The Ridge Motorsports Park
Location
Shelton, Washington, USA
Current Local Time
Track Info
The Ridge Motorsports Park - Shelton, Washington, USA
Modern Pacific Northwest road course - known for blind crests, sweeping corners and a dramatic 50-foot plunge through the Ridge Complex
When was the track built?
Development of the 170-acre site began in 2009. Designer Steve Crawford, who also worked on Thunderhill Raceway Park, shaped the course around the natural hills rather than creating a mostly flat circuit.
The asphalt was completed in November 2011, and 2012 became the first full season. The calendar already included driving schools, club track days and sanctioned car and motorcycle racing.
The entire road course was resurfaced in 2020. A new chicane was also added for professional motorcycle racing.
When was its first race?
Public histories do not identify one universally recognised inaugural race or winner. Competition began during the first full season in 2012, when both car and motorcycle organisations used the new venue.
The circuit's national profile grew considerably when MotoAmerica began bringing professional Superbike racing to Shelton.
What's the circuit like?
- Constant elevation changes: Drivers regularly approach corners without being able to see the exit or the track beyond a crest.
- Long carousel: Competitors must balance speed against tyre grip through an extended corner that seems to continue tightening.
- Major compressions: Descents push the vehicle into the track, while crests can briefly reduce grip and steering response.
- The Ridge Complex: The lap ends with a steep plunge into a technical sequence before returning to the main straight.
The track is 40 feet wide, giving competitors room to choose different lines. Even so, its connected corners mean that a mistake in one section can affect several turns that follow.
Lap records and benchmarks
- Global Time Attack: 1:31.421 - Mark Uhlmann, Stohr WF1, 2023.
- Trans-Am: 1:38.392 - Brody Goble, Ford Mustang, 2022.
- MotoAmerica Superbike: 1:39.663 - Cameron Beaubier, BMW S1000RR, 2023.
- MotoAmerica Supersport: 1:42.308 - Tyler Scott, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2025.
- MotoAmerica Twins Cup: 1:46.026 - Alessandro Di Mario, Aprilia RS 660, 2025.
Motorcycle races use the additional chicane, so their times cannot be compared directly with laps from the standard road course. Time attack and wheel-to-wheel racing also operate under different rules.
What events are held here?
MotoAmerica is the circuit's headline professional meeting, bringing Superbikes and several supporting motorcycle classes to the venue. Global Time Attack also visits with highly modified cars competing for the quickest individual lap.
The wider calendar includes club racing, motorcycle competition, endurance events, drifting, autocross, manufacturer testing and public track days. A separate kart circuit reproduces the road course at approximately one-fifth scale.
Why go?
The forest setting and major elevation changes make The Ridge visually different from many flat American circuits. During major meetings, visitors can watch professional racing while exploring the paddock and meeting riders or teams.
The venue includes a café, permanent toilets and showers, a performance centre, karting and selected camping. More than 35 hotels are available within approximately 30 minutes of the circuit.
Where's the best place to watch?
- Main straight: Best for starts, finishes and activity around the pit lane.
- The carousel: Watch competitors manage sustained cornering speed and changing levels of grip.
- Heavy braking zones: Good locations for overtaking attempts after the circuit's faster sections.
- The Ridge Complex: The signature viewpoint, where vehicles plunge downhill into a rapid sequence of turns.
Viewing areas, paddock access and camping arrangements vary between professional races, club meetings and private track days. Spectators must remain behind the designated barriers.
Transportation & Parking
Getting to The Ridge Motorsports Park (Shelton, Washington)
The Ridge Motorsports Park is in a rural area near Shelton in western Washington. Driving or hiring a car is the easiest way to arrive, although buses and trains can get you as far as Shelton with some planning.
Driving & parking (easiest way)
- From Seattle or Tacoma: travel south towards Olympia, then continue towards Shelton using US-101 before following navigation to Eells Hill Road.
- Navigation: enter 1060 W Eells Hill Rd, Shelton, WA 98584. The circuit is outside the main built-up area of Shelton.
- When you arrive: follow event signs for spectator, participant or paddock parking. Gates normally open at 7am and close at 8pm on track-event days.
Tip: Allow extra time for a major race weekend. The final roads are rural and traffic can build when many spectators arrive together.
Bus & public transport
- Olympia → Shelton: Mason Transit Route 6 connects Olympia Transit Center with Shelton Monday-Saturday.
- From Shelton: there is no regular fixed-route bus directly to The Ridge, so arrange a taxi, rideshare or pickup for the final journey.
- Sunday events: Mason Transit's regular routed buses do not operate on Sundays, so do not rely on Route 6 for a Sunday race without another plan.
For most first-time visitors, public transport works better for reaching Shelton than for reaching the circuit itself.
Train & airport
- By train: Amtrak Cascades serves Olympia-Lacey Centennial Station with services along the Seattle-Tacoma-Portland corridor.
- Train → Shelton: local Intercity Transit services connect the station area with Olympia, where you can transfer to Mason Transit Route 6.
- Seattle-Tacoma Airport: SEA is the main airport for most visitors and has a dedicated rental-car facility.
- Flying with equipment: hiring a car is strongly recommended if you are carrying helmets, tools or other motorsport gear.
Camping & facilities
- Camping: participant camping depends on the organising club. Spectator camping is available at selected race events, sometimes for an additional fee.
- Food: the Ridge Café normally opens during events from 7am-3pm, with longer hours possible for some meetings.
- Showers & toilets: permanent bathroom and shower facilities are available near the café, with portable toilets elsewhere around the property.
- Fuel: there is currently no fuel for sale at the circuit, so fill up before arriving. The circuit lists the nearest fuel station about 3.3 miles away.
Staying nearby
- Shelton: the simplest base for restaurants, fuel and everyday services close to the circuit.
- More choices: The Ridge says there are more than 35 hotels within a 30-minute drive of the track.
Accessibility
- Limited mobility: travelling by car is generally the easiest way to minimise transport changes and walking.
- Before travelling: contact The Ridge or your event organiser to confirm the most suitable parking area, entrance and spectator arrangements for your needs.
Quick guide
- Driving? Navigate to 1060 W Eells Hill Rd, Shelton and follow event signs when you arrive.
- Flying? Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the main choice; hiring a car is easiest.
- Without a car? Travel through Olympia to Shelton by Mason Transit, then arrange the final ride to the circuit.
Check The Ridge, Mason Transit and your event organiser shortly before travelling, as gate times, camping, parking and transport schedules can change.
Nearby Activities
Things to do around The Ridge Motorsports Park (Shelton, Washington)
Whether you’re here for car racing, motorcycle action, a track day or karting, The Ridge puts you between Puget Sound and the Olympic Peninsula - with forests, Hood Canal, museums and mountain scenery close enough to fill mornings, evenings and free days.
Family-friendly highlights nearby
- Ridge Grand Prix Karting: Rental karts can reach more than 45 mph on the miniature version of the road course. Drivers must currently be at least 15 years old and 5 feet tall.
- Hands On Children's Museum: Olympia's large interactive museum uses play and experiments to introduce younger visitors to science, engineering, art and nature.
- Potlatch State Park: Head to Hood Canal for shoreline views, picnics and forest surroundings - an easy change of pace after several hours beside the track.
Culture hits & rainy-day winners
- Squaxin Island Museum: Learn about the history, traditions and relationship with the waterways of South Puget Sound from the Squaxin Island Tribe.
- Olympic Flight Museum: Motorsport and engineering fans can see vintage aircraft at Olympia Regional Airport, including both flying and static exhibits.
- Washington State Capitol: The Legislative Building in Olympia offers free guided tours and is an easy introduction to Washington State history and government.
Eat & drink like a local
- Shelton: The closest choice for a straightforward post-track meal, with cafés and casual restaurants around town.
- Hood Canal seafood: The region is especially known for oysters, clams and other shellfish, with farms and seafood businesses spread around the canal.
- Olympia: Head south if your group wants a wider selection of restaurants, coffee shops and evening options.
If you plan to collect your own shellfish, always check current Washington health advisories and harvesting rules first.
Active outdoors away from the track
- Hood Canal: The long saltwater fjord is popular for paddling, shoreline walks, diving and wildlife watching against a backdrop of the Olympic Mountains.
- Staircase: This quieter corner of Olympic National Park has forest walks beside the North Fork Skokomish River, including the approachable Staircase Rapids Loop.
Easy day trips if you’re extending your stay
- Lake Cushman & Staircase: Combine mountain and lake scenery with a short Olympic National Park hike for one of the best nature days from the circuit.
- Olympia: Pair the State Capitol with the Hands On Children's Museum or Olympic Flight Museum, then finish around the waterfront or downtown.
- Hood Canal: Follow the water north for state parks, viewpoints and seafood stops without needing a complicated itinerary.
Good to know when visiting The Ridge
- Check the event calendar: The venue hosts public race weekends as well as track days and private activities, so admission arrangements vary.
- Karting is seasonal: Public Ridge Grand Prix sessions normally run from April to October and are weather dependent.
- The venue is cashless: The Ridge stopped accepting cash in September 2025, so bring a suitable card or digital payment method.
- Sound limits apply: Vehicles must have mufflers and the venue currently enforces a 103 dB limit measured 50 feet from the road course.
Circuit access, karting, event schedules, park conditions and Hood Canal health advisories can change - check live information before travelling.