Local speedway offers holiday racing action

PALMER — Alaska Raceway Park is firing off its summer racing season with a Memorial Day holiday weekend stocked full of events. And this year, Butte-area speedway has even more reason to celebrate.

In addition to the annual holiday weekend action on the quarter-mile drag strip, Alaska Raceway Park is also hosting its third scheduled test and tune for its new Nascar-sanctioned asphalt oval track.

According to a press release issued by the speedway, drivers in multiple classes will hit the third-mile oval Friday night to try out the new track. The test comes as local drivers and fans anticipate the first official event on the track, the Tesoro Inaugural Opener, slated for June 4.

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.

The holiday weekend continues Saturday with the Anchorage Chrysler Dodge Junior Dragster Debut and the Anchorage Chrysler Dodge King of the Street and Gambler’s Bracket drag racing.

On Sunday the raceway will host the Anchorage Chrysler Dodge Top-Eliminator, Pro-Nostalgia and IHRA Points drag racing. Monday’s schedule also features Anchorage Chrysler Dodge Top-Eliminator, Pro-Nostalgia and IHRA Points drag racing, in addition to the Prockish Classic.

For more information, including ticket prices and schedules, see raceak.com.