Racing fans revved over this weekend’s start to season

WASILLA — Local motor enthusiasts can take advantage of the first opportunity of the year to take in the sights and sounds of oval track racing at North Star Speedway’s annual test and tune this weekend.

The Wasilla track will be open to fans Friday and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., while drivers from a handful of racing classes get their rigs on the track.

Erika Bills, a local legends class driver and a promoter for North Star Speedway, said the test and tune provides an excellent opportunity for fans to catch a glimpse of what the Valley speedway has to offer.

“It’s really a family-friendly environment,” Bills said.

North Star Speedway, which hosts racing on 15 Saturdays throughout the summer, will celebrate its opening day on May 23.

Capitol Speedway will begin its 31st season of racing in Willow on Saturday. Racing in eight different classes on the oval dirt track will start at 6 p.m.

Alaska Raceway Park, the quarter-mile drag strip located in the Butte, fired the engines on the 2009 season last weekend. Racing continues on Saturday and Sunday, with gates opening at 9 a.m. each day.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.