Mansfield Motor Speedway facts for kids
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| Location | Mansfield, Ohio |
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| Time zone | UTC−5 / −4 (DST) |
| Coordinates | 40°48′42″N 82°29′49″W / 40.81163°N 82.49693°W |
| Capacity | 10,000 |
| Owner | Grant Milliron - Milliron Industries |
| Address | 100 Crall Road, Mansfield, Ohio 44903 |
| Opened | 1959 |
| Closed | 2019 |
| Major events | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ohio 250 (2004–2008) ARCA RE/MAX Series (2009–2010) NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (2007–2008) |
| Oval (1959–2019) | |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Length | 0.440 mi (0.704 km) |
| Banking | Turns - 16° Front straight - 8° |
| Previous oval | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 0.440 mi (0.704 km) |
Mansfield Motor Speedway (also known as Mansfield Motorsports Park or Mansfield Motorsports Speedway) was a 0.440 mi (0.708 km) dirt race track located in Mansfield, Ohio, United States. It was a popular place for exciting car races.
Contents
History of the Speedway
The Mansfield Motorsports Park, which was called Mansfield Motorsports Speedway before 2007, closed down in 2010. This track was great for close racing and passing other cars. This was because it had moderately high banking (sloped turns) and a wide racing surface. It hosted big races like the ARCA RE/MAX Series from 2009 to 2010. It also hosted the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from 2004 to 2008.
New Ownership and Dirt Surface
On January 18, 2013, a local company owner named Grant Milliron bought the track for $800,000. He bought it at an auction after the county took over the property because of unpaid taxes.
In 2017, a big change happened: the track was turned back into a dirt surface. It had been a dirt track until 1999, then it was asphalt. The track's name also changed from "Spitzer Motor Speedway" to "Mansfield Motor Speedway" at this time. With its new dirt surface, Mansfield Motor Speedway hosted popular dirt racing series. These included the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions.
Track Closure and Demolition
The track officially closed after the "Dirt Million" event in 2019. In late 2020, the grandstands (where fans sit) started to be taken down. Some parts were even given to a local high school. By 2022, the track walls were also torn down. Some of the fencing and special safety barriers, called SAFER barriers, were sold to another race track.
Past Racing Events
Mansfield Motor Speedway hosted many different types of races over the years. One of the most famous was the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (now called the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series). These truck races happened at Mansfield every Memorial Day weekend starting in 2004.
Mansfield was the shortest track on the Camping World Truck Series schedule. It was also the only track in the United States that hosted a Camping World Truck Series race and was also approved for the Dodge Weekly Series. This changed in 2007 when the weekly races at the track stopped.
Other Popular Races
Besides NASCAR, Mansfield also hosted two races each year for the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series. It also welcomed the NASCAR Camping World East Series and Whelen Modified Tour. Other events included the ASA Late Model Series, and races for special cars like ISMA and MSA supermodifieds and HOSS sprint cars.
In 2006, the track got an important safety upgrade. Special SAFER barriers were put in the turns. These barriers help make crashes safer for drivers.
New Races in 2009
In early 2009, another race track, Music City Motorplex, decided to stop hosting major touring series races like NASCAR and ARCA. Because of this, officials at Mansfield were asked if they would like to host these big races instead. In February 2009, Mansfield took Nashville's spot on the ARCA RE/MAX Series tour. They scheduled the Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA Re-Max 200 race for June 20, 2009.
Drag Strip Plans
There were plans to build a drag strip at the facility starting in 2006. This idea came about after another track nearby, Summit Motorsports Park, changed its racing association. The goal was for Mansfield to host a major drag racing event called the IHRA World Nationals by 2007. However, the drag strip was never finished. Construction was delayed and then stopped almost immediately after it began.
Former NASCAR Races
- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ohio 250 (2004–2008)
Track NASCAR Records
- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying: Ron Hornaday Jr., 16.277 seconds (110.585 mph), 2005
- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race: Bobby Hamilton, 1 hour, 55 minutes, 37 seconds (65.907 mph), 2005
- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race record for most caution flags: 18 (2006)
