The Left Turn
By: Ron Burt
This is part 3 of my series on area racetracks. This week I’ll cover local speedways that don’t run weekly shows but still hold some of the biggest races in the tri-state. All three tracks are in Ohio, Millstream, Eldora and Mansfield. Visit each speedways Facebook and web page for more information and before you leave for the track.
I consider Millstream Speedway, outside of Findlay, my home track. Findlay is unique because they have two tracks, a 4/10 mile clay dirt oval and a 1/4 mile clay dirt oval inside the big track. Millstream has a limited 2026 schedule of six race nights. Opening night will be June 14th and the track will host the third night of the 2026 Ohio Sprint Week featuring the All Star Circuit of Champions Winged 410 Sprint Series. The B.O.S.S. Non-winged Sprints will be the support class opening night. On other nights Millstream will host National USAC Sprints, World of Outlaw Sprints, and the Great Lakes Super Sprints. The American Late Model Iron Man Series and the Ohio Valley Late Model Series will both appear this summer and so will the USAC Thunder Midgets and Dirt Trucks.
The Big E (Eldora) is known all over the racing world. This historic ½ mile high banked dirt oval was built in 1954 in Rossford Ohio by Earl Baltes and in 2004 three time NASCAR Champion, Tony Stewart purchased the famous speedway. It has a lot of race nights during the season and features many classes of cars. 2026 might be its most electric season ever. Recently General Manager Levi Jones stated the tracks’ goal is to “Keep the fan experience front and center while continuing to elevate the competition is what Eldora is all about”. The 2026 schedule was recently released. It’s everything fans love and even better than grandma’s cookies. All the crown jewel events return, including the Dirt Late Model Dream and World 100, the Kings Royal, Let’s Race Two and 4-Crown Nationals, anchoring another year of can’t-miss action on the high banks. This season the track will have higher driver payouts and for the fans all ticket prices will remain unchanged.
Race fans, it’s back! Mansfield Speedway (Home of Horsepower). The former NASCAR ½ mile paved track has come back to life and is now dirt. Former NASCAR driver Matt Tifft sold his NASCAR Charter and used that money to purchase and remodel a closed rundown speedway originally built in 1959 as a 3/8 mile dirt track, converted to a ½ mile speedway in 1972 and in 1998 it was paved. The speedway had special dirt brought in for the racing surface last winter. Matt added more bleachers, remodeled the VIP Suites, grandstands, kitchen area, restrooms and fresh paint everywhere. They recently purchased and installed a $1,000,000.00 jumbotron. Appearing this summer, World of Outlaws Sprints and Late Models, BOSS Sprints, Country Concert, Motocross, Super Dirt Car Big Blocks, Dirt Modifieds, Monster Trucks and more.
Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron out! (www.facebook.com/ohiosportsblitz/)
