Pacific Raceways
Pacific Raceways at a glance
- Location
- Kent, Washington
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 2.25 mi (3.621 km)
- Turns
- 10
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt and concrete
- Elevation change
- 125 ft
- Opened
- 1960
- Owner
- Fiorito family
- Capacity
- 30,000
- Address
- 31001 144th Ave SE
- Phone
- +1-253-639-5927
- Website
- pacificraceways.com
Track map and layout
Pacific Raceways carves a 2.25-mile, ten-turn road course out of a wooded ridge southeast of Seattle, with more than 125 feet of elevation change across the lap. The front section runs fast and open before the circuit dips into a naturally wooded back stretch that gives the track a closed-in, tree-lined character unusual for a West Coast facility. The current configuration dates to a 2002 reconfiguration that added an extra turn to the original 1960s layout, when landowner control reverted from the Seattle International Raceways era back to the Fiorito family and the track resumed the Pacific Raceways name. A separate quarter-mile drag strip and a motocross track share the property, and the road course is also used for driving schools and motorcycle track days, so its layout has to work for a wide range of vehicles and skill levels rather than a single racing series.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Road course | 2.25 mi | Current 10-turn configuration used since 2002 |
| Drag strip | 0.25 mi | Quarter-mile NHRA drag strip, home of the NHRA Northwest Nationals |
Events and race weekends
The marquee date is the NHRA Northwest Nationals, a national-event drag race held annually since 1988. The road course stays busy year-round with SCCA regional and Majors races, Track Night in America sessions, the International Race Drivers Club, SOVREN vintage racing, Pacific Northwest Historics, and Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association (WMRRA) rounds, plus recurring 2Fast and ProFormance motorcycle track days.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHRA Northwest Nationals | NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series | July | National event held annually since 1988 |
| SOVREN Pacific Northwest Historics | SOVREN vintage racing | July | |
| WMRRA road racing rounds | Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association | September | |
| SCCA Northwest Region Majors | SCCA Majors Tour | Varies |
Getting there and parking
Pacific Raceways sits in unincorporated King County southeast of Kent, about a 20-35 minute drive from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport depending on traffic, and roughly 30-40 minutes from downtown Seattle via I-405 and SR-18.
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) · about 30 min drive
Hotels and camping near Pacific Raceways
There is no on-site campground for general spectators, though NHRA national-event weekends offer dedicated participant motorhome and RV parking on-site. Most visitors base themselves in Kent, Auburn, or Renton, all a short drive from the track, or in downtown Seattle for a fuller range of hotels.
Where to look
Kent, Auburn, and Renton, Washington, all within about 20-30 minutes of the track, or downtown Seattle for more hotel options.
RV
Motorhome and RV parking is offered for participants during NHRA national-event weekends; general spectator camping is not offered.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
The road course runs open-lapping and instructed track days nearly year-round for both cars and motorcycles. SCCA's Track Night in America and Northwest Region club events, the International Race Drivers Club, and 2Fast and ProFormance motorcycle schools all hold regular sessions, and WMRRA sanctions club motorcycle racing and practice days.
Who runs days here
- SCCA Track Night in America / Northwest Regioncar
- 2Fast Track Daysmotorcycle
- ProFormance Racing Schoolboth
- WMRRAmotorcycle
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outright (F5000, SCCA championship) | 1:15.310 | Brian Redman | Lola T330 | 1973 |
Spectator guide
Spectator viewing centers on the drag strip grandstands for NHRA national-event weekends, when the facility fills to capacity. Road-course club events typically draw smaller crowds and offer more casual paddock and fenceline viewing.
Weather
- Jul-Aug: warm, dry Pacific Northwest summer, highs typically in the mid-70s to low 80s°F
- Nov-Feb: cool and wet; the road course sees reduced club activity over winter
History of Pacific Raceways
From farmland to raceway
Pacific Raceways traces back to 1959, when ground was broken on former farmland southeast of Seattle for what opened in 1960 as Kent Pacific Raceways, one of the first purpose-built road courses in the Pacific Northwest. The 2.25-mile circuit, laid out through naturally wooded terrain with substantial elevation change, quickly became a hub for regional SCCA racing and drew national touring series including Trans-Am and, in later decades, IndyCar exhibitions, alongside a drag strip that became one of NHRA's West Coast fixtures.
Seattle International Raceways era
In 1969 the facility was renamed Seattle International Raceways, the name under which it operated for more than three decades and under which the NHRA Northwest Nationals national event, first held in 1988, built its following. Through this period the track hosted a mix of professional and amateur road racing, drag racing, and motorcycle competition, cementing its role as the region's primary multi-discipline motorsports facility.
Return to Pacific Raceways
In 2002, the Fiorito family, the original landowners, regained control of the property, and the facility reverted to its original Pacific Raceways name. The road course was reconfigured at the same time, adding a tenth turn to the original nine-turn layout while preserving the wooded back section that defines the lap. Brian Redman's 1973 lap record in a Lola T330 Formula 5000 car, set under the track's earlier configuration, remains one of the most cited marks in the circuit's history.
Present day
Today Pacific Raceways operates as a multi-use facility with its road course, quarter-mile drag strip, and a motocross track under one roof. The NHRA Northwest Nationals remains the marquee weekend, while the road course stays busy with SCCA club racing and Track Night in America, WMRRA motorcycle competition, SOVREN vintage racing, and driving-school and track-day traffic that runs for much of the year, making it the primary road-racing and drag-racing venue for the greater Seattle area.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Pacific Raceways road course?+
The current road course is 2.25 miles (3.621 km) with 10 turns and more than 125 feet of elevation change.
Where is Pacific Raceways located?+
At 31001 144th Ave SE near Kent, Washington, southeast of Seattle in unincorporated King County.
Can the public drive Pacific Raceways on a track day?+
Yes. SCCA Track Night in America, the International Race Drivers Club, ProFormance Racing School, and motorcycle track-day organizers such as 2Fast run regular sessions on the road course.
Was Pacific Raceways previously called something else?+
Yes. It opened in 1960 as Kent Pacific Raceways, was renamed Seattle International Raceways in 1969, and reverted to Pacific Raceways in 2002 when the Fiorito family regained control of the property.
What is Pacific Raceways' biggest event?+
The NHRA Northwest Nationals, a national-event drag race held on the quarter-mile drag strip annually since 1988.
Is there camping at Pacific Raceways?+
There's no general spectator campground, but participant motorhome and RV parking is available during NHRA national-event weekends.
Other tracks nearby
- The Ridge Motorsports Park · 53 mi · road course
- Portland International Raceway · 124 mi · road course
- Westwood Motorsport Park · 140 mi · historic circuit (defunct)
- Area 27 Motorsports Park · 171 mi · road course
- Thunderhill Raceway Park · 539 mi · road course
Facts checked against 5 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-09.