Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course facts for kids
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| Location | Troy Township, Morrow County, at 7721 Steam Corners Road, Lexington, Ohio |
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| Time zone | UTC-5 (UTC-4 DST) |
| Coordinates | 40°41′21.46″N 82°38′10.94″W / 40.6892944°N 82.6363722°W |
| Capacity | Bleachers: 12,000 Open seating: 75,000 |
| FIA Grade | 2 |
| Owner | Green Savoree Racing Promotions |
| Operator | Green Savoree Racing Promotions |
| Opened | 1962 |
| Major events | Honda Indy 200 IndyCar Series (2007–present) B&L Transport 170 NASCAR Xfinity Series (2013–present) Americas Rallycross Championship (2019) Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio International Motor Sports Association (2001–2002, 2004–2012, 2018–) Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire AMA Pro Racing EMCO Gears Classic presented by KeyBank Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series (2000–2001), (2003–2013) |
| Original Road Course | |
| Length | 2.4 mi (3.86 km) |
| Turns | 15 |
| Second Road Course | |
| Length | 2.258 mi (3.634 km) |
| Turns | 13 |
| Race lap record | 1:03.8700 minutes (Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske) (Dallara+Chevrolet+Firestone), 2016, IndyCar) |
The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a famous place for auto racing. It is located in Troy Township, Morrow County, Ohio, United States. This track is just outside the village of Lexington. Many exciting racing series happen here. These include IndyCar, IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Other club events like SCCA also use the track.
Contents
About the Race Track
The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course first opened in 1962. It was designed as a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) road circuit. The track has 15 turns and cars race around it clockwise. On the back part of the track, cars can reach speeds close to 180 miles per hour (290 km/h). There are two starting lines. One is on the main straight, and another is on the backstretch. This second line is used for safer rolling starts.
Track Changes Over Time
In 1990, the track got a big update. A new wall was built, and the entire track surface was redone. It was also made wider. Concrete was added to the inside of the turns to make them stronger. A straight path was also added through a section called the chicane. This created two different track layouts. The original 2.4-mile circuit remained. A new, shorter 2.258-mile (3.634 km) circuit with 13 turns was also made. Racing series like CART started using the shorter layout in 1990.
Another major update happened in 2006. The whole track was repaved again. The concrete patches in the turns were removed. New motorcycle courses were also added. One connects turn one to the backstretch. Another connects the chicane straight to the backstretch. These extra layouts mean different races or training sessions can happen at the same time. A motocross area was also built. It is used for events like the AMA Vintage Motorcycle days.
In 2019, the ARX came to Mid-Ohio. This was the first time rallycross racing happened here. The course for rallycross was 0.7 miles (1.13 km) long with 10 turns. It used a special part of the track called the Keyhole section.
Spectator Areas
The track has grandstands that can seat 12,000 people. There are also three large viewing mounds. These mounds help raise the total number of spectators to over 75,000. Mid-Ohio is a high-quality track. It is rated as an FIA Grade Two circuit. This means it meets high safety and facility standards for racing.
History of Mid-Ohio
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course first opened in 1962. It was started by Les Griebling and other local business people. They wanted a place for weekend sports car races. The track first had 16 turns. But one turn was changed after only a year. It was made straighter because racers felt the track was too slow.
Through the 1970s, Mid-Ohio hosted races like Can-Am and F5000. In 1980, the track held its first CART race. Johnny Rutherford won that first CART race.
New Ownership and Improvements
In 1982, Jim Trueman bought Mid-Ohio. He was a famous road racer and started Red Roof Inns. Trueman made many big improvements to the track. He added permanent grandstands and special seating areas. He also built garages with balconies for spectators. A five-story building for media and guests was added. Tunnels and a better paddock area were also built. A tall scoreboard tower was put in the middle of the track. You could see it from almost anywhere.
Jim Trueman passed away in 1986. His wife and daughter then took over running the track. In 1989, his daughter, Michelle Trueman, became the president. She managed the daily operations of the circuit.
In 2011, a company called Green Savoree Racing Promotions bought the track. This company also promotes other IndyCar races. This sale ended Truesports' 29 years of owning Mid-Ohio.
Exciting Race History
Mid-Ohio first hosted SportsCar racing in 1963. This was part of the United States Road Racing Championship. Ken Miles won that first race. The race series ended in 1968. But the race returned in 1972 as a 6-hour endurance race. It was part of the IMSA GT championship.
The track also hosted the U.S. Formula 5000 series from 1970 to 1976. This was replaced by the Can-Am series from 1977 to 1980. IMSA GT races continued at Mid-Ohio until 1993. They returned in 2000 with the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. The American Le Mans series also started racing here the next year. These series raced at Mid-Ohio until 2012 and 2013. In 2018, the track began hosting the WeatherTech SportsCar championship.
IndyCar and NASCAR Races
Mid-Ohio held its first CART race in 1980. It was a 156-mile (251 km) race. The race took a break and then returned in 1983. It was extended to a 200-mile (324 km) race. CART races happened every year until 2003. The race returned in 2007 under the Indy Racing League. It was a doubleheader with the American Le Mans Series until 2012.
Many famous drivers have raced here. In 2015, Graham Rahal won at Mid-Ohio. This was special because his father, Bobby Rahal, won his first race at the track 30 years earlier. Scott Dixon has won the most races at Mid-Ohio, with six victories.
In 2013, Mid-Ohio hosted its first NASCAR event. It was a 200-mile race for the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The race length was shortened to 170 miles in 2018. Unlike most races at the track, the Xfinity Series uses the main start/finish line. Other events use a different start line on the back straight.
The Mid-Ohio School
The Mid-Ohio School was started in 1993. It offers programs for drivers and motorcycle riders. You can learn defensive driving, high-performance driving, and track riding skills. Students learn in classrooms and get private lessons. They also practice their new skills on the track.
The Mid-Ohio School is approved by AAA. It has also won awards for safety. There are 18 different programs. These programs are for drivers and riders of all ages and skill levels. They include defensive driving for teens and adults. There are also track courses for car fans and future racers.
More than 50,000 people have graduated from the Mid-Ohio School. This includes 18,500 teenagers and 13,300 motorcycle riders.
- Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course race results at Racing-Reference
See also
In Spanish: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course para niños
