Many things have changed in the past 12 months, especially in the Northern Ohio motorsports community. From Mansfield’s revival to the Sandusky Speedway auction, it’s been a year full of notable events and the landscape of the sport is forever changing.
The first news drop that changed the sport moving forward was the announcement that Matt Tifft had purchased Mansfield Speedway, we broke the news right here on this website. Tifft and team have been busy rebuilding the facility, hosting soft openings with Haunted Speedway Nights and drifting events to finish out the year. This isn’t just a reopening of a race track, this is a shot in the arm for the region as a whole. Mansfield at one time hosted the largest motorsports events in the State of Ohio, hosting the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from 2004-2008, and later the Dirt Million (2018-2019) and Sprint Car World Championship (2018-2019). It’s place in the ecosystem of race tracks in Ohio is right up there with Eldora Speedway and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The progress made and the commitment to the facility from Tifft are incredible, and we look forward to seeing the first races back at Mansfield in early 2026, the Comeback Classic on May 2nd.
Mansfield was the bright spot of 2025, much of the news to follow was not positive.
Sandusky Speedway Owner & Promoter Kevin Jaycox announced his retirement in July, in the weeks leading up to Sandusky’s marquee event, the Hy-Miler Nationals. Several rumored land purchases for development never materialized and the track was ultimately put up for auction in October. The auction was ultimately successful with JDI Properties Holdings, LLC, part of the ThorSport Inc. family of companies led by longtime local business owners Rhonda and Duke Thorson purchasing the track. No plans for the property have been announced, although it is worth noting that Jaycox and his Sandusky Speedway Graphics business have moved off the property as of December, now located in Huron, Ohio.
The Maggio family announced on August 2nd that they were putting Lorain Raceway Park up for sale or lease, the second track to go on the market in less than a month. Lorain has suffered from an identity crisis in the past handful of years. The track has tried to run special events only and has tried to run bi-weekly the past two seasons. Many in the local community fail to support the facility, often questioning if the track is open at all. The 3/8 mile oval is the perfect size track for weekly racing. The 2025 season was called a “make-or-break season for Lorain” by Randy Maggio, Jr. in the months leading up to the season opener.
The Maggio family dropped another bombshell in November, announcing that their other race track, The Painesville Speedway, would be leased to local racer Scott Skufca in a three-year deal. Skufca has announced man plans to take Painesville back to the “glory days” of the facility, including combining divisions for higher car counts and streamlining the program at the 1/5 mile. Skufca has made key hires for the track with Kevin Myers taking on the Race Director position, Brian Douglas as the Speedway Announcer, and Andrea Owen as the flagperson. Ernie Heavner will serve as the Tech Official.
It’s said bad things come in threes, and a December announcement from Norton Raceway Park dropped the news that the facility had been sold, the current administration would not continue at the speedway, and the track could be available for lease. The news came late, just as drivers were beginning to decide which direction they would be heading in 2026, with the uncertainty at Lorain and Sandusky.
Toledo Speedway will roar to life for select special events in 2026, highlighted by the ARCA Menards Series (moved to May for 2026), the ASA STARS National Tour Glass City 200 (August 19), the return of the Supermodifieds for the first time in more than a decade with the 350 Supermodified Sprint Series (April 18th), 500 Sprint Car Tour (June 14th) and the USAC Silver Crown Championship race, the Rollie Beale Classic in October.
The local traveling series have learned to adapt, with schedules and dates being released for two local series.
The Outlaw 350 Supermodified Sprint Series, which held a total of eight of their ten race schedule at Lorain Raceway Park and Sandusky Speedway, has expanded it’s footprint for 2026. Returning to Flat Rock Speedway in Michigan and Plymouth Motor Speedway in Indiana for 2026 along with new stops at Toledo Speedway, Owosso (MI) Speedway, Birth Run (MI) Motorsports Complex, Whittemore (MI) Speedway, Lancaster (NY) Speedway, Anderson (IN) Speedway, and return trips to Midvale Speedway and Shady Bowl Speedway in Ohio. Shady Bowl hosted the series in 2025 but was cut short by rain, making the 2026 event the inaugural event at the track.
The Great Lakes Truck Tour will also expand it’s footprint. Owned by the Maggio family, the Great Lakes Truck Tour will head back to Ona (WV) Speedway, Jennerstown (PA) Speedway, and Painesville (OH) Speedway in 2026 with new stops at Flat Rock (MI) Speedway, Winchester (IN) Speedway, Anderson (IN) Speedway, and New Paris (IN) Speedway scheduled for 2026. The series hosted five races between Lorain and Sandusky in 2025. Stops at Midvale Speedway and Lake Erie Speedway, which were on the 2025 have not been confirmed.
As Asphalt racing continues to decline in the region, the dirt side is maintaining or growing heading into 2026. High profile tours such as the World of Outlaws and High Limit Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws and Lucas Oil Late Model Series will make several stops in the Buckeye State in 2026.
The All Star Circuit of Champions will race 27 times in total at 18 tracks across the region, eight of those tracks located within the Ohio border. Over $1,000,000 in A-Main prize money for 2026 was announced recently at the 2025 banquet, and the Rich Farmer led series looks to continue on the legacy of the All Star Circuit of Champions, the original touring winged-Sprint Car Series.
FAST on Dirt continues to grow each season under the leadership of Aaron Fry. Securing dates at Mansfield Speedway, Atomic Speedway, Hilltop Speedway and Muskingam County Speedway for 2026. Fry also owns and promotes the BOSS Sprint Cars, the region’s only non-winged sprint car traveling series.
Fremont Speedway Fueled by Friendship Kitchen looks towards it’s 75th anniversary season in 2026 as the home to the All Star Circuit of Champions. The High Limit Racing Sprint Car Series will also join the schedule for the second year in a row at “The Track That Action Built” on Monday, July 13th. A brand new event joins the schedule on Tuesday, May 12th: The 75th Birthday Bash featuring the NAPA Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions Presented by Valvoline Oil. The $75,000 A-main Purse pays $20,000-to-win and $1,000-to-start main event presented by Kistler Racing Products.
Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, continues to push forward with the improvements to the facility and a full slate of racing is planned for the beloved 3/8 mile dirt oval. Fresh off “Christmas at The County”, the momentum will carryover to 2026 when the World of Outlaws Late Models return to the track along with renewed visits from the All Star Circuit of Champions, Dirt Car Summer Nationals, and much more. The 2026 schedule has not been released as of press time.
Attica Raceway Park will once again host the Brad Doty Classic in July, featuring the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. Attica will also open the season with the first round of the All Star Circuit of Champions on April 10th & 11th. A complete schedule of events has not been released yet.
Like Attica, Sharon Speedway will also host the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars in 2026. An absolutely packed house saw local favorite Dale Blaney score the victory in the September race, which will move to early October as part of Sheldon Haudenschild’s Buckeye Brawl tripleheader (Millstream and Mansfield host the first two races of the three race mini-series). Sharon will also align with the All Star Circuit of Champions, World of Outlaws Late Models and Super DirtCar Modifieds for special events in addition to a weekly racing series.
Mansfield Speedway has an action packed schedule of more than racing heading our way in 2026. The World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and Late Models, Super DirtCar Modifieds, Ohio Valley Late Models, SCDRA Compacts, FAST 410 Sprints and BOSS Sprint Cars will all make stops at Mansfield in 2026. Monster Trucks, ArenaCross, Drifting and much more will join the schedule to make Mansfield an entertainment destination.
The 2025 racing season (and silly season) was another up and down season in Northern Ohio. Uncertainty is the name of the game on the asphalt side with three tracks currently under unknown status going into 2026, and another under new management. On the dirt side, stability has set in with the All Star Circuit of Champions revival in 2025 a success, the revival of Mansfield Speedway as a motorsports destination and several high profile events on the schedule across the region. For race fans, the traveling to get your fix of local racing might be a little longer in 2026, and you might have to brush some dirt off your shirt, but racing in our region is alive and we’re thankful to all the track owners, promoters,officials, car owners, drivers, crew members and most of all the race fans!
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