MANSFIELD, Ohio — Mansfield Motor Speedway, which returned to racing three years ago as a dirt track, has been listed for sale.
Cody Sommer, who has run the facility as owner and president of Mansfield Motor Speedway LLC the last few seasons, will not return to operate the venue following the closure of the calendar year.
“It was my goal to build MMS into a destination and a showplace and in so many ways I think we did that successfully. We have had a lot of success, but we have also faced some major challenges over these last three years and it is part of what makes this a difficult decision,” said Sommer. “I have several different ventures I’m involved with and likely more in the future. Sometimes you have to step back and just look at where your life is and where it is going, where you want it to be and make a decision for what is best for you and your family.”
Sommer, the promoter of the Gateway Dirt Nationals who earlier this year began working for Scott Bloomquist, took over promotion of the property in early 2017 before converting the track back to dirt for the first time since 1998.
Since then the facility has hosted a number of events, including the Dirt Million dirt late model race and the $100,000-to-win Sprint Car World Championship. The Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series have all raced at the track under Sommer’s leadership.
“My vision all along was to develop a showplace,” Sommer told SPEED SPORT in April of 2018. “I often say we have a world-class facility. Therefore, there should be world-class events. Year one was phase one of probably four or five phases I’d like to do there. You can’t push too hard. We saw enough that made us feel comfortable to go to phase two. I don’t feel like it stops there.”
Prior to Sommer’s leadership and subsequent return to dirt, the track hosted NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series races from 2004 to 2008. Donny Lia won the final NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race at the track in 2008.