What Thunderhill Raceway does

Thunderhill Raceway Park is a privately held motorsports venue founded in 1993 in Willows, California, approximately one hour north of Sacramento. The facility's core physical asset comprises three distinct road course configurations — a 5-mile full circuit combining the 3-mile East track (15 turns, high-speed flowing layout) and the 2-mile West track (technical, precision-oriented) — plus two skid pads supporting testing, autocross, drifting, and driver development. On-site amenities include a Sunoco fuel station (91-110 octane), the Thunderhill Grill with catering capacity for up to 450 guests, 23 day garages, EV charging stations, a Pro Shop, and free WiFi across the paddock. The company generated a $250,000 dividend to its parent SFR-SCCA in 2022, reflecting mature operating economics.

The business model is multi-stream and event-driven. Primary revenue comes from track rentals (starting at $3,000/day for private test days, up to 12 vehicles), event hosting for major competitions (NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill, Lemons, Trans Am, SCCA regionals), recurring day-garage leases, fuel sales, food and beverage, and merchandise. Pricing is predominantly transactional pay-as-you-go, supplemented by garage subscriptions. The venue is owned by the San Francisco Region of the Sports Car Club of America (SFR-SCCA), and operations were transitioned in late 2023 from founder-CEO David Vodden to Matt Busby.

The customer base spans grassroots car clubs and individual enthusiasts (rated "#1 club-friendly track on the West Coast"), competitive racers in spec classes (Spec Miata, WTCC, RushSR West, Spec E46, Spec E30, Formula Awesome), drift and motorcycle riders, corporate event clients, automotive media (e.g., Road & Track's Performance Car of the Year), and automotive research organizations (Toyota Research Institute, Self Racing Cars). Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer rentals via thunderhill.com and MotorsportReg, channel partnerships with racing organizations, and community programming including CHP-cooperative Teen Car Control Clinics. The upcoming Thunderhill Open festival (May 15-17, 2026) represents a strategic push into a flagship annual consumer event format.

Name

Thunderhill Raceway

Legal name

Thunderhill Raceway Park

Website

https://thunderhill.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Motorsports Venue Services

NAICS

Racetracks (711212)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

Race Tracks, Circuits & Motorsport Venues (MPAKAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Race Promoters & Event Organizers (Race Weekend Operations) (MPAKAGAC), Motorsport Driver Training Schools & Racing Academies (MPAKAJAJ)

Keywords

• Motorsports venue
• Track day rentals
• Car control clinics
• Racing event hosting
• Skid pad testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Willows

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Track Rentals: Private track rentals for car clubs, racing schools, corporate events, and individual enthusiasts. Rental options include 5-mile, 3-mile, and 2-mile tracks plus skid pads. Pricing varies by track configuration and duration.
2. Car Control Clinics: Teen and adult driving safety clinics teaching emergency braking, skid control, lane changes, and racetrack driving. Fee is $150 per driver per day.
3. Fuel Sales: On-site Sunoco fuel station selling 91, 96, 100 unleaded and 110 leaded racing fuels at pump prices ranging from $7.49 to $13.99 per gallon.
4. Event Hosting: Hosting major events including Thunderhill Open festival, NASA 25 Hours endurance race, Lemons races, Trans Am, SCCA events with registration fees and spectator admissions.
5. Garage Rentals: Day garages available for rent providing covered, convenient workspace steps from the track. All 23 new garages have been rented according to news.
6. Food & Beverage: Thunderhill Grill serving breakfast and lunch with menu items including burritos, omelets, burgers, and catering services for up to 450 guests in clubhouse and patio areas.
7. Merchandise: Pro Shop and online store selling Thunderhill branded merchandise, plus collaboration merchandise with Matt Field drift ambassador.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Thunderhill Raceway Park operates a multi-configuration motorsports complex offering private track rentals, hosted racing events, skid pad testing, and on-site amenities (fuel, catering, garages, EV charging, retail). The core sellable product is access to its road course and skid pad infrastructure for car clubs, individual enthusiasts, racing schools, and competitive racing organizations, plus flagship events such as the Thunderhill Open festival and recurring NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race. Driver education is delivered through the Teen/Family Car Control Clinic program conducted in cooperation with the California Highway Patrol.

Product overview

Thunderhill Raceway Park is a premier motorsports venue offering multiple track configurations as its core products: three distinct road course configurations (3-Mile East, 2-Mile West, and combined 5-Mile Full Circuit) plus two skid pads. The facility provides comprehensive motorsport services including track rentals, private test days, garage rentals, on-site fuel (Sunoco), EV charging, catering (Thunderhill Grill), and retail (Pro Shop). The flagship annual event is the three-day Thunderhill Open festival combining road racing, drift competition, and live music. Educational programs include the Teen/Family Car Control Clinic teaching emergency driving skills. The venue hosts major endurance events including the 25 Hours of Thunderhill and Lemons races, plus regular SCCA and Track Night in America events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 3-Mile East Track Rental High-speed road course configuration with 15 turns and long sweeping sections, available for private rental, open test days, club racing, and high-performance driving events.
• 2-Mile West Track Rental Technical road course configuration featuring a variety of corners including linked corners, rewarding precision driving and suitable for skills development and learning environments.
• 5-Mile Full Circuit Rental Combined East and West road course configuration offering the longest track length with more turns, more straights, and more action for drivers pushing vehicles to the limit.
• Skid Pad Rental Dual skid pad configuration available for private rental supporting testing, autocross, drifting, driver development, and car/motorcycle training.
• Teen/Family Car Control Clinic One-day hands-on car control training program for teens, families, and adults covering emergency braking, brake-and-steer, skid control, slalom, emergency lane change, two-wheels-off-road recovery, and racetrack sessions. Priced at $150 per driver and car; includes helmet loan, exercises, lunch, and graduation certificate.
• Thunderhill Gas Station (On-Site Fuel) On-site fuel station offering Sunoco Standard 110 leaded racing fuel, Sunoco SS 100 unleaded, 96 and 91 premium unleaded gasoline. Priced from $7.49 to $13.99 per gallon at dual-sided pumps with card readers, marketed as CARB-compliant racing fuel.
• Thunderhill EV Charging On-site electric vehicle charging stations using Series 7 Plus High Power Smart EV Charging technology, available to drivers visiting the facility.
• Thunderhill Grill & Catering On-site breakfast, lunch, snacks, and beverage service plus full catering for up to 450 guests in clubhouse and covered patio areas, with AV equipment and flexible seating arrangements.
• Day Garage Rental Covered on-site garage rentals located steps from the track, providing teams and enthusiasts with secure, convenient workspace for event weekends and ongoing storage needs.
• Open Test Days Public, individually-registered test days providing drivers with track time on Thunderhill configurations outside of organized racing events and private rentals.
• Thunderhill Open Festival Annual three-day grassroots motorsports festival featuring spec-class road racing (Spec Miata, WTCC, RushSR West, Spec E46, Spec E30, Formula Awesome), drift competition curated by Drift Cave, live music, and trophy ceremonies. Limited-entry spec racing and bracket-format drift competition.
• Thunderhill Pro Shop On-site and online retail store offering Thunderhill branded merchandise, collaboration merchandise (e.g., Thunderhill x Matt Field), helmets, snacks, and racing accessories.
• Thunderhill x Matt Field Collaboration Merchandise Limited-edition apparel and sticker merchandise line co-designed with pro Formula Drift driver Matt Field and designer Harris Lue. Available at the Thunderhill Pro Shop and thunderhill.store.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1000+ track days hosted annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Drift CavecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026Drift Cave, founded by pro Formula Drift driver Matt Field, curates the grassroots drift competition at Thunderhill Open 2026. Daniel Chow and Julian Jacobs handle driver selection. Partnership brings FD-style bracket competition to grassroots level.
• Animal StyleminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 May 2026Animal Style drift team sponsoring the drift competition portion of Thunderhill Open 2026. Email contact [email protected] for drift team inquiries.
• Matt FieldcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 May 2026Pro Formula Drift driver and Drift Cave founder serving as ambassador and drift competition curator for Thunderhill Open. Collaboration merchandise line (Thunderhill x Matt Field) sold at Pro Shop and thunderhill.store.
• World SpeedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 May 2026World Speed presents Formula Awesome class at Thunderhill Open 2026. Telo Stewart serves as group lead, bringing spec open-wheel racing to the event.
• Spec Miata (SFR-SCCA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 May 2026Spec Miata class at Thunderhill Open 2026 led by Greg Hoff ([email protected]). SCCA-affiliated racing group organizing spec Miata competition.
• Western Touring Car Championship (WTCC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 May 2026WTCC racing series at Thunderhill Open 2026 led by Oscar Jackson and Jonathan Lugod ([email protected]).
• RushSR WestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 May 2026Formula car racing series at Thunderhill Open 2026 led by Jeff Schneider ([email protected]).
• Spec E46coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 May 2026Spec E46 racing class at Thunderhill Open 2026 led by Peter Jones ([email protected]).
• Spec E30coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 May 2026Spec E30 racing class at Thunderhill Open 2026 led by Tim F. Barber ([email protected]).
• Hawk PerformancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHawk Performance signed as Official Performance Brake Pad of Thunderhill Raceway. Partnership provides brake pad products and brand association with the racing facility.
• Lucas Oil ProductscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLucas Oil Products serves as The Official Oil Of Thunderhill Raceway, providing motor oil products for on-site sales and facility operations.
• HagertyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHagerty Motorsports sponsored the Thunderhill/Hagerty Bridge reconstruction project. Bridge reopened for spectator access.
• SunococoreOthersSunoco provides fuel products (91, 96, 100 unleaded and 110 leaded racing fuels) sold at Thunderhill's on-site fuel station with dual-sided pumps.
• Toyota Research InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted autonomous vehicle drifting research at Thunderhill, programming vehicles to autonomously drift around obstacles. Partnership demonstrates facility capabilities for advanced automotive research.
• California Highway PatrolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHP cooperates with Thunderhill's Teen Car Control Clinic program, providing distracted driving presentations and traffic stop etiquette training as part of the curriculum.
• Toys for TotsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThunderhill Raceway Park supports Toys for Tots by serving as a donation collection site for new, unwrapped toys to benefit children in need during holidays.
• Friends of Thunderhill FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation supports Thunderhill's Teen Car Control Clinic through donations, provides student lunches during clinic sessions, and conducts raffles to fund community initiatives.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lime Rock Park: Lime Rock Park is a road course in Connecticut hosting club racing, SCCA/NASA events, and the Skip Barber Racing School. It is a comparable grassroots racing venue with track-day rentals and OEM/media use cases.
• Summit Point Motorsports Park: Summit Point is a multi-configuration road course in West Virginia offering track rentals, HPDE, racing schools, and Jefferson 500-style vintage events. It is comparable to Thunderhill in scale, audience, and event programming model.
• Buttonwillow Raceway Park: Buttonwillow is a Southern California road course offering track rentals, drifting, time attack, and club racing. It competes with Thunderhill for Southern/Central California car club, drift, and amateur racing demand.
• Sonoma Raceway: Sonoma Raceway (formerly Sears Point) is a Northern California road course that offers track rentals, racing schools, club events, and major series (NHRA, NASCAR, IndyCar). It is the closest direct competitor to Thunderhill for San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento-area club, OEM, and event business.
• Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club: Spring Mountain is a private members motorsports resort near Pahrump, NV offering track rentals, driver education, and racing schools. It competes for high-end club, OEM, and driving school demand on the West Coast.
• WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca: Laguna Seca is a flagship California road course hosting club events, major racing series, and motorcycle racing. It competes with Thunderhill for high-profile West Coast racing events, OEM testing, and motorsports tourism.
• Inde Motorsports Ranch: Inde is a members-oriented Arizona road course and skid pad offering track rentals, driver development, and event programming. It competes with Thunderhill for club and rental track-day demand from West Coast enthusiasts.
• Pittsburgh International Race Complex: PittRace (PIRC) is a multi-track motorsports complex in Wampum, PA offering road course, rallycross, and karting facilities for club racing, HPDE, and rentals. It mirrors Thunderhill's multi-configuration, club-friendly model.

Others

• NASCAR Racing Experience: NASCAR Racing Experience operates ride-along and driving experience programs at major NASCAR tracks across the U.S. It is comparable to Thunderhill as a paid consumer track-experience provider, though it relies on partner venues rather than owning its own road course.
• Track Nights in America (NASA): NASA's Track Night in America program is a recurring HPDE/track-day format hosted at venues including Thunderhill. It is an ecosystem-level peer for grassroots track-day programming and a key demand source that Thunderhill's facilities serve.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ThunderhillPark
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2JCWsAfaH9Kvhcwr_v-MjA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThunderhillRacewayPark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thunderhill-raceway-park

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thunderhill Raceway