Tucked away in the rolling hills of North Central Ohio lies one of America’s premier road racing facilities. Between Cleveland and Columbus in Lexington, Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a 13-turn, 2.258-mile premier track, challenging drivers with plenty of technical corner driving and elevation changes. The facility has hosted some of the biggest events in motorsports, including the NTT IndyCar Series, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, MotoAmerica, and NASCAR Xfinity Series, plus vintage racing, SCCA and NASA club events. The track is also home to its own first-rate driving school, the Mid-Ohio School. With multiple course configurations and a history stretching back more than six decades, Mid-Ohio remains one of the most respected and recognizable road courses in North America.

History of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course opened in 1962, after a group of Mansfield-area businessmen led by Les Griebling envisioned a permanent venue for sports car racing in central Ohio. Built on 330 acres of naturally rolling farmland, the original circuit featured 16 turns and quickly developed a reputation for utilizing the area’s natural terrain rather than reshaping it. After its first year of operation, a slower section of track known as Oak Tree Bend was removed and replaced by what is now Thunder Valley, creating a 15-turn, 2.4-mile layout that became the foundation of the modern circuit.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Mid-Ohio grew into a major destination for American road racing. The track hosted events featuring SCCA competitors, Can-Am cars, Formula 5000 V8s, Trans Am racers, and IMSA sports cars. Drivers appreciated the circuit’s technical demands, while fans were drawn to the natural viewing areas created by the surrounding hillsides.

A transformative chapter for Mid-Ohio began in 1982, when Ohio entrepreneur and racer Jim Trueman purchased the facility. Best known as the founder of the Red Roof Inn chain and owner of the Truesports racing team, Trueman invested heavily in upgrades. Improvements to the track, paddock, garages, and spectator facilities helped elevate Mid-Ohio into a world-class motorsports venue and attract top-tier professional racing series, including CART Indy car racing, IMSA, and national motorcycle championships.

Another major modernization project arrived in 1990. The circuit was resurfaced and widened, and an alternate straightaway was added through the chicane, creating a shorter 2.258-mile, 13-turn configuration that remains in use as the primary circuit today. Additional improvements followed in 2006, including a complete repaving, motorcycle-specific course variations, and expanded facilities for Mid-Ohio School drivers education program and special events.

Since 2011, Mid-Ohio has been owned and operated by Kim Green and Kevin Savoree’s Green Savoree Racing Promotions. Under GSRP’s management, the facility continues to host a diverse lineup of professional and amateur events while remaining one of the most respected road courses in the country.

Fun Facts About Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

  • Opening in 1962, Mid-Ohio remains one of the longest-running permanent road racing facilities in the country with over 60 years of operation.
  • The facility features two primary road course configurations: a 2.4-mile, 15-turn layout and a shorter 2.258-mile, 13-turn layout.
  • The track’s signature features, including the Keyhole, Thunder Valley, Madness, and the Carousel, reward precision and patience over sheer horsepower.
  • Mid-Ohio’s Thunder Valley section was created after the original Oak Tree Bend sequence was removed following the track’s inaugural season.
  • The track’s famous Keyhole corner is considered one of the most important passing zones on the circuit and often sets up overtaking opportunities onto the long back straight.
  • The facility can accommodate more than 75,000 spectators through a combination of grandstand seating and natural hillside viewing areas.
  • Mid-Ohio is home to The Mid-Ohio School, one of the country’s best-known performance driving and motorcycle rider training programs.
  • More than 53,500 people have graduated from the Mid-Ohio School’s diverse curriculum of performance racing and safe driving programs, including 18,500 teens.
  • The Honda Indy 200 has become one of the circuit’s premier annual events, with Honda serving as title sponsor since the race returned to top-level Indy car competition in 2007.
  • The circuit is classified as an FIA Grade 2 facility and regularly hosts major professional series including IndyCar, IMSA, MotoAmerica, NASCAR, Trans Am, and numerous club racing organizations.

Events at Mid-Ohio are always exciting. Find a complete schedule of upcoming events at Mid-Ohio. And as always, make sure you and your car are protected during track day events with insurance from Lockton Motorsports. Find the policy that fits your needs and explore more track resources.