Pacific Raceways facts for kids
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Map of Pacific Raceways
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| Location | Lake Morton-Berrydale, Washington, near Kent, Washington, United States of America |
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| Coordinates | 47°19′12.2″N 122°8′42.6″W / 47.320056°N 122.145167°W |
| Broke ground | 1959 |
| Opened | 1960 |
| Former names | Seattle International Raceways |
| Major events | National Hot Rod Association, SCCA, ICSCC |
| Surface | Asphalt and concrete |
| Length | 2.25 mi (3.62 km) |
| Turns | 10 |
Pacific Raceways is a cool place for all kinds of racing near Kent, Washington. It has tracks for both fast road racing cars and super-quick drag racing vehicles. The track was built in 1959 and opened its doors in 1960.
It was first called Pacific Raceways. Then, in 1969, its name changed to Seattle International Raceways. But don't worry, the original name came back! In 2002, the owner got control of the track again, and it went back to being called Pacific Raceways.
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The Road Course
Pacific Raceways has a special track called a road course. It's about 2.25 miles (3.62 km) long. This course is used for car races by groups like the SCCA and the Society of Vintage Racing Enthusiasts (SOVREN). Motorcycle racers from the Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association (WMRRA) also use it.
This track is exciting because it goes up and down! It has more than 125 feet (38 m) of elevation changes. Plus, it has a beautiful part that goes through a natural, wooded area.
NASCAR Races at Pacific Raceways
This track has hosted some big NASCAR races. In 1984 and 1985, it held two NASCAR Winston West Series events. Famous drivers like Jim Bown and Dale Earnhardt won these races. Later, in 2003, a NASCAR Northwest Series race was held here, and Jeff Jefferson took home the win.
Learning to Drive Fast
Pacific Raceways isn't just for professional racers. It also has a special school where you can learn how to drive high-performance cars. They teach different skills, from getting a license to race to just improving your driving. You can even learn how to drive fast laps safely on the track!
The Dragstrip
Besides the road course, Pacific Raceways also has a dragstrip. This is where super-fast cars race in a straight line. The dragstrip hosts big events like the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Northwest Nationals. It also has smaller, regional races.
There's even a dirt motocross track at the facility. This is for motorcycles that race off-road, jumping and sliding on dirt.
Northwest Nationals Drag Race
Since 1988, Pacific Raceways has been the home of the Northwest Nationals. This is a major event in the NHRA Drag Racing Series. It was first known as the Seafair Nationals.
Historic Races and Famous Drivers
Pacific Raceways was a very important place for professional sports car racing in the 1960s.
Grand Prix and Trans-Am
From 1963 to 1968, the track hosted the Pacific Northwest Grand Prix. This was a big race part of the United States Road Racing Championship. The SCCA Trans-Am Series also raced here every year from 1967 to 1970. The final races of the season were held here in 1967 and 1968. The Trans-Am Series came back to the track several times in the 1970s and 1980s.
Formula 5000 and USAC
The SCCA Continental Championship for Formula 5000 cars also visited the track. This was from 1969 to 1971, and again in 1973. In 1969, the track even hosted a two-part race for the USAC Championship Car series. Racing legends Mario Andretti won the first part, and Al Unser won the second!
Champions at Pacific Raceways
Many other champion drivers have won races at Pacific Raceways. Some of these famous names include Mark Donohue, Brian Redman, David Hobbs, Ronnie Bucknum, Peter Gregg, Tony Adamowicz, Parnelli Jones, Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Pedro Rodriguez, Dave MacDonald, Ken Miles, Jim Hall, and Jerry Titus.
