Farthest North Dirt Modifieds head to Kenai after successful Mitchell Raceway season

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - A memorable 2021 season at the Mitchell Raceway is in the books, but many of the vehicles that spent the summer circling ‘the northern most dirt track in the world’ have one more race left in them before they hit the garages.

Six modifieds, a couple of sportsmans and at least three dollar stock cars will be racing under the lights this weekend at the Twin City Raceway in Kenai for the final motor race in Alaska this year.

Outside of it being a big, fun track to fling dirt on, this weekend will also serve as a memorial race for longtime motorsport photographer Tim Higdon Sr., who captured races all across the state, including the Mitchell.

“This race is extra special,” Greater Fairbanks Racing Association President Monte Pearson said, who is taking his modified vehicle down to the Peninsula this weekend. “He would’ve loved to see all the guys coming around from all over the state to go to this race, that’s the big motivation for a lot of us.”

Gates will open at the Twin City Raceway at 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday night, with time trials at 4 p.m. and official racing at 6 p.m.

This comes after the final race at the Mitchell in late August to cap off a successful season that was highlighted by Kenny Wallace becoming the first former NASCAR driver to throw dirt at the track.

Champions were also crowned in various classes:

Dollar Stock: #11 - Rodney May - 603 points

Sportsman: #21 - Braden Anders - 188 points

Modified: #25 Monte Pearson - 569 points

Mini Stock: #39 Peyton Strickland - 528 points

In his first year racing, Strickland outraced the rest of the class at just 15-years old.

“The thing is, they’re the future generation of the track,” Pearson said of the younger drivers. “You get them interested, excited about it and then someday, they’ll take over running the organization and continuing the legacy of the Mitchell Raceway and our non-profit.”

The Greater Fairbanks Racing Association will host its annual awards banquet on October 3 at 3 p.m. at The Spur.

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