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Thunder Ridge Raceway (Star)

ClosedClosed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there.

Raced
1967-73
State
Idaho
What's left
A good length of the old track surface is still there, in poor to good condition.
On the site today
Foster Field airport with a skydiving school
Raced on
Built as a drag strip
First race
July 14, 1967
Track
4,000 feet
Location
About a mile northwest of Star
People
  • Tom Foster, builder and operator (1967-69)
  • Jim Foster, builder and operator (1967-69)
  • Kenny Foster, builder and operator (1967-69)
  • Treasure Valley Timing Association, operator
  • Richard Moore, track manager (1972)
  • Idaho Drag Racing Association, race organizer (1973)
Sanction
NHRA
Elevation
2,572 ft (784 m)
Coordinates
43.72714, -116.52295

Tom, Jim and Kenny Foster built this 4,000-foot, NHRA-approved strip about a mile northwest of Star in 1967 and opened it on July 14. The Fosters ran it for the first three years. The Treasure Valley Timing Association then operated it for two years without any official affiliation. In July 1968 a AA/F dragster set a track record of 217 mph. On Friday evening, September 1, 1972, David Chitwood was killed when he lost control of his 1937 Ford pickup race truck past the finish line and rolled several times. Richard Moore managed the track in 1972, and the Idaho Drag Racing Association ran the races in 1973. The site is now Foster Field, an airport with a skydiving school.

1969
1969
1973
1973
Two oval track cars from Meridian, Idaho, faced off at the grand opening race at Thunder Ridge on July 14, 1967. Brent Nyborg (left) and Ken Hamilton (right) turned respectable times. Hamilton ran 98.92 mph. Photo taken by Hank Gabel
Two oval track cars from Meridian, Idaho, faced off at the grand opening race at Thunder Ridge on July 14, 1967. Brent Nyborg (left) and Ken Hamilton (right) turned respectable times. Hamilton ran 98.92 mph. Photo taken by Hank Gabel

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