The Left Turn
By: Ron Burt
Matt Tifft has acquired Ohio’s Mansfield Motor Speedway and plans to bring dirt-track racing back to the 180-acre property as early as 2026. Matt is well known in the racing community. He’s a Dirt Late Model racer and former NASCAR Cup driver. The 0.440-mile oval that hosted the NASCAR Truck Series from 2004-08 and Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events from 2017-19. The track has been closed since August 2019’s Lucas Oil-sanctioned Dirt Million won by Brandon Sheppard. Resurrecting Mansfield as a dirt track is the 28 year old Tifft’s first order of business. It’s going to cost about $2.5 million to put it back to asphalt, just for the paving itself. Over time, Tifft and his wife will work to develop the Mansfield property into a multi-purpose facility to host all kinds of events, racing and non-racing alike, such as concerts, car shows and drive-thru Christmas light displays. They want the track open in April 2026.
USAC Indiana Midget week has run 2 of 6 events. Current and former USAC Midwest Thunder Midget drivers Jacob Denney, Zach Wigal, Jakeb Boxell and Cale Coons will be racing this series, and several have already won National events in their young careers. Opening night, June 3rd at Circle City Speedway, Kale Drake took his car from 9th to 1st in the feature. He showed off his astounding passing prowess that has put him atop USAC’s passing master standings. Finishing behind the winner Kevin Thomas Jr., Karter Sarff, Daison Pursley and Logan Savey. June 4th the series moved to Paragon Speedway. Jocob Denney started outside row 1 in the feature, and was able to grab the lead, work through lapped traffic and beat Justin Grant to the line. Kale Drake grabbed the 3rd spot. Mother nature gave the drivers and teams a break Thursday, June 5th with Lincoln Park getting rained out. The make-up date has not been announced. The big disappointment for USAC race fans so far was Lawrenceburg Speedway would host any series races during Midget Week and many race fans miss the closed, Gas City I-69 Speedway.
Friday, May 30th, was a non-wing sprint car showdown at Limaland Motorsports Park. BOSS vs the Great Lakes Traditional Sprints. It was nonstop action once the green flag dropped, Brayden Clark won the wild 25 lap A Main. Dalton Lane picked up his first career Limaland win in UMP Modifieds, and Rolly Heyder continued his winning ways in the Dirt Track Truck Series feature. The Lock Sixteen Thunderstocks took center stage in the 23rd Annual Keysor Memorial presented by the Keysor Family. $2000 awaited the winner of the 15 lap feature honoring the Keysor family members who have raced at Limaland since the 1950s. Tony Anderson and Zacch Rush would lead the field to green with Rush leading early before losing power steering and fading late in the race. Craig Dippman charged to the point near the halfway mark and would win over Justin Long, Todd Sherman, Devon Helmig, and Frank Paladino.
At Fremont Speedway, Saturday, May 31st, Brock Hallett, from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia won the 410 Sprint feature. Hallett held off several challenges early from Zeth Sabo and late in the race from Cap Henry to claim the $4,000 victory. Hallett also had to survive a few restarts to take the win over Henry, Sean Rayhall, Sabo and Cole Duncan. The Dirt Truck feature went to Shawn Valenti for his fourth win in a row and the 86th of his career at Fremont to stand atop the all-time win list. Matt Foos won the 305 Sprint feature.
At Oakshade Raceway on Saturday, May 31st, Devin Shiels won the Late Model feature and has led every DIRTcar UMP Late Model feature race lap so far this season at the track. “The Outlaw” Jesse Jones, posted his second career Oakshade Raceway DCR Graphics Sportsman feature win. Forest, Ohio’s Jordan Conover started on the outside of the front row and led the entire distance of the Dominator Super Stock A Main to pick up the easy win. Ryan Okuley, started on the pole of a caution-free Compact A Main feature event and earned his first Oakshade feature win of the season over outside pole-sitter Tim Streight.
Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron out!
