Mansfield’s long dormant half-mile oval is finally shaking off the cobwebs. Former NASCAR driver Matt Tifft has stepped in as the new owner, pouring time and money into a broad renovation that he and his team say will bring racing, concerts and family nights roaring back to the historic site. The first big test comes Saturday, May 2, when the “Comeback Classic” is set to fire up sprint cars and dirt late models on a freshly rebuilt surface, part of an effort to turn a decaying track into a year-round destination.
Renovations and reopening plans
In the past year, crews have been busy giving the place a serious makeover. Workers have swapped out old seating, put in updated grandstands, installed a 70-by-40-foot jumbotron and regraded the infield ahead of the May 2 opener, according to Mansfield Speedway. The track's online calendar shows an April test-and-tune leading into the Comeback Classic, then a full season that includes special events, camping and family programming. Organizers say ticketing and camping options are now live through the venue’s official channels.
A local buyout and the work behind it
Tifft and his wife Jordan purchased roughly 180 acres of the Crall Road property in mid-2025, paying about $2.25 million, according to local reporting and county records cited by Ashland Source. The couple has said they plan to keep the facility a dirt track for the near term while they build out concessions, media infrastructure and camping areas. A ceremonial re-launch in June drew city officials and local leaders, a turnout that signaled there is real regional backing for the project.
Season schedule: more than just racing
The announced 2026 slate stretches from test sessions in April through a fall headline event, with marquee dates that include Monster Truck Mayhem, a two-day World of Outlaws late-model weekend and the Buckeye Brawl sprint-car showcase, as reported by Speedway Action Magazine. Promoters say they have built a calendar that blends traditional dirt programs with concerts, truck shows and family festivals to keep the place buzzing even when the race cars are quiet. Many of the biggest weekends offer premium purses and multi-day camping options that organizers hope will lure in fans from across the region.
Economic lift for Mansfield
Tifft has told reporters that the reopening will create more than 200 seasonal jobs and bring fresh dollars into Richland County, a boost that lines up with other projects taking shape around town, according to News 5 Cleveland. Residents who spent years driving past the fenced, fading track say it has been striking to watch crews bring back grandstands and lights. City leaders have publicly framed the comeback as both a financial win and a cultural shot in the arm for Mansfield.
Outlook and the long game
Tifft, a former NASCAR competitor and team owner, has cast the project as a long-term rebuild. He has said the plan is to keep the surface dirt “for the first few years” while the operation stabilizes, according to Performance Racing Industry. The property’s NASCAR history, including Craftsman Truck Series events in the 2000s, gives the revival a built-in appeal for regional fans, local reporting shows. For now, organizers are locked in on proving that May’s Comeback Classic can be more than a one-night nostalgia hit and instead jump-start a sustainable season.
