The Pacific Northwest has its fair share of football and basketball. Nothing beats a good game on the field or the court. However, beneath this regional blanket of traditional sports lies a deeply-knit and passionate community of racers and driving enthusiasts who prove their skill and technique time and time again.
When thinking of auto racing, some might imagine Europe. The continent hosts some of the most famous races on Earth: The 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, WRC’s Rallye Monte Carlo, and others. Although lesser known, the Pacific Northwest also has a rich history of motorsports. Seattle International Raceway and Portland International Raceway were constructed in 1960 and 1961, respectively, and have hosted races for over 80 years. The most notable races hosted in the Pacific Northwest are IndyCar and NASCAR at PIR, and the NHRA Road Series in SIR. Not all racing occurs on a track, however. The Olympus Rally also takes place in the spring.
Throughout the early spring to mid-fall, grassroots racing is never too far away. Towns and cities like Spokane, Lind, the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley, and many others host autocross and rallycross events.
Autocross is an entry-level motorsport in which drivers take stock and modified cars onto race tracks built entirely from traffic cones in parking lots and other flat, paved areas. Drivers race individually or with a passenger to set the best time in their respective class.
Rallycross, much like autocross, also races in closed areas with traffic cones laid out so drivers know where to go. However, instead of exclusively on pavement, drivers race on a mix of dirt and asphalt tracks. The Northwest Rally Association, @nwrallyassociation on Instagram, hosts most, if not all, rallycross events in the Pacific Northwest.
In an Instagram post, Tyler James, @americanrally_team988, shared about competing in a rallycross event at Lind: “I broke my splitter and started plowing dirt with my intercooler.”
In a different post, driver Dan Sipes, or @dandanthecelicaman on Instagram, who also competed in Lind and won second in his class, wrote: “Freezing temps, fast cars, and great people, make an amazing weekend.”
Will Power won 2025’s IndyCar race in Portland, followed by Christian Lundgaard and Alex Palou. Santino Ferrucci, driving car No. 14, lost control out of turn 12 and experienced a high-speed collision with the inside pit wall. He escaped the incident unharmed. Conor Daly, operating No. 76, also experienced a frightening crash, slamming into the tire wall at about 140 mph on turn 10, as described in the NTT IndyCar Series’ race highlights video on YouTube.
The NASCAR driver, Connor Zilisch, took first place on Aug. 30, and Jesse Love and Daniel Dye secured 2nd and 3rd place in the race. Drivers were plunged into overtime during this event, increasing tension and providing a dynamic experience for the spectators and drivers alike.
The American Rally Association awarded Brandon Semenuk and co-driver Keaton Williams trophies for first place in April of last year. Connor Martell and co-driver Alex Gelsomino finished in second place, followed by Mark Booth and Co-driver Bryan Dobbs in third.
