Northern Lights Raceway to host Big Bucks event with thousands in prizes

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — High-octane action awaits drag racers at Northern Lights Raceway in July – with a little monetary incentive to charge up the excitement.

The raceway announced plans for Big Bucks races, scheduled to take place late next month, according to president Suzanne Svisdahl. 

Slated to include 40 drivers for a proper payout, three classes will participate throughout the weekend. So far, Svisdahl said 30 drivers have registered, but further entries are “up in the air.”

“[Numbers] aren’t as high [since] Covid and the cost [of a racer],” said Svisdahl.

Race classes will include a division for cars with a delay box, an on-board timer which is designed to improve reaction times by delaying the release of the trans-brake. 

Meanwhile a class for vehicles with no delay box will involve dragsters and street legal cars. Additionally, there will be a class featuring junior drivers as young as seven years old.

Potential prize money in the top three spots could range from $100-$1,000 for juniors, $300-$3,000 for no-box class and $500-$4,500 for box racers.

Svisdahl is involved in a racing family with her three children participating in junior classes and her husband Matthew also driving. 

“I chose to be president for the simple fact that my kids could keep racing,” said Svisdahl. “But I have three kids who do and nobody else stepped up to do it.”

The track, affiliated with the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA), is a quarter-mile track in Fort St. John which opened in 1998.

Rudy’s Highway Car and Truck Wash has also stepped up to be a weekend sponsor for the Big Bucks races, and food vendors will be there as well.

The action begins on Friday, July 18th with car testing and practices from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The main event of the evening will be a gambler’s race beginning at 5 p.m., where racers from all classes can compete for a buy-in of $50.

Saturday and Sunday’s action will start at 10 a.m. for both days. 

The Northern Lights Raceway’s Big Bucks races take place from Friday, July 18th to Sunday, July 20th at Northern Lights Raceway in Fort St. John.

For more information about Northern Lights Raceway or to register, visit the raceway’s Facebook page.