From A Fan - Mid-Season Thoughts: Mansfield Speedway 2026
Every track has its own story, but sometimes the best perspective doesn’t come from the tower, the pits, or the infield... it comes from the stands.
This week, we’re featuring a mid‑season fan report card from Jeremy Stapleton, a longtime supporter and Mansfield local who’s watched Mansfield Speedway fight its way back from rubble and rebuild itself into one of the most talked‑about tracks in the state. His write‑up captures the highs, the lows, the grit, and the momentum of Mansfield’s comeback from the eye of the fans in the stands:
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"𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀 𝐅𝐚𝐧 - 𝐌𝐢𝐝-𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
As we reach the halfway point of the 2026 season, it's safe to say one thing—Mansfield Speedway is back. Not every night has been perfect, but every event has shown growth, determination, and a commitment to becoming one of the premier dirt tracks in the country. Here's my report card so far.
𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 – 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
Grade: A+
What a way to kick off the season. The Monster Truck Show delivered exactly what families hoped for, and more importantly, the grandkids had an absolute blast. Smiles everywhere and an unforgettable experience.
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜 – 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
Grade: B
There were certainly some growing pains. The racing surface needed work—which was understandable early in the season—and race day logistics still had a few wrinkles to iron out. But despite those challenges, the track was incredibly fast. The night became one of the most memorable in recent Mansfield history when hometown hero Kyle Moore captured the feature victory, creating a sentimental moment that reminded everyone why grassroots racing matters.
𝟓𝟕 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 / 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐬 – 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟗–𝟑𝟎
Night 1 Grade: D
Night 2 Grade: C+
Night one presented some extremely difficult track conditions. Credit goes to everyone who battled through it, and an incredible gesture from the Niss Family, adding $100,000 to Tyler Erb's victory, helped turn a frustrating evening into a memorable one.
Then came Night Two.
After the first night's struggles, the track preparation crew refused to accept defeat. Mark Richards (Rocket1 Racing), Steve Francis, Austin Pagani, Geoff Williams, Justin Jones, Morgan Tifft, Josh Wittman, and Robbie Devore stayed well past dawn rebuilding the racing surface.
The payoff was spectacular.
The result was one of the best racing surfaces of the season as Nick Hoffman claimed another $100,000 payday, thanks once again to the incredible generosity of the Niss Family. It was a remarkable example of what determination and teamwork can accomplish overnight.
𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐫 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫 – 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
Grade: A+
Simply world-class.
From the racing surface to the competition, everything came together. Nights like this prove Mansfield Speedway can stand with any dirt track in America.
𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐬 𝐎𝐢𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 – 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
Grade: A+
Heat races and qualifying set the stage for what looked to be an unforgettable evening.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans.
Hail, torrential rain, damaging winds, and even a lightning strike reminded everyone just how powerful nature can be. Despite the weather ending the show early, the event demonstrated just how special the racing could have been.
𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐠 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 – 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
Grade: A+
One word: entertaining.
The Ohio Valley SCDRA Sport Compacts and Crown Vics absolutely stole the show. They raced hard, raced clean, and gave fans one of the most entertaining programs of the summer.
𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 – 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟑𝟏 & 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏
Grade: A+
This weekend was everything an open-wheel fan could ask for.
FAST on Dirt 410 Sprint Cars, BOSS Wingless Sprint Cars, and UMP Modifieds filled the pits with elite talent.
Nate Dussel blistered the Mansfield Speedway record books with a lightning-fast 15.285-second lap in his FAST 410 Sprint Car. The BOSS Wingless Sprint Cars were equally impressive, circling the .44-mile oval in the 17.2 to 18.2-second range while putting on an outstanding show.
The UMP Modifieds may have stolen the weekend, however. From the heat races through the feature, the action never stopped. Slide jobs, side-by-side racing, and nonstop battles made for one of the best Modified shows Mansfield has seen in years.
Night 2 Mother Nature did not play nice.
𝐌𝐢𝐝-𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞: 𝐀-
Mansfield Speedway hasn't been flawless—but that's exactly what makes this comeback so impressive.
When problems arose, they were addressed. When the racing surface missed the mark, the team responded. Instead of making excuses, they made improvements.
The result has been one of the strongest first halves of a 1st season back from rubble. The racing has been fast, the special events have drawn outstanding crowds, and the commitment from ownership, staff, competitors, and supporters has been impossible to ignore.
If the second half of the season builds on this momentum, Mansfield Speedway won't just be back—it will once again be recognized as one of the premier dirt racing facilities in the Midwest and live up to "The Loudest Show on Dirt""
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Jeremy’s mid‑season breakdown hits on something that’s easy to feel but hard to articulate... Mansfield Speedway’s comeback isn’t just happening on the track, it’s happening in the hearts of the people who show up every weekend. Fans notice the effort. They notice the improvements. They notice when a track refuses to settle and instead chooses to rebuild itself into something worth talking about.
That’s why perspectives like Jeremy’s matter... they capture the pulse of the place from the stands, where the story of a season is written one night at a time.
Huge thanks to Jeremy Stapleton for putting this together and sharing his thoughts!
Fan voices are part of what makes this sport special, and we’re proud to feature his report card as Mansfield Speedway continues its climb back to greatness.
