By Jim Foose Speedway Action Magazine
Spring in Ohio is notoriously cruel to dirt track and asphalt racers alike. It’s a season of washed-out weekends, tarp-covered grandstands, and the endless refreshing of weather apps. As the 2026 racing season approached, Mother Nature seemingly had a grim forecast in store for the Buckeye State. One by one, the dominoes fell. From the southern dirt rings to the northern asphalt ovals, nearly every track in Ohio pulled the plug, conceding the weekend to a relentless, soggy weather system.
Every track, that is, except one.
Nestled in Lake County, Painesville Speedway refused to bow to the barometer. Against all odds, the legendary fifth-mile bullring not only opened its gates but delivered a high-octane spectacle that rewarded every die-hard fan who braved the threatening skies.
The night wasn’t without its hiccups, of course. The bitter cold weather undeniably took a toll on attendance, keeping many casual fans at home in the warmth of their living rooms. But those who did bundle up were treated to a showcase of resilience.
At the helm of this defiance was Scott Skufca, the speedway’s new owner. Taking over a historic short track is a monumental task on a sunny day, let alone on a weekend where the radar looks like a bruised plum. Skufca and his dedicated track crew had a singular mission: if there was even the slightest window to race, the green flag was going to fly.
Making that happen required a massive team effort, particularly from the fresh faces on the speedway staff. Despite a few setbacks early in the racing program, Race Director Kevin Myers worked tirelessly to keep the show moving and the momentum up. Up above the action, rookie flagwoman Andrea Owen commanded the track, doing a remarkable job on the flagstand in her first time out.
Adding to the revitalized atmosphere was Brian Douglas, the new voice of Painesville Speedway. Douglas struck the perfect chord on the mic—entertaining and informative, taking the time to explain the nuances of the events for newcomers while keeping the knowledgeable Painesville regulars engaged with great commentary.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the chill set in, the facility’s new LED lighting system brought the track to life. Noticeably brighter and crisper than the previous setup, the new lights illuminated the fifth-mile brilliantly for a packed, four-division show.
The Street Stocks brought the muscle, laying down rubber and trading paint in a thunderous display of V8 power. Navigating the tight confines of the Painesville asphalt requires equal parts finesse and aggression, and the drivers put on a clinic of side-by-side racing. Contrasting the heavy iron, the Compacts buzzed the tower with their signature frantic energy, swarming the corners and providing some of the tightest wheel-to-wheel battles of the night.
The true heartbeat of Painesville Speedway, however, lies at the intersection. The Figure 8 Ironmen navigated the treacherous crossover with nerves of steel. To top it all off, the Old School Figure 8 feature brought a wave of nostalgia and pure adrenaline. Stripped down and built for survival, every lap brought a collective gasp from the grandstands as cars clipped the intersection just inches apart.
Beyond the traditional divisions, the speedway brought plenty of fresh energy to the evening. The Parking Lot Drags were thrilling and proved to be a massive hit, offering a fantastic way to get the fans directly involved in the program. Meanwhile, the future of the sport took the spotlight with the kids’ Juicebox class. Painesville’s execution of this youth event was incredibly well-thought-out and noticeably more organized than what is typically seen at other tracks.
Thanks to the hard work of the staff and the efficient pacing by race control, the final checkered flag waved and the racing was over just after 9:00 PM—a perfectly timed, fan-friendly finale for a frigid spring night.
Painesville Speedway is under new management, and its fighting spirit is stronger than ever. While the rest of the state’s racing community spent the weekend in their garages listening to the rain, the bundled-up fans in Painesville were treated to the roar of engines. The 2026 season has officially arrived, and against all odds, Painesville Speedway is leading the pack.
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