Alaska Raceway Park, located in Palmer, Alaska, has signed an agreement to become a new National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) member track. Originally built in 1964, the multi-use motorsports park will become a member of the Northwest Division. The official signing of the member track agreement took place at the Dodge NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas.

The facility owned and operated by Earl and Karen Lackey and Michelle Lackey Maynor sits about 42 miles northeast of Anchorage. As part of the track’s new agreement with NHRA, Alaska Raceway Park will be adding additional facility and safety features. Additionally, they will be making changes to their rulebook to better align with the rules and standards of NHRA.

“The drag strip has been there for 55 years and we just opened the NASCAR track in 2016. NHRA is the top name in drag racing and NASCAR is the top name in oval racing so it seemed like a good fit,” said Lackey Maynor. “We’re excited for the upcoming season. To get back to the fun part of racing. That track family atmosphere is kind of what we’re focusing on for this year.”

The track will host a slate of NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League events during the year. Racers will also have the opportunity to compete against other racers in the division for a championship “Wally” (the official NHRA trophy) through the Land of the Leaders ET Challenge Series.

As an NHRA sanctioned track, the facility will be eligible to offer racers a variety of racing opportunities, including the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, NHRA Jr. Street and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. Additionally, the track will have the opportunity to host NHRA’s specialty events, including the National DRAGSTER Challenge, NHRA Summit King of the Track, and NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Challenge.

For more information, visit nhra.com.

Photo courtesy of NHRA