Top 10 Speedways and Race Tracks in Ontario

The country has even established a Motorsport Hall of Fame, honouring drivers from across Canada who excel in the sport. Ontario, in particular, has a strong association with motorsports, and although the province has many speedways, there are ten that stand out among lovers of the sport.

No list of Canadian speedways would be complete without mentioning Toronto Motorsports Park. This venue includes a drag strip and a 3 km track, making it great for any racing fan. People come from all over the world to try out this speedway, where you can bring your own car or rent one to test your skills. Before you can get behind the wheel, you have to take a test, but if you know your stuff, you’ll be racing on one of Ontario’s top speedways.

In 1999, Kawartha Downs added a speedway to their racing venue, and it quickly became one of Canadian race fans’ favorite locations. In 2007, the 3/8-mile track became home to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series finale. What makes Kawartha truly special are the opportunities for other types of racing. From horseracing to soap box cars, there’s something for every kind of racing fan at Kawartha.

Opened in 1952, Merrittville Speedway is the longest-running race track in Canada. This speedway near Niagara Falls is known for sprint car, stock car, and modified races. The track at Merrittville is a 3/8-mile dirt short track and regularly hosts events from the Super DIRTcar Series. Fans of smaller racing will love visiting Merrittville on Tuesday nights when they host their weekly karting series.

Sauble Speedway is a 1/4-mile short track in Hepworth, Ontario. Summer at Sauble is a highlight for beachgoers who love racing; you can spend the day at Sauble Beach and then head to the track for a night of stock car racing. The speedway initially opened in 1969 as a dirt track, but it was paved just a few years later. NASCAR fans should be sure to add the track to their list, since it was sanctioned by the group in 2018.

Visit Brighton, Ontario, to spend time at Brighton Speedway, a dirt track where you can enjoy more than 20 nights of racing every summer. If you like taking a gamble on games like those at casinos.com, you might try your hand at betting on a race. Add pit admission to your ticket so you can see the racers and their cars up close and make your best wager.

Glenn Styres, a Canadian NASCAR driver, built Ohsweken Speedway on his family’s land on the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation Reserve in 1994. The track was immediately successful and has grown each year since. More than 8,000 fans can pack into Ohsweken to watch racers on its 3/8-mile dirt track.

Longer racetracks aren’t as common in Ontario, but Calabogie Motorsports Park is an exception. This relatively new 5.05 km road course opened in 2006 and quickly became popular among racers and fans. Outside of sporting events, Calabogie is also a testing track for Ford and Harley-Davidson.

NASCAR’s Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series takes place at Sunset Speedway in Innisfil, Ontario, but that’s not the only racing you can watch there. Venture less than an hour north of Toronto for weekly Saturday night racing during the summer. Special events like NASCAR Pinty’s Series, Hot Rods, and OSCAAR Modifieds are more reasons to visit Sunset.

Drag racing’s longest-running event is held at Grand Bend Motorplex, a grand multi-use facility in Ontario. The 1/4-mile strip has featured races from the IHRA Championship, and the Motorplex also has motocross tracks. Racing isn’t all that happens at Grand Bend; the complex also boasts a campground and kid’s play area and hosts concerts and other festival events.

This park has gone through some name changes over the years, but that doesn’t make it any less of a highlight than any other speedway on this list. What makes Canadian Tire extra special are the features beyond the racetrack, like the race driver training facility and skid pad.

No matter what type of motorsports you’re interested in, there’s somewhere in Ontario for you to enjoy a race. If you’ve been watching movies about racing and want to try your luck behind the wheel, there are even a few places to learn the ins and outs. Whether you’re from Ontario or just looking to visit, make sure to stop by one of these speedways!