NASCAR Pinty's Series at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, 2021

With Summer fast approaching, we wanted to highlight some of the most exciting racing events happening at tracks throughout Canada in 2023. From Friday night tailgate party drag strips to luxury members-only road courses, Canada truly has it all. Mark these events in your calendar to make the most of the sunshine and all that hot, dry asphalt coming up ahead!

 

Camaro drivers participating in the Area 27 driving instruction course Academy 27

Area 27 is a 4.83km 16-turn road course in Oliver, BC. Though this luxurious BC track operates on an exclusive membership business model, members are encouraged to bring a guest to one of the five race weekends per season. Races are scheduled for April 22/23, May 20/21, June 17/18, August 18/19, and September 16/17. The race series are Radicals, GT27, and GT54. Additionally, they provide a public spectator area which is open all season, where spectators can park and watch at no charge. Inspired by classic Grand Prix circuits and set within the warmest climate attainable in Canada - that offered by the Okanagan Valley - Area 27 describe their facility as the Canadian motorsport equivalent of Pebble Beach. The track was designed by Jacques Villeneuve, son of Ferrari driver Gilles Villeneueve and winner of the 1997 Formula One World Championship, driving for Renault. 

 

Kawartha Downs' paved oval in Fraserville, ON

Fraserville, Ontario’s Kawartha Downs is a 0.604 km paved oval that is hosting a Monster Madness Tour event on June 3rd and 4th. This is billed as the largest monster truck show east of Toronto, featuring giant monster trucks, freestyle motocross, and pit parties. 

 

Eastbound Dragway and Speedway in Avondale, Newfoundland

The Eastbound Dragway and Speedway are in Avondale, Newfoundland. The Speedway is a 0.605 km paved oval which plays host to one of NASCAR’S Pinty’s Series’ fourteen Canadian-located events. This sets a record for highest number of Canadian events for the side-by-side racing series. Altogether, the series will visit 11 different tracks across 5 Canadian provinces. These will air on TSN and RDS. The first day of the series to hit Eastbound Speedway is on June 24th. 

 

Rocky Mountain Nationals Nitro Night at RAD Torque Raceway

Edmonton’s RAD Torque Raceway is a 2.7 km drag strip and 14-turn road course built in 2012, completely open to the public. On July 7th and 8th, they host the Rocky Mountain Nationals “Nitro Nights,” playing host to fire breathing, fuel driven, nitro injected dragsters. This three day spectacle of motorsports chaos invites guests from far and wide to enjoy nostalgic drag racing mixed with new age technology. Hosting over 15,000 fans throughout the weekend, the Rocky Mountain Nationals provides a pleasant mix of entertainment and commerce. Many local businesses and national manufacturers join the “Manufacturer's Midway” to speak with race fans and display their products. Nitro Funny cars, Pro Modified, Nitro Harley, and Alcohol Dragsters will be in attendance this year, just to name a few. Racers in multiple different classes compete for the coveted NHRA “Wally,” an award that has stood the test of time within the National Hot Rod Association for over 70 years.

 

CSBK Canadian superbike race at Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia

At Atlantic Motorsport Park, a 2.5km road course in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, the biggest event of the season is the CSBK Canadian Superbike race. Scheduled for July 21-23, the CSBK brings in throngs of public spectators. Being that the AMP track is typically filled by local car and motorcycle racing clubs throughout the summer, the CSBK provides Nova Scotians with an opportunity to cheer on their superbike racing friends in one of the most thrilling motorcycle race events in Canada. 

 

NASCAR Bayer 300 Pinty's at Edmonton International Raceway

Edmonton International Raceway in Wetaskiwin, Alberta is Western Canada’s only NASCAR sanctioned race track. While they have a race every Saturday night from June 3rd to September 16th, their biggest event is the NASCAR Bayer 300 Pinty’s race week on July 21st and 22nd. They’re also hosting a Canada Day special car show and race, as well as a drifting event on August 26th. 

 

Canadian Nationals drag race at Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, ON

The Grand Bend Motorplex, named for the town it’s located in in Ontario, has a 2.2 km paved oval and a drag strip. They host the largest drag race in the country, coined the Canadian Nationals, from August 4-6. With up to 350 race teams in top fuel, funny cars, pro model sportsman dragsters, jet trucks, jet dragsters, and more, this will be the 23rd annual Canadian National drag race. 

 

Big Rig Nationals at St. Thomas Dragway, ON

St. Thomas Dragway is a 0.40 km drag strip in Ontario. Grand Bend and St. Thomas are jointly operated by a father son team, Paul and Jarrett Spriet. The highlight of the season at St. Thomas is the Big Rig Nationals, Canada’s largest drag race and show and shine for big rig trucks, taking place August 18th and 19th. They are also hosting their Elgin Extravaganza with the Northern Warrior Jet Car, canam stock, and superstock on July 15th.

 

Aerial view of Calabogie Motorsports Park in Greater Madawaska, ON

The Calabogie Motorsports Park in Greater Madawaska, Ontario is home to the longest length of track in all of Canada, at 5.05 km long and 40 feet wide. It has 20 turns and a 2000 ft long straightaway. The track was designed by Alan Wilson. Born in South Africa, Wilson is also responsible for the Autobahn Country Club, Utah Motorsports Campus, Birmingham Alabama’s Barber Motorsports Park, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, and he oversaw the 2001 re-design of the Circuit Mont-Tremblant. Nestled in the woodlands of Renfrew County, Calabogie offers a pristine natural setting for some big race events throughout the season, the most notable of which are the Lucky Dog Endurance Race, which also hits Shannonville and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park before culminating at Calabogie, as well as the CSCS Canadian Sport Compact Series which tours Grand Bend, Mosport DDT, Cayuga, and Calabogie throughout the summer, all of these are Ontario tracks. One of their most popular events is the Calabogie Summer Classic, happening August 20th and 21st.  

 

Mike Stevens Memorial participants, River Glade, NB, 2021

The Petty International Raceway is a 0.536 km paved oval in River Glade, New Brunswick. Petty is hosting a 10th Anniversary Memorial Event for Mike Stevens, a Maritime Pro Stock Tour racer who died in a multi-car crash in 2013. The Memorial Event will be 254 laps, with $20,000 to win, and $100 per lap, for super late model pro stock cars. The extra four laps represent the #4 car that Stevens drove. It takes place September 13-16th. 

 

Calabogie Motorsports Park, Greater Madawaska, ON

Of course, this just scratches the surface of the multitude of racing events happening throughout this great wide country this summer! Get out to your local tracks and make the most of the season!

-RA