Intimidator opened at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 27, 2010, named in tribute to NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt — “The Intimidator.” Built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard at a cost of $23 million, this steel hypercoaster stands 232 feet tall and reaches a top speed of 75 mph over 5,316 feet of track.
The ride’s seven camelback hills were designed to honor Earnhardt’s seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, with each hill progressively shorter than the last as the train loses speed. After the licensing agreement with the Earnhardt estate expired in December 2023, Cedar Fair renamed the coaster Thunder Striker for the 2024 season — but enthusiasts still know it fondly by its original name.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Carowinds, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M)
- Type: Steel Hypercoaster
- Opened: March 27, 2010
- Height: 232 ft (71 m)
- Drop: 211 ft (64 m)
- Top Speed: 75 mph (121 km/h)
- Length: 5,316 ft (1,620 m)
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
Intimidator begins with a 211-foot drop at a 74-degree angle, launching riders to 75 mph before a series of seven airtime-laden camelback hills — each representing one of Dale Earnhardt’s seven championships. The out-and-back layout sweeps through a panoramic U-turn and a diving spiral, delivering sustained floater airtime and a maximum 4.3 G-force.
Three trains, each seating 32 riders four-across in stadium-style open-air rows, keep throughput at 1,600 riders per hour. The original trains were painted red and black to evoke Earnhardt’s iconic NASCAR livery. A mid-course brake run provides a brief pause before the final sequence of camelback hills sends riders home.
Legacy and the Intimidator Name
Intimidator earned a 4th-place Golden Ticket Award for Best New Ride in 2010 and ranked as high as 7th among all steel coasters in 2012 and 2015. Its combination of sustained airtime, a massive first drop, and an accessible zero-inversion layout made it one of the most praised B&M hypercoasters in the southeastern United States.
When the Earnhardt licensing deal lapsed after the 2023 season, Cedar Fair rebranded the ride as Thunder Striker and reimagined the surrounding area as Thunder Road — honoring both the original wooden racing coaster that once stood nearby and the broader stock car heritage of the Carolinas. The coaster’s layout and signature hills are unchanged.
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Intimidator FAQs
Where is the Intimidator roller coaster located?
Intimidator — now operating under the name Thunder Striker — is at Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Who built Intimidator at Carowinds?
It was built by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), a Swiss manufacturer renowned for large steel coasters. The ride opened on March 27, 2010, at a construction cost of $23 million.
Why was Intimidator renamed Thunder Striker?
The licensing agreement allowing Carowinds to use the Intimidator name — tied to NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt’s famous nickname — expired in December 2023. Cedar Fair renamed the coaster Thunder Striker starting with the 2024 season.
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Photo: Therguy10 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.