Auto racing fans received a surprise appearance from a mushing legend last weekend at Alaska Raceway Park.
Lance Mackey, the only musher with four wins in both the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest, put aside his dog sled for a race car and won the 25-lap legends feature race Saturday at the one-third mile oval in Palmer.
When Mackey's No. 7 car entered the racetrack at the rear of the field, the race director had no name to match to the car and announcer Alex Van Nice told the crowed, "We'll just call him 'Bob the Builder' for now," according to a report from Heather McGee of Alaska Raceway Park.
Later, it was announced the racer was Mackey, and the crowd went wild.
In other races, Dana Pruhs of Anchorage continued his winning ways with a victory in the 30-lap late models race.
Pruhs leads the point standings in late-model races with 233 points. He has two wins and three top-10 finishes in the series.
David Elliott of Wasilla won the 30-lap baby grands race Saturday. Elliott leads the baby grands standings with 270 points and three top-five finishes.
A full slate of races is set for the Fourth of July weekend.
The races start Friday with the Tesoro Oval Race, followed by the Tesoro Junior Dragster Olympics and King of the Street and Gambler's bracket drag racing Saturday.
Sunday and Monday will feature Tesoro Top Eliminator, Pro-nostalgia and points drag racing.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and active-duty military, $10 for youth 11-15 years old, and free for children 10 and under.
Full schedules, ticket information, race results and points standings are available at raceak.com.
Results (top 3)
30-lap feature race, late models — 1) Dana Pruhs of Anchorage; 2) John Klayum of Palmer; 3) Justin Creech of Anchorage.
25-lap feature race, legends — 1) Lance Mackey of Fairbanks; 2) Mike Thomas; 3) David Kusmider of Kenai.
30-lap feature race, baby grands — 1) David Elliott of Wasilla; 2) Alex Schwochert of Big Lake; 3) Paul Houston.