PAINESVILLE, OH — The 2026 racing season marks a pivotal turning point for one of Ohio’s most historic short tracks. After years under the stewardship of the Maggio family, Painesville Speedway is entering a new chapter. Local racer and businessman Scott Skufca has secured a three-year lease to operate the facility, bringing with him a fresh vision, a restructured team, and a bold plan to return the “Battleground” to its glory days.
With a focus on streamlining operations and boosting competition, Skufca’s tenure promises to inject new energy into the 1/5-mile bullring. Here is a look at the major changes fans and drivers can expect when the gates swing open this April.
New Leadership, Renewed Vision
The headline story of the offseason is the change at the top. While the Maggio family retains ownership of the property, the day-to-day operations and promotional responsibilities have been handed over to Scott Skufca.
Skufca, a familiar face in the local racing community, has made his intentions clear: the goal is to stabilize the speedway and improve the show for both fans and competitors. His “Glory Days” initiative is not just about nostalgia; it is a strategic move to simplify the nightly program, ensuring that events run smoothly, finish at a reasonable hour, and provide non-stop action.
“We want to bring the fun back,” Skufca stated in late 2025. “By streamlining the program and putting the focus back on the racers and the fans, we believe we can pack the stands and the pits like we used to.”
Streamlined Class Structure
One of the most significant “improvements” for 2026 is operational. In recent years, car counts had been diluted across too many fragmented divisions. For 2026, the new management has made the tough but necessary decision to consolidate classes. The aim is simple: fewer classes with more cars in each, resulting in fuller fields and more competitive feature races.
The core weekly lineup for 2026 will focus on four primary divisions:
- Street Stocks
- Figure 8 Ironmen
- Compacts
- Old School Figure 8
By condensing the “Battleground Six Pack” and other subsidiary classes into these core groups, the track aims to have fuller fields in each class. This consolidation is designed to create a tighter, more action-packed show that keeps fans engaged from the drop of the green flag until the final checkered.
Additionally, special events will continue to sprinkle the calendar, including visits from the Great Lakes Truck Tour, which has confirmed dates at Painesville for their expanded 2026 tour.
Key Personnel Changes
A new promoter needs a trusted team to enforce the rules and keep the show moving. Skufca has assembled a veteran staff to manage the 2026 season, bringing a mix of experience and authority to the track officials’ tower.
- Kevin Myers (Race Director): Myers takes the helm in the tower, tasked with managing the flow of the race and making the tough calls on race night.
- Brian Douglas (Announcer): The voice of the speedway for 2026, Douglas will bring excitement and insight to the PA system, keeping fans informed and entertained.
- Andrea Owen (Flagperson): Controlling the action from the flag stand, Owen will serve as the primary communicator to the drivers on track.
- Ernie Heavner (Tech Official): Enforcing the rulebook in the pits, Heavner will oversee technical inspection, ensuring a level playing field for all competitors—a crucial role as the track moves to consolidated rule packages.
Looking Ahead to April
The 2026 season is set to kick off in April with a series of open practice sessions followed by the season opener. With a new lease on life, a simplified schedule, and a leadership team committed to the “customer experience” of short track racing, Painesville Speedway is poised for a resurgence.
For drivers, the message is clear: the rules are set, the classes are full, and the new management is ready to race. For fans, it promises to be a season where the focus returns to what matters most—hard racing on the toughest little track in Ohio.
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