Pacific Raceways

{{Short description|Mixed-use road racing facility in Washington}}

{{Infobox motorsport venue

|Name = Pacific Raceways

|Time = UTC−08:00 (UTC−07:00 DST)

|Location = Lake Morton-Berrydale, Washington, near Kent, Washington, United States of America

|Coordinates = {{Coord|47|19|12.2|N|122|8|42.6|W|display=inline,title}}

|Logo = frameless

|Image = File:Pacific Raceways (Kent, Washington) track map.svg

|Image_caption = Layout of Pacific Raceways (2002–present)

|Capacity =

|Owner =

|Operator =

|Broke_ground = 1959

|Opened = 1960

|Closed =

|Architect =

|Former_names = Seattle International Raceways (1969–2001)
Pacific Raceways (1960–1968)

|Events = Current:
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series (1975–1980, 1988–2019, 2022–present)
Former:
NASCAR Northwest Series (2003)
MazdaSpeed Miata Cup (2003)
NASCAR Winston West Series (1984–1985)
AMA Superbike Championship (1981–1983, 1985)
Trans-Am Series (1967–1970, 1975, 1977, 1982–1984)
SCCA L&M Championship (1969–1971, 1973)
USAC IndyCar (1969)
United States Road Racing Championship (1963–1968)

|Miles_first = True

|Layout1 = Full Circuit (2002–present)

|Surface = Asphalt and concrete

|Length_km = 3.621

|Length_mi = 2.250

|Turns = 10

|Record_time =

|Record_driver =

|Record_car =

|Record_year =

|Record_class =

|Layout2 = Original Circuit (1960–2001)

|Surface2 = Asphalt and concrete

|Length_km2 = 3.621

|Length_mi2 = 2.250

|Turns2 = 9

|Record_time2 = 1:15.310

|Record_driver2 = {{flagicon|GBR}} Brian Redman

|Record_car2 = Lola T330

|Record_year2 = 1973

|Record_class2 = F5000

}}

Pacific Raceways is a mixed-use road racing and drag racing facility near Kent, Washington. The race track was constructed in 1959 and opened in 1960. The track was originally named Kent Pacific Raceways, then became known as Seattle International Raceways in 1969.{{Cite web|url=http://www.historictransam.com/results/1969.pdf|title=1969 SCCA Trans-Am Season Results|last=Sports Car Club of America|date=7 September 1969|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060328063554/http://www.historictransam.com/results/1969.pdf|archive-date=2006-03-28|url-status=dead|access-date=16 July 2017}} After the landowner regained control of the track in 2002, the name reverted to Pacific Raceways.{{cite web|url=http://www.dragracingonline.com/features/rockstad_1.html|author=Susan Wade|title=Exit Interview: Seattle's Jim Rockstad|publisher=DragRacingOnline.com|access-date=17 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215104909/http://www.dragracingonline.com/features/rockstad_1.html|archive-date=15 February 2011|url-status=usurped}}{{cite web|title=Drag Strip|url=http://pacificraceways.com/drag-strip/|website=pacificraceways.com|publisher=Pacific Raceways|access-date=7 August 2015}}

File:June 2005 BMW club track day, Pacific Raceways.jpg

File:Pacific Raceways aerial view.jpg

Pacific Raceways features a {{convert|2.250|mi|abbr=on}} road course which is used by the SCCA,{{Cite web | last = Kelley | first = Arthur | title = S.C.C.A. Establishes New Racing Program | url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/1907777052.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+09%2C+1962&author=&pub=Boston+Globe+(1960-1979) | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130131225652/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/1907777052.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+09,+1962&author=&pub=Boston+Globe+(1960-1979) | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 31, 2013 | publisher = Boston Globe | date = 9 December 1962 | access-date = 25 January 2012 }} Society of Vintage Racing Enthusiasts (SOVREN), and ICSCC for automobile road racing. The Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association (WMRRA) uses the course for motorcycle road racing.{{cite web|title=Washington's Road Race Tracks|website=Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association|url=http://www.wmrra.com/tracksinfo.html|access-date=17 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923132625/http://www.wmrra.com/tracksinfo.html|archive-date=23 September 2010}} The course has more than {{convert|125|ft|m|abbr=on}} of elevation change and a naturally wooded back section.

The track hosted two NASCAR Winston West Series between 1984 and 1985, won by Jim Bown and Dale Earnhardt respectively and also hosted a NASCAR Northwest Series race in 2003, won by Jeff Jefferson.

Pacific Raceways hosts a performance driving school which offers several curricula, including sanctioned race licensing courses, performance driving, lapping clinics, and specialty driving instruction.{{cite web|url=http://www.partsandpeople.com/Northwest/articles/view/663|author=Jerry Smith|access-date=17 September 2010|title=Pacific Raceways Transforms Itself|publisher=PartsAndPeople.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104063204/http://partsandpeople.com/Northwest/articles/view/663|archive-date=4 January 2011}}

The facility also features a dragstrip, which hosts the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Northwest Nationals and regional races, plus a dirt motocross track.{{cite web |title=NHRA Member Tracks|author=NHRA|url=http://www.nhradiv6.com/state.asp?TrackStateID=48&Div=6|access-date=17 September 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nhra.com/schedules/2011fts.aspx|access-date=17 September 2010|title=NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing 2011 Schedule|author=NHRA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830150133/http://www.nhra.com/schedules/2011fts.aspx|archive-date=30 August 2010}}

Since 1988, Pacific Raceways has been home to the Northwest Nationals (originally known as the Seafair Nationals{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coSNN7FGmVk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/coSNN7FGmVk |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=1988 NHRA Seafair Nationals|website=YouTube |access-date=16 July 2017}}{{cbignore}}) of the NHRA Drag Racing Series.{{cite web|title=NHRA MELLOW YELLOW DRAG RACING SERIES SCHEDULE|url=http://www.nhra.com/schedules/2015.aspx|website=www.nhra.com|publisher=NHRA|access-date=7 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805082908/http://www.nhra.com/schedules/2015.aspx|archive-date=5 August 2015|url-status=dead}}

The track played an important role during the heyday of professional sports car racing in the U.S. during the 1960s. From 1963 through 1968, Pacific Raceways hosted the Pacific Northwest Grand Prix, which was a round of the United States Road Racing Championship. From 1967 through 1970, the venue hosted an annual round of the SCCA Trans-Am Series, including the season finales in 1967 and 1968.{{Cite web|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/championship/Trans-Am.html|title=Trans-Am - Championships - Racing Sports Cars|website=www.racingsportscars.com|access-date=2017-07-16}} The Trans-Am Series returned to the track in 1975, 1977, and 1982 through 1984. The SCCA Continental Championship for Formula 5000 cars visited the track from 1969 through 1971, and again in 1973.

The track hosted a two heat race weekend of the USAC Championship Car series in 1969. The first heat was won by Mario Andretti and the second was won by Al Unser.{{cite web |url=http://www.champcarstats.com/tracks/seattle.htm |title=Seattle International Raceway |author=ChampCarStats |access-date=17 September 2010}}

Among the other champion drivers who have visited victory lane at Pacific Raceways are 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.