Sport
31 July, 2026
Canefields set to boom
ORGANISERS are estimating 4000 fans will pack Walshs Auto Cairns Speedway each weekend of ‘Thunder in the Canefields’ as 25 of the best sprintcar drivers and 17 wingless sprintcar drivers from all over Australia battle it out for the 2026 title and the coveted cane knife trophy over four nights, starting today (Friday 31 July) from 6pm.
The resurgence of speedway after Covid has come off the back of Thunder in the Canefields and the 360/LS class of sprintcars that has brought the top tier racing to fans at the Edmonton track.
The event has now grown from a two-nighter into a four-night major event with a fifth night in Mareeba on Tuesday 4 August, plus a mid-week meet and greet event at the Reef Hotel Casino on 5 August, ensuring drivers feel welcomed as they bring their crew and attract racing fans to the region for a week of exploring all the tourism experiences of the region.
Speedway club president Wes Jenkins said sprintcars drew a crowd and this event had grown since its reinstatement on to the Cairns calendar in 2021.
“With the largest prize pool we have offered, we are now getting calls from the big names wanting a crack at the title,” he said.
“We have over 25 drivers right now and expect that number to climb before the green flag drops on night one.”
NQ3 driver NQ3 Brian Walsh said he was “excited for the quality of the competitors coming from as far as Western Australia (Ryan Farrel) and all over the nation to challenge us local guys”.
“Other big names for me include Jacob Jolly, who came third in the recent Australian Title, and Dan Moes and Jack Lee, who are both hard chargers and very fast” he said.
“The crowds have been massive at previous thunder events and as a driver you can definitely feel it and makes you want to perform well in front of your family, friends and hardworking crew helping you every step of the way.”
A club spokesman said the speedway had worked with tourism operators and TTNQ on airing content in the lead up to and during the nationally livestreamed event to fall in line with the greater goal providing a really unique offering on the Cairns calendar that attracted a different demographic to the norm.
“Racing fans are a driving market and will often traverse thousands of kilometres to an event to watch or race themselves,” he said.
“Thunder in the Canefields 2026 promises to put on a show for fans young and old as big names ‘Flyin’ Ryan Farrell from WA, Jack Lee from Victoria and many other hard-hitters descend onto the Cairns speedbowl to battle the FNQ local heroes of Brian Walsh, Gwesyn Dalliston, Johnny Magro, Darren Mollenoyux and more.
“For the wingless sprintcars the Southside Mechanical and Spares owner and driver Richie Robb has lead the charge the last two years bringing the wingless back to the fore with 17 drivers set to jet at Thunder.”
The sprintcars prize pool is $42,000 while the wingless prize pool is $20,000.
Tickets at cairnsspeedway.com or at the gate. VIP corporate boxes available while stocks last. Racing on Fridays from 6pm and from 5pm on Saturday.
Flames and fireworks both Saturday nights.
