“Get to Know” is a new column from RacingJunk.com that allows us to introduce readers to our partners and fellow businesses through new initiatives, projects or products that the partner, service or sanctioning body is introducing to their portion of the race community.
In this issue, we are focusing on Alaska Raceway Park in Palmer Alaska, about 41 miles northeast of Anchorage. The track and complex are owned and operated by Earl and Karen Lackey and Michelle Lackey Maynor, and has been operating in one form or another since 1964 when a 1/4 drag-strip was built. Since then, the track expanded to include a NASCAR oval and motorplex, and in 2019 Alaska Raceway Park became the northernmost track for the NHRA Northwest Division 6.
Currently, the track is looking to make improvements, including a concrete wall and timing system. RacingJunk reached out to Michelle Maynor to learn more about the initiative.
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RacingJunk: What is Club 1320?
Michelle Maynor: Club 1320 is an opportunity for fans of Alaska Raceway Park to participate in our growth. We’ve got a large capital improvement project ahead of us – concrete walls and a new timing system at our track. It’s about $185k, which is 1/3 of our operating budget for the season. The goal was to get 1320 people to donate $100 which would fund a major portion of our improvements. The concrete wall will be much safer for our racers and fans. The timing system is 22 years old and in need of replacement & upgrades.
RacingJunk: What was the incentive behind it?
Michelle Maynor: Folks who donate will have their name on the wall. They receive a membership sticker and invite to our members only party that will be held when the walls are complete.
RacingJunk: What’s the projection for completion of the barrier?
Michelle Maynor: Hopefully before Mother’s Day, which is when we are scheduled to open. We’ve got unique challenges in Alaska due to weather. We have to wait for the frost to go out before we can pour the wall so we’re hoping for an early spring.
RacingJunk: What else is on tap for Alaska Raceway this season?
Michelle Maynor:  We have a Sprint Car Shootout scheduled for August. We’ve added cars over the winter in all the classes at both tracks so we’re expecting a banner year. We have worked with MyRacePass over the past year or so to help them develop their platform for drag racing. We’re proud to be one of the tracks that will be using that this season. It’s kinda neat – I’ve been using them since we started the oval track as they have services geared towards oval racing already. Now we can use them for live timing, racer communication, ladders and points on the drag side. So… just a few things. 🙂
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