If you’ve never spent a night at Thunder City Speedway, you’re seriously missing out on one of the most chaotic, nostalgic, and straight up fun experiences Thunder Bay has to offer. Engines roaring so loud you feel it in your chest, dirt flying into the air, fans of all ages screaming from the stands, and some of the fastest cars in Northern Ontario ripping around a 3/8-mile dirt track. It’s the ultimate Wednesday night hangout from May through September. Here are 5 reasons why you need to hit up Thunder City Speedway before the season ends:

1. THE CARS ARE INSANE

From four-cylinder Hornets (driven by teens as young as 14) to Modifieds with 800 horsepower engines hitting speeds of 260 km/h, the racing is next-level. Watching the different cars line up, rev, and tear into corners on a dirt track feels totally different than anything you’d see on TV. Drivers aren’t NASCAR celebrities, they’re your neighbours, friends, and local legends just out there giving it everything they’ve got.

2. YOU CAN GO FULL VIP WITH A PIT PASS

For about $10 more, you can get behind the scenes in the pits, meet drivers, check out their cars up close, and snag some merch like stickers, signed photos, or even a shirt. It’s basically the backstage pass of Thunder Bay. Otherwise grab a seat in the grandstands (no bad view in the house) and hit up all the food stands.

3. THE TRACK IS BUILT FOR ACTION

This isn’t some lazy loop. The Nadins (aka the brothers who co-own the place) literally spent 10 years filling a swamp to build this track. It was originally the dream of their late partner Richard Schutte, who wanted to bring dirt racing back to Thunder Bay after Riverview Speedway shut down. The result? A fast, competitive track designed for passing…not just following single file through the corners. That means non-stop action, close calls, and racing that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

4. IT’S TOTALLY FAMILY FRIENDLY (But still wild)

With a 4,000-person grandstand that fills up every week, the crowd energy is electric. It’s neighbours, friends, and families all cheering side-by-side, and when the engines roar, everyone feels it together.

You’ll see everyone here, literally. Newborns in earmuffs, teens screaming for their favourite drivers, and grandparents reliving their racing glory days. Racing runs deep here. For some, it’s nostalgia from Riverview Speedway days, for others, it’s watching their neighbour or cousin tear up the dirt.

5. THE FOOD IS WORTH THE TRIP ALONE

Don’t sleep on the concessions. Thunder City’s food game is one of the best parts of the night. Grab some eats like Golden Bakery pizza, ice cream and popcorn for the classic track treats or hit up the The Pit Stop! Their corn dogs are legendary, plus they serve up loaded poutines, burgers, fries, and even Taco-in-a-bag.

Bonus: Oh, and if regular races weren’t enough, the track also hosts monster truck shows that crank the chaos even higher.

Thunder City Speedway is the place to be on a Wednesday night. Grab your earplugs, sunglasses (these cars can really kick up some dust at times depending on track conditions), and maybe a pit pass, because once you’ve been, you’ll get why racing is 100% in Thunder Bay’s blood.