45. Smith said the flyer can be downloaded at the track’s Web site, www.akracewaypark.com

Cars set for destruction in Willow

WILLOW — Capitol Speedway, in Willow, is planning its second demolition derby races of the year.

Track owner Nancy Wallace said the small-car derby is likely to attract more than a dozen cars for a series of races culminating in a full-on demolition derby Saturday evening. Derby races typically include “wacky” events such as a backwards race and scavenger hunt.

“We like to have fun with them before we wreck ‘em,” Wallace said.

In addition to Saturday’s demolition derby, the dirt track will also host a full schedule of stock and sprint races both tonight and Saturday.

Capitol Speedway is located at Mile 75.5 of the Parks Highway. Racing both days is set to get under way at 6 p.m., with Sunday reserved as an optional make-up day in case rain. For more information, visit www.capitolspeedway.org

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com