Matt Tifft Officially Announces Revival of Iconic Short Track

What’s Happening?

Former NASCAR driver and team owner announced via social media on Monday that he has officially acquired Mansfield Motor Speedway, a defunct facility located in Mansfield, Ohio. Tifft’s post, accompanied by a walk-through video of the overgrown grounds, confirmed that plans are now in motion to restore and reopen the track.

The announcement sparked immediate excitement among racing fans, including current full-time Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar, who gave his opinion on it.

While no full schedule or opening date has been released, Tifft stated that details on “what kind of events and racing” are coming to Mansfield will be shared soon.

Mansfield’s History and the Revival Project

Mansfield Motor Speedway opened in 1959 as a dirt track but was paved in the late 90s. It hosted the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from 2004 to 2008 and was once considered one of the most promising short tracks in the country. After the Truck Series’ departure, the track struggled to maintain consistent events. It was shuttered in 2010, reopened in 2013, and returned to dirt racing in 2017, only to close again in 2019. The facility has been dormant over the past five years, with only occasional rumors of a comeback. Tifft’s announcement marks the first confirmed change in ownership and active revival effort since the last closure. The announcement follows a teaser by Tifft, made earlier this year

This project is personal for Tifft, an Ohio native and former driver for teams like Joe Gibbs Racing and Front Row Motorsports. In 2019, Tifft’s racing career was sidelined due to medical issues. Since then, he has returned to the racing world as a co-owner of Live Fast Motorsports. Tifft raced at grassroots venues, including a start at Toledo Speedway late in 2024, which was controversial after incidents on and off the track, which you can learn more about by tapping the link below

What’s Next?

While many questions remain, including which series will race at the new Mansfield, the extent of renovations, and a potential timeline for reopening, Tifft assured fans that the facility “won’t sit like this much longer.” He reaffirmed that, despite plans to make it an asphalt track in the future, it will stay as a dirt track for now, as the asphalt surface would cost around $2.5 million.

“This place meant a lot to a lot of people. I grew up not far from here. I want to bring this back for Ohio.”
— Matt Tifft in his announcement video

As the 2025 racing season enters the summer stretch, Tifft’s abandoned track revival effort adds another chapter to the growing interest in short tracks, especially after projects like North Wilkesboro’s comeback and Nashville’s continued lobbying.

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