By Suzanne Downing 
Alaska lost one of its true originals on Sunday, Nov. 16, with the passing of Earl Lackey, a man whose name is synonymous with horsepower, hard work, and the homegrown spirit that built Alaska’s racing community.
Widely known around Alaska as the “Father of Speed,” Lackey’s influence on Alaska motorsports stretches across generations. His vision and work ethic helped transform Alaska Raceway Park from a weather-beaten drag strip in the mid-1990s into a nationally recognized motorsports facility that continues to grow today.
Earl Lackey was 85 at his passing.
“Earl was a great man: humble, hard working, honest, of service to his family and community. It was an honor to have known him, and like so may others I will surely miss him. My sincere condolences to and prayers for Karen and the entire Lackey family,” said Congressman Nick Begich, who considered him a mentor, when Begich had joined the MTA Board of Directors when Lackey stepped down several years ago. “He was a mentor and a friend,” Begich added.
Earl and his wife Karen became the heartbeat of Alaska Raceway Park after joining with fellow racing enthusiasts to purchase the struggling operation in 1994. By 1998, the Lackeys were fully at the helm, pouring their lives into the track while holding full-time jobs and raising a family.
“It needed to change hands and it needed to get back into shape,” Earl said years later, reflecting on those early days.
They rolled up their sleeves and rebuilt nearly everything — facilities, equipment, and the track’s reputation. The addition of the NASCAR-sanctioned oval track in 2016 marked a new era, transforming the venue into a multi-faceted motorsports complex featuring NHRA drag racing, oval racing, national-level events, and world-record setters.
Today, Alaska Raceway Park stands as one of the most enduring racing venues in the North — celebrating 60 seasons in 2024 — a testament to the Lackeys’ unwavering commitment.
A Life Before Alaska — and a New Life After
Before Alaska knew him as a racing icon, Earl built a full and varied career in Wisconsin as an engineer, small-business owner, agricultural machinery representative, and dairy farmer.
Born on Feb. 13, 1940, he married the love of his life, Karen, on July 11, 1964. Together they raised four children: Jim, Michelle, Michael, and John, while working their way from small homes to large farms and, eventually, into the dairy industry.
In 1983, the family moved north after answering an ad to help build a dairy in Alaska. They constructed a 1,300-acre operation at Point MacKenzie, milking 250 head of cows and helping pioneer agricultural development in the region.
After the dairy project, Earl returned to heavy-equipment sales, working with NC Caterpillar and Yukon Equipment until his retirement in 2014. Even then, he continued as a sales consultant and a community leader.
Earl’s dedication reached far beyond racing. He served more than 20 years on the MTA Board of Directors, was president of the Matanuska Valley Sportsmen, and was active in the Alaska 49ers, SASS, AOC, NRA, Valley Boyz sporting clays team, and the 12th District Republican Party.
He was a member and elder of King of Kings WELS Church, where he served on the church council. He cherished shooting sports, restoring antique tractors, working on classic cars, and traveling with Karen — most recently on a Danube River cruise.
His life was rich with family, faith, craftsmanship, and the hum of engines.
In recent years, Earl and Karen passed the operation of Alaska Raceway Park to their daughter, Michelle Lackey Maynor, who has carried their vision forward.
“Mom and Dad worked their tails off keeping this track running,” she said in a news article about the passing of the torch. The change was not an ending, but a continuation of the legacy Earl spent decades building.
Service arrangements are being made and will be announced soon. Friends, racers, and community members were asked to keep the Lackey family and the Alaska Raceway Park family in their thoughts and prayers.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Earl and Karen Lackey Scholarship at the University of Alaska Anchorage: https://qrco.de/lackey
A full obituary and service details will be shared when available, the family said.
Earl Lackey spent his life pushing limits on the track, on the farm, and in service to others. Alaska’s racing community will long remember the man who helped build a small track in the Butte into a cornerstone of Alaska motorsports.
His legacy will continue to roar down the strip for generations.
Thank you so much for this beautiful article honoring my late grandfather. He really was an amazing man!
You bet. He was such a kind man. Such a wholesome man. Such a good man. It’s going to take a bit to get over this one for many of us. – sd