The Left Turn
By: Ron Burt
Sandusky Speedway was sold at auction last Saturday. No details were given about the buyer or the fate of the famed half mile paved oval. The big block Supermodifieds and the Outlaw 350 Supermodifieds have been testing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways to try and get both tracks on the 2026 schedules to replace Sandusky if needed. The big block Supers used to race at Toledo on special nights.
Former NASCAR driver Matt Tifft purchased the Mansfield Speedway and property last spring, and they’ve worked on something everyday since. Matt sold his NASCAR Charter to buy the speedway and make improvements. They cleaned up the tower, grandstands and added more, put in modern restrooms and concession stands, and soon a lounge will be built around turn 4. This week close to Fremont Ohio, the crews and excavators were busy digging down to a rich bed of clay. They are bringing 7,000 cubic yards of it to the track. It’s the same clay Fremont Speedway and Attica Raceway Park use. It will be an excellent 8-10 inches bed on top the current surface of the track. The clay vein is one of the best found in the country, with zero rocks, and all grip. May of 2026 the first big race at Mansfield Speedway will be the World of Outlaw Late Model Series.
The American Late Model Iron-Man Series point standings (pending final event tire test results) and these are the driver’s best 80% of points. 1st Colten Burdette, 2nd Rusty Schlenk, 3rd Rod Conley, 4th Clint Keenan, and 5th Rob Anderzack. 80 points separated Burdette and Schlenk. It was a tight point battle all season.
November 11th-29th the USAC Midgets will race on 6 different California racetracks, for the Golden State Invasion. Some of the same drivers and race teams will go out early for the November 1st, for the battle for the Avanti USAC CRA Sprint Car title that returns to southern California’s Perris Auto Speedway.
Kyle Cummins recorded 13 runner-up finishes during the 2025 USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car season. That’s a new record, breaking the former mark of 10 by Chris Windom (2011) & Brady Bacon (2016). With 10 wins & 13 seconds, Cummins’ 23 top two finishes in 2025 broke the record of 21 top-twos held by J.J. Yeley since 2003.
Montpelier Speedway Indiana had their annual Monster Mash with full grandstands and over 150 cars in the pits along with trick or treating for the youngsters. Lee Hobbs won the Super Stock Feature. Cordell Moore parked in Victory Lane after the Hornet Feature. Jordan Wever won the DIRTcar UMP Modified Feature. Making the drive from Illinois Caden McWhorter took the checkered flag for the Ultimate Heart of America Super Late Model Series Feature. Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron Out!
