The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course stands as a monument in the landscape of American road racing, a venue where legends have been made and motorsport history continues to unfold. Celebrated as one of America’s premier road racing facilities, Mid-Ohio has proudly hosted every significant American road racing series, with its winners’ roster reading like a who’s who of racing’s elite.
Nestled near Mansfield, Ohio, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course was conceived in 1962 by Les Griebling and a group of local business leaders with a passion for motorsports. The original design featured a challenging 2.4-mile circuit, incorporating 15 turns that tested drivers with a dynamic mix of high, medium, and low-speed corners, a notable long straightaway, and dramatic elevation changes. Over time, the track underwent several updates, but it was Jim Trueman, the founder of Red Roof Inn and TrueSports Racing, who spearheaded a comprehensive modernization in 1982 after acquiring the facility. This revamp included not only new garages, paddock, and an operations tower but also a modification to the track layout, introducing a bypass at the Keyhole chicane to create an optional 2.25-mile, 13-turn configuration.
Both of Mid-Ohio’s primary configurations commence with the daunting Turn One, a high-speed, blind corner demanding bravery and precision at over 100 mph. Drivers then navigate the exhilarating “Madness” section, a series of esses that truly lives up to its name, testing car control and rhythm. The lap culminates in the iconic Carousel, a near 360-degree turn that offers a multitude of racing lines and apexes, rewarding both daring and strategic approaches. Adding to the versatility of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a “short course” variant was later developed, connecting the exit of Turn One directly to the backstraight, and a mini-oval utilizing the Keyhole Hairpin and a 180-degree turn further broadens the track’s appeal for diverse racing disciplines.
Throughout its rich history spanning nearly five decades, Mid-Ohio has been the chosen ground for America’s most prestigious racing series. From the United States Road Racing Championship, Can-Am, Trans-Am, and Formula 5000 in its early years, to IMSA, IndyCar, and NASCAR events more recently, the track has witnessed a spectrum of motorsport excellence. Beyond professional racing, Mid-Ohio has also been a long-standing haven for club racing enthusiasts and proudly hosted the Sports Car Club of America’s National Championship Runoffs for an impressive 12-year period, from 1994 to 2005, solidifying its place in the heart of American motorsports culture.
