Track News: Mid-Ohio Track Layout and Features

It has been open for more than 60 years, and increasingly the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is getting the recognition it deserves.

Situated roughly halfway between Cleveland and Columbus in the little town of Lexington, Ohio, the Mid-Ohio Track gives amateur and club racers a chance to compete and hone their skills. While the course has stayed true to those semi-professional roots for the duration of its existence, it has also managed to gain popularity, with the various ownership groups who have operated it making sure to change with the times and make it suitable for larger audiences. Here’s a look at one of the most charming racetracks in the entire United States, and what makes it stick out from the rest of its competitors.

Not Your Average Course: Layout and Features

One of my personal favorite features of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is the fact that depending on the events you go to, you could get two separate courses. For the first 28 years of its existence, the track spanned 2.4 miles with a whopping 15 turns.

In 1990, course president Michelle Trueman—daughter of Jim Trueman, who founded the Red Roof Inn motel franchise, as well as the Truesports racing team, which won the 1986 Indy 500—decided to renovate the track, widening and resurfacing the course and paving a cut through that eliminated two chicanes, shortening the course to 2.258 miles and 13 turns.

Rather than changing the course forever, Trueman’s renovations made it possible for races to use either style of course. Most major brands opt for the less curvy path, while motorcycle and amateur stock races take the long way around. The course added a few more cut throughs in 2006, but those are primarily used for motorcycle racing: you aren’t going to see Ben Rhodes try the short course any time soon.

No matter which type of race you end up taking in at the Mid-Ohio Track, you can be sure to see plenty of action. The twisting, turning pathway makes it drive more like an F1 course than like the typical four turn NASCAR oval, providing an exciting change of pace for fans and drivers alike.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the course could accommodate the entire population of Lexington more than 16 times over. With 12,000 grandstand seats and a capacity ceiling of 75,000 thanks to three more observation mounds, don’t look past the Mid-Ohio Track just because of its humble location: it’s more than capable of going blow for blow with the big dogs.

Main Events to Keep An Eye On

The Mid-Ohio Track has continued to gain relevance throughout its history, most notably in the IndyCar series before making its way into the hallowed ranks of NASCAR courses.

2024’s biggest event—both in Lexington and the entirety of the Buckeye State—will take place during the weekend of July 4 with the The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio featuring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Given that it’s the biggest event in the entire state, you can be sure that Ohio Sportsbooks are more than ready to start fielding wagers for the headliner event.

Another race to keep an eye on are the Permco Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio, where you’ll get to see some old school hot rods prove they’ve still got what it takes under the bright lights.

If motorcycle racing is more your speed, you can rest assured that the Mid-Ohio Track is more than capable of keeping you entertained, as the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) hosts one of their flagship events in Lexington each July with the Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

Last but certainly not least, if you’re a huge fan of racing, you owe it to yourself to take in one of the less heralded events at the Mid-Ohio Track, whether it’s one of the amateur car races or a motorcycle event. The small town location makes for a real sense of community at these types of races, and it’s a lot of fun seeing the region’s prospective rising stars trying to make their mark on the world of racing.

NASCAR History

While there aren’t any NASCAR events on the schedule for this season, it’s worth taking the time to describe the other major events that have taken place at the Mid-Ohio Track, especially because there’s always the potential for more.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series held the B&L Transport 170 from 2013 until 2021, later substituted for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio of the Craftsman Truck Series, which ran in 2022 and 2023.

Given the number of turns on the course, it can be a difficult adjustment for NASCAR drivers more used to a uniform course layout, and it will be interesting to see when the association makes its return to Lexington. Until then, there are plenty of races to keep fans in the region interested, from the IndyCar and ARCA Series to the oldies and underground events.