Stories of Alberta: Edmonton International Raceway in Wetaskiwin
Western Canada's only NASCAR-sanctioned racetrack
"We have a lot going on at the track. It's always go-go-go."
The atmosphere at a racetrack is electric. The air is filled with the aroma of gasoline, burnt rubber and the unmistakable scent of deep fried concession treats. The excited chatter and laughter of spectators blend with the occasional sound of engines revving in the pit, creating a symphony that heightens anticipation. From the moment you take your seat in the stands, it’s a sensory overload like no other.
The roar of engines and the cheers from crowds have been a constant echo for decades in Wetaskiwin — all thanks to a small stock car club and two entrepreneurs who built the Edmonton International Raceway from the ground up.
It all started in 1967 when the Wetaskiwin Stock Car Club met on weekends to race just 10 minutes outside the city. What began as a simple dirt track quickly became a favourite for locals, and in 1994, the track was paved to become the only paved oval in central Alberta.
This marked the beginning of a new era for the raceway. In 1995, Loretta Thiering, wife of stock car club member and racer Ron Thiering, received a proposal to take over the track. “I’d just been laid off from my administration job at the University Hospital,” says Loretta. “That’s when Ron came to me and said, ‘Well, why don’t we take over the track?’”
Initially, Loretta said no. But after a few weeks of Ron’s “poking and prodding,” Loretta gave in and the two signed a lease to take over the track and its operations. “At first, I felt like I’d been thrown into the ocean with no way of getting out,” says Loretta.” But after experiencing the business's day-to-day and working out the kinks, the two got a hang of it. “I didn’t know anything about racing, but I knew people. When Ron stopped racing to help me run the business, it kind of just took off.”
A significant step in the raceway’s growth happened 10 years later in 2005 when Ron and Loretta took a trip to Reno, Nevada for a racetrack promoters conference. “We ended up going to the NASCAR banquet and they told us they were looking at moving into Western Canada for NASCAR-sanctioned racetracks,” says Loretta. “We took that opportunity right away and for the next year we worked towards that partnership.”
Pictured: Kevin Lacroix (NASCAR Canada Racer and winner of the 2024 NAPA 300), Alvin Chibi (NAPA), Loretta & Ron Thiering.
The name of the track was soon changed from its original name, Sunset Speedway, to Edmonton International Raceway in Wetaskiwin to allow better recognition across North America. The raceway then became the first and only NASCAR-sanctioned racetrack in Western Canada.
After many more upgrades to the track and the surrounding space, there was only one more thing to do: host an annual signature event. But, like any great success story, there were a few setbacks. “We only had one set of bleachers, which held 1,500 people in the main stands,” says Loretta. “It wasn’t quite enough room for the event we wanted to have.”
So, in 2012, Ron went down to Florida to gather up some used bleachers from another track that was closing and brought every piece, bit by bit, over the border. “We had to do two or three trips down there, but we got two more grandstands to hold a total of 4,500 spectators.”
The first NASCAR Canada Series event was held at the track in the summer of 2014 and has continued every year since. As Loretta and Ron hoped, the event has been a booming success over the last decade. “Our 2024 NAPA 300 event was the largest we’ve seen yet,” says Loretta. “If you count the whole weekend, I’d say we had close to 10,000 people in attendance.”
But the weekend-long event isn’t the only thing spectators can look forward to in the summer. The community in Wetaskiwin rallies together to celebrate “NASCAR Week” — a week to celebrate the local racers, the track and the importance of community togetherness. “We’ve worked really hard to get local business and the community involved with our NASCAR week every year,” says Loretta. “We have a lot of partners in Wetaskiwin and this week is a huge success for everyone involved.”
The raceway hosts smaller events and races every weekend from June until the end of September, with many special events and packages fit for every age and stage. The track is host to a handful of corporate suites, birthday parties, industry appreciation nights and special NASCAR stock car test drive experiences. “We have a lot going on every day at the track,” says Loretta. “It’s always go-go-go.”
Although weekends can be busy at the track, Loretta and the team are happy they can share their success with the community. Every weekend they invite a not-for-profit organization to run a 50/50 draw and have even started providing tickets to local organizations to sell at whatever price they choose as a form of fundraising.
But for Loretta, their involvement with Laps4MD stands out the most. Since starting the partnership about eight years ago, one fellow with muscular dystrophy has been coming out to the track every year to watch the races. “This year we decided to do something special and brought him down to the pits where our racers drove him around for a few laps,” says Loretta. “It’s been so nice watching him grow up and I really enjoyed seeing the look of joy on his face this year.”
There's no question that the track has had an impact on many since Ron and Loretta took over the operations in 1995, but they had no clue how far the impact would reach. “We’re like a family at the track,” she says. “Many of us have close relationships all year long, even while the track is closed for the season.”
Learn more about the Edmonton International Raceway in Wetaskiwin on their website.
