MARION, S.D. (KELO) — Engines are heating up the Independence Day holiday at Thunder Valley Dragways.
“We have a full schedule. Today, we’ll start with high school junior street, junior dragsters,” track manager Cherrie Engbrecht said.
More than 200 racers are expected to fly down the track this weekend. Britt Aaseby is one of those getting behind the wheel, driving a 1990 Mustang.
More than a mustang, it was his son Dylan’s car. Dylan died by suicide in 2013, but he loved racing at Thunder Valley, which is why Aaseby comes every year.
“We started coming out here and liked it so much. We bought a house in Marion, and so we moved in,” Aaseby said. “We’re about three miles from the track now.”
For 58 seasons, Thunder Valley has welcomed racers like Aaseby and several others to its family-friendly events.
“We are doing bracket racing, so we qualify all cars and then we go into elimination rounds and we will crown a winner and runner up in every class,” Engbrecht said.
But win or lose, every start down the speedway carries meaning- whether it’s for fun, for tradition, or for the memory of someone special.
Racing continues through July 6th this weekend at Thunder Valley Dragways. A full schedule can be found here. Spectators are welcome at any time and pay $15 at the gate.
