4/7/2026
Alaska Raceway Park
A Decade of Turning Left — And the Road Ahead
In 2016, a one-third-mile asphalt oval was carved from the remains of an old riverbed in the shadow of Pioneer Peak.
It wasn’t just a construction project.
It was a commitment.
Ten years later, Alaska Raceway Park stands as the state’s only NASCAR-sanctioned oval — and a testament to what’s possible when a racing community refuses to let the sport fade.
Built on Risk
Alaska Raceway Park has been part of Alaska’s motorsports culture since 1964, when the dragstrip first opened its gates.
In 1998, Earl and Karen Lackey took ownership during a time of uncertainty. They didn’t just maintain the facility — they rebuilt it, purchasing land from the State of Alaska and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and stabilizing what would become the state’s premier racing destination.
But their defining moment came years later.
When North Star Speedway closed in 2012, Alaska’s NASCAR racers were left without a home. Weekly stock car racing in the state was on the brink of disappearing.
At ages 75 and 74, Earl and Karen made a decision few would.
They mortgaged their home to build an oval.
In 2016, that vision became reality.
Racing at the Edge
Operating in Alaska means doing things differently.
Cars don’t just get picked up — they’re shipped north by sea. Tires are ordered months in advance and delivered in containers. Every season requires planning, patience, and persistence.
Alaska Raceway Park sits nearly 1,900 miles from its nearest NASCAR-sanctioned neighbor.
And yet, when the green flag waves, none of that matters.
The racing is just as competitive. The stakes are just as real.
From Late Models to Bandoleros, drivers continue to develop, compete, and push forward — proving that talent doesn’t depend on geography.
More Than a Backdrop
Pioneer Peak towers over the facility, creating one of the most recognizable views in American short-track racing.
But what defines Alaska Raceway Park isn’t just the scenery.
It’s the people.
The families who have spent generations at the track.
The teams who build, fix, and race their own cars.
The fans who fill the stands under the midnight sun.
This isn’t just a place to race.
It’s a place that was built — and sustained — by community.
A Decade Strong
Ten years after the oval’s debut, Alaska Raceway Park has grown into more than a facility.
It’s a foundation.
A foundation for racers.
For fans.
For the future of motorsports in Alaska.
What began as a risk has become something enduring.
The Next Chapter Begins
As Alaska Raceway Park celebrates a decade of NASCAR-sanctioned oval racing, the focus isn’t just on where we’ve been.
It’s on where we’re going.
Expanding opportunities.
Growing the sport.
Building something even bigger for the next generation of racers and fans.
Because in Alaska, racing isn’t an afterthought.
It’s a commitment.
And we’re just getting started.
Submitted By: Michelle Lackey
Article Media
