Six-Figure Shockers: Erb and Hoffman Cash In at Mansfield’s Blaster 57 Special

By Jim Foose – Speedway Action Magazine

Mansfield Speedway has officially roared back to life. After sitting shuttered for seven years, the reborn Ohio dirt track—spearheaded by former NASCAR driver Matt Tifft—hosted the World of Outlaws Late Model Series this weekend for the Blaster 57 Special.

What was already slated to be a massive return to dirt racing quickly turned into the most lucrative weekend of the 2026 season. Thanks to local philanthropists Dan and Brenda Niss, the dirt late model community was stunned by back-to-back six-figure payouts that rewrote the weekend’s script.

Here is how the historic weekend unfolded.

Friday: “Terbo” Takes the Surprise $100K

Friday night’s preliminary feature was originally scheduled to pay a respectable $12,000 to the winner. But as the field was literally staging to go green, Mansfield announcer Robbie Devore delivered a bombshell over the one-way driver radios: the Niss family had generously bumped the winner’s purse to an astonishing $100,000.

Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, didn’t let the sudden influx of cash rattle his focus. Starting on the outside pole, “Terbo” blasted past Ricky Thornton Jr. on the opening lap and seized control.

Despite heavy pressure and late-race restarts that allowed Brandon Overton to mount a challenge, Erb held his line. He crossed the checkers just a half-second ahead of Overton, pacing all 40 laps to secure the biggest payday of his career.

The UMP Modifieds also threw down on Friday night, with local standout Ryan Markham out-dueling the field to take home the $2,000 top prize.

Saturday: Hoffman’s Late-Race Heroics

If Friday was a shock, Saturday proved lightning can strike twice. The Blaster 57 Special finale was already boasting a massive purse with $57,000 marked for the winner. But midway through the evening’s program, Matt Tifft announced the Niss family was stepping up again, bringing Saturday’s top prize to $100,057.

For 46 laps, it looked like pole-sitter Garrett Alberson was going to run away with the six-figure check. But a crucial late-race caution bunched the field, putting Nick Hoffman squarely on Alberson’s rear bumper with 11 laps to go.

When the green flag waved, Alberson hit a rough patch exiting Turn 2 and lost his momentum. Hoffman, known for his precision and patience, seized the opening instantly. Diving low, he made the pass and drove away to a 1.4-second victory. The win marked Hoffman’s 17th career World of Outlaws victory and officially stamped his name in the exclusive six-figure winners’ club.

In the Saturday UMP Modified division, veteran racer David Stremme took the checkers, claiming the $2,000 bounty to cap off the weekend’s open-wheel action.