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 | Matt Tifft |
| 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 was a famous race track in Mansfield, Ohio, USA. It was known for its exciting dirt track races. The track was about 0.440 mi (0.708 km) long. It had a few different names over the years, like Mansfield Motorsports Park.
A former NASCAR driver named Matt Tifft bought the track in 2025. He has big plans to rebuild it and bring racing back to Mansfield!
Contents
History of Mansfield Motor Speedway
Early Days and Asphalt Racing
Mansfield Motor Speedway first opened in 1959. For many years, it was a popular place for car races. The track was known for its wide surface. This made it a great place for cars to race closely and pass each other.
The track hosted many important races. These included the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from 2004 to 2008. It also held races for the ARCA Menards Series in 2009 and 2010.
Switch to Dirt Racing
In 2017, something exciting happened. The track changed from asphalt to dirt! It had actually been a dirt track before 1999. The name also changed to "Mansfield Motor Speedway" at this time.
With its new dirt surface, the track hosted new types of races. These included the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. The Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions also raced there.
Track Closure and Future Plans
The track closed after an event in 2019. Some parts of the track were taken down in the following years. For example, the grandstands were removed. Some pieces were even given to a local high school.
In 2025, there was great news for racing fans. Former NASCAR driver Matt Tifft announced he had bought the track. He plans to rebuild it. This means new races could be coming to Mansfield soon!
Past Racing Events
Mansfield Motor Speedway hosted many different racing events. One of the most famous was the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. These races took place on Memorial Day weekend starting in 2004.
Mansfield was the shortest track on the Camping World Truck Series schedule. This made for very fast and exciting races.
The track also hosted other popular series. These included the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series. The NASCAR Camping World East Series also raced there. Fans could also see supermodified and sprint car races.
In 2006, the track got a safety upgrade. Special SAFER barriers were put in the turns. These barriers help protect drivers during crashes.
In 2009, Mansfield took over a big race. It became the new home for the ARCA RE/MAX Series race. This race was called the Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA Re-Max 200.
Drag Strip Plans
There were plans to build a drag strip at the facility. This idea came up in 2006. A drag strip is a straight track where cars race side-by-side for speed.
The goal was for Mansfield to host big drag racing events. However, the drag strip was never fully built. Construction was delayed and then stopped.
NASCAR Race Records
Mansfield Motor Speedway holds some interesting NASCAR records:
- Fastest Qualifying Lap: Ron Hornaday Jr. set the record in 2005. He completed a lap in 16.277 seconds. That's about 110.585 miles per hour!
- Fastest Race: Bobby Hamilton won a race in 2005 in 1 hour, 55 minutes, and 37 seconds.
- Most Caution Flags: A race in 2006 had 18 caution flags. This means the race was stopped many times for incidents on the track.
