# Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a road course auto racing facility located in Troy Township, Morrow County, Ohio, United States, just outside the village of Lexington. It hosts a number of racing series such as IndyCar, IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, along with other club events such has SCCA and National Auto Sport Association.
There is grandstand seating for 12,000 spectators and three observation mounds alongside the track raise the capacity to over 75,000. Mid-Ohio is classified as an FIA Grade Two circuit.

## The track

The track opened in 1962 as a 16-turn road course run clockwise. After only one year, the "Oak Tree Bend" series of turns (in the northeast corner) was removed due to being too slow. It was replaced by the "Thunder Valley" downhill straight, which remains to the present day. For 1963 and beyond, a 15-turn, 2.40 mi (3.86 km) layout was established. The back portion of the track allows speeds approaching 200 mph (320 km/h). A separate starting line and flagstand is situated on the backstretch to allow for safer and more competitive rolling starts. The regular start/finish line is located on the pit straight.
In 1990 the track underwent a refurbishment. A new retaining wall was built, the entire track was resurfaced, widened and concrete was paved in the apexes of the turns to prevent asphalt deterioration. In addition, a straightaway segment was paved through the chicane, allowing for two different track layouts, the original 2.40 mi (3.86 km) circuit and a new 13-turn, 2.258 mi (3.634 km) circuit which bypasses the chicane. Major series including CART/Champ Car, IndyCar, IMSA, and NASCAR have mostly elected to bypass the chicane, while motorcycles and amateur/club racing typically use the 2.4-mile layout (with the chicane).
In 2006 another major refurbishment saw several improvements. The entire circuit was repaved and the concrete patches in the turn apexes were removed. A new motorcycle "short course" was created by connecting turn one with the backstretch and another motorcycle/autocross oval was created by connecting the chicane straight with the backstretch. The additional layouts allow simultaneous use of the multiple courses, for instructional and competitive uses. The improvements also included a motocross facility, that has since been used for the AMA Vintage Motorcycle days event.
In 2019 the ARX came to the track which was the first time rallycross had come to the circuit. The course was a 10-turn, 0.7 mi (1.1 km) and utilized the keyhole section of the track.
At the conclusion of the 2023 season, the track was once again fully repaved after utilizing a test section in turn one.

## History

The track was opened in 1962 by Les Griebling and several Mansfield-area businessmen as a location for weekend sports car racing. The track originally had 16 turns, with a left turn in what is today known as "thunder valley," but the turn was straightened after just one year of operation due to complaints of the track being too slow. The track hosted Can-am and F5000 through the 1970s and in 1980, it would host its first CART race with Johnny Rutherford taking victory with Chaparral.
In 1982 Mid-Ohio was purchased by Jim Trueman, a renowned road racer and the founder of Red Roof Inns. Trueman added permanent grandstands, amphitheater-style seating, garages with spectator balconies, a five-story media and hospitality center, tunnels and an updated paddock area. In addition, a tall, three-sided scoreboard tower was constructed in the infield, strategically placed such that it was visible from nearly all spectator areas around the track. In 1986 Trueman had died from cancer, making his wife and daughter taking over management for the facility. In 1989 Truman's daughter, Michelle Trueman, was named the president of the circuit in 1989 and saw day-to-day operations of the track.
In 1990 the track underwent a refurbishment. A new retaining wall was built, the entire track was resurfaced, widened, and concrete was paved in the apexes of the turns to prevent asphalt deterioration. In addition, a straightaway was paved through the chicane, allowing for two different track layouts, the original 2.400 mi (3.862 km) circuit and a new 13-turn, 2.258 mi (3.634 km) circuit.
In 2006 the track again underwent extensive renovation. The track and pit lane were completely resurfaced and connectors were added to the track's famed Keyhole section to allow for three separate road course configurations. Also completed was the removal of concrete patches from the track, the relocation of the wall and guardrail at Turn 1, the expansion of gravel traps at the exits of Turn 1 and the keyhole, the replacement of all remaining old-style catch fencing and the standardization of curbing throughout the circuit. These changes have resulted in a faster, safer, more competitive and attractive facility for drivers, riders and race fans.
On March 2, 2011, it was announced that the track had been purchased from Truesports by Green Savoree Racing Promotions, which also promotes other IndyCar races, ending Truesports' 29 years of ownership.

### Race history

The course had first hosted SportsCar racing in 1963 as part of the United States Road Racing Championship. The race was 168 mi (270 km) and was won by Ken Miles. The race would be held until the race series was folded in 1968, but the race would return as a 6-hour enduro under the IMSA GT championship in 1972. The track would also hold the U.S. Formula 5000 series from 1970 to 1976 and was replaced by the revived Can-Am series in 1977–1980. The track continued to host IMSA GT until 1993, and would not return until 2000 with Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. The track would also add the American Le Mans series the next year. The track continued to host the two series until 2012 when ALMS dropped the race, Grand-Am would follow suit the next year. In 2018, track would host the WeatherTech SportsCar championship.
Mid-Ohio would host its first CART race in 1980 as a 156 mi (251 km), 65 lap race. There would be a brief hiatus as the race would not return until 1983, and the race would be extended as a 200 mi (320 km) race. CART appeared annually until 2003, when CART president Chris Pook hinted at dropping Mid-Ohio from the CART schedule going forward, citing various issues. For many years, Mid-Ohio was on the schedule alongside the Grand Prix of Cleveland, and Pook stated it was not viable to have two races in such close proximity, and favored keeping the race at Cleveland instead. In addition, some observers felt that the powerful Champ Cars had "outgrown" the narrow, winding course, citing a lack of passing and competition over the previous several years. The race would return in 2007 under the Indy racing league and would partner as a doubleheader with the American Le Mans Series until 2012 when ALMS dropped the circuit from the calendar. The race has also featured support series such as the Road to Indy, Global Mazda MX-5 Cup, and Stadium Super Trucks. In 2015, hometown favorite Graham Rahal won at Mid-Ohio for the first time, thirty years after his father, Bobby Rahal, won his first race at the track. Scott Dixon has the most wins at the track with six.
In 2013, the track hosted its first NASCAR event as a 200 mi (320 km) race with the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The length of the race was shortened in 2018 to 170 mi (270 km). The race has partnered with Trans-Am, Stadium Super Trucks, F4 United States Championship and partnered ARCA in 2020. Unlike most of the events held at the track, the Xfinity Series uses the normal start/finish line located on the pit straight to start the races, instead of the start line on the back straight. NASCAR realigned the race in 2022, moving it to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

## Events
### Current

* April: Atlantic Championship, F2000 Championship Series, F1600 Championship Series
* May: SCCA Super Tour
* June: Michelin Pilot Challenge O’Reilly Auto Parts Four Hours of Mid-Ohio, Trans-Am Series Mid-Ohio SpeedTour, IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, USF Juniors, Global MX-5 Cup, Formula Regional Americas Championship, F4 United States Championship, Sportscar Vintage Racing Association
* July: IndyCar Series Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, Indy NXT, USF Pro 2000 Championship, USF2000 Championship, USF Juniors, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
* August: MotoAmerica MotoAmerica Superbikes at Mid-Ohio
* September: ChampCar Endurance Series

### Former

* AMA Superbike Championship
** Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire (1983–2014)
* American Le Mans Series
** Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge (2001–2002, 2004–2012)
* Americas Rallycross Championship (2019)
* ARCA Menards Series
** Zinsser SmartCoat 150 (1965, 2021–2024)
* Barber Pro Series (1987–1990, 1992–2003)
* Can-Am (1969–1974, 1977–1982)
* CART
** Champ Car Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio (1980, 1983–2003)
* Formula BMW Americas (2005–2006, 2008)
* Grand American Road Racing Association Rolex Sports Car Series
** EMCO Gears Classic presented by KeyBank (2000–2001, 2003–2013)
* IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge (2024)
* IMSA GT Championship (1972–1979, 1981–1993)
* IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge (2005–2008, 2010, 2018–2020)
* IMSA SportsCar Championship
** Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio (2018–2022)
* International Race of Champions (1985–1987)
* Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America (2013, 2018)
* NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
* O'Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio (2022–2023)
* NASCAR Xfinity Series
** B&L Transport 170 (2013–2019, 2021)
* North American Touring Car Championship (1996–1997)
* Pirelli World Challenge (1994, 1997–1999, 2002–2017)
* Porsche Sprint Challenge North America (2022–2023)
* SCCA National Championship Runoffs (1994–2005, 2016)
* Stadium Super Trucks (2019, 2021–2022)
* TCR World Tour (2024)
* United States Road Racing Championship
** U.S. Road Racing Classic (1963–1968, 1998–1999)

## Lap records

The unofficial lap record is 1:03.8700, set by Simon Pagenaud during the qualifying of the 2016 Honda Indy 200. As of August 2024, the fastest official race lap records on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
| Second Road Course (without Chicane before The Keyhole): 3.634 km (1990–present) |||||
| IndyCar | 1:05.2600 | Will Power | Dallara DW12 | 2016 Honda Indy 200 |
| CART | 1:06.788 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Reynard 99I | 1999 Miller Lite 200 |
| LMP1 | 1:10.034 | Marco Werner | Audi R10 TDI | 2008 Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio |
| LMP2 | 1:10.113 | Romain Dumas | Porsche RS Spyder Evo | 2007 Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio |
| Indy NXT | 1:10.4485 | Caio Collet | Dallara IL-15 | 2024 Indy NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio |
| IMSA GTP | 1:11.708 | P. J. Jones | Eagle MkIII | 1993 Nissan Grand Prix of Ohio |
| DPi | 1:12.188 | Kevin Magnussen | Cadillac DPi-V.R | 2021 Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio |
| Formula Atlantic | 1:13.812 | Jonathan Summerton | Swift 016.a | 2009 Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio |
| LMP900 | 1:14.784 | Tom Kristensen | Audi R8 | 2001 Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio |
| Pro Mazda | 1:16.3310 | Rinus VeeKay | Tatuus PM-18 | 2018 Mid-Ohio Pro Mazda round |
| LMP3 | 1:16.916 | Jagger Jones | Duqueine D-08 | 2024 Mid-Ohio IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge round |
| GT1 (GTS) | 1:17.186 | Jan Magnussen | Chevrolet Corvette C6.R | 2007 Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio |
| LMP675 | 1:17.208 | Jon Field | MG-Lola EX257 | 2002 American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio |
| Daytona Prototype | 1:17.582 | Brian Frisselle | Corvette Daytona Prototype | 2013 Diamond Cellar Classic |
| WSC | 1:17.589 | Butch Leitzinger | Riley & Scott Mk III | 2000 U.S. Road Racing Classic |
| GT1 (Prototype) | 1:18.019 | David Brabham | Panoz GTR-1 | 1998 U.S. Road Racing Classic |
| LM GTE | 1:19.086 | Laurens Vanthoor | Porsche 911 RSR | 2019 Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio |
| Formula Regional | 1:19.229 | Nicolas Ambiado | Ligier JS F3 | 2024 Mid-Ohio FR Americas round |
| IMSA GTP Lights | 1:20.523 | Parker Johnstone | Spice SE93P | 1993 Nissan Grand Prix of Ohio |
| GT3 | 1:20.536 | Jack Hawksworth | Lexus RC F GT3 | 2018 Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio |
| GT | 1:20.778 | Jörg Bergmeister | Porsche 911 (997) GT3 RSR | 2012 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge |
| Lamborghini Super Trofeo | 1:20.997 | Loris Spinelli | Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo | 2018 Mid-Ohio Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America round |
| US F2000 | 1:21.2979 | Kyle Kirkwood | Tatuus USF-17 | 2018 Cooper Tires USF2000 Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio |
| TA1 | 1:21.444 | Justin Marks | Chevrolet Camaro Trans-Am | 2023 Mid-Ohio Trans-Am round |
| IMSA GTS | 1:21.631 | Tom Kendall | Ford Mustang | 1993 Nissan Grand Prix of Ohio |
| IMSA GTO | 1:23.160 | Pete Halsmer | Mazda RX-7 | 1990 Nissan Grand Prix of Ohio |
| Barber Pro | 1:23.740 | Thed Björk | Reynard 98E | 2000 Lime Rock Barber Pro round |
| TA2 | 1:24.211 | Brent Crews | Ford Mustang Trans-Am | 2024 Mid-Ohio Trans-Am round |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | 1:24.292 | Trenton Estep | Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup | 2018 Mid-Ohio Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA round |
| GTO | 1:25.122 | Terry Borcheller | Saleen Mustang | 2000 U.S. Road Racing Classic |
| Formula 4 | 1:25.285 | Nicolas Stati | Ligier JS F422 | 2024 Mid-Ohio F4 United States round |
| NASCAR Xfinity | 1:25.897 | Austin Cindric Cole Custer | Ford Mustang | 2019 B&L Transport 170 |
| USF Juniors | 1:26.1589 | Sebastian Wheldon | Tatuus JR-23 | 2024 Tatuus Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio |
| GT2 | 1:26.272 | Stephane Roy | Mosler Intruder | 1999 U.S. Sports Car Classic |
| GT4 | 1:26.274 | Michael de Quesada | McLaren Artura GT4 | 2024 O’Reilly Auto Parts Four Hours of Mid-Ohio |
| Formula BMW | 1:26.576 | Richard Philippe | Mygale FB02 | 2005 Mid-Ohio Formula BMW USA round |
| American GT | 1:27.322 | Tony Ave | Ford Mustang | 2001 U.S. Road Racing Classic |
| TCR Touring Car | 1:27.706 | Denis Dupont | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 2024 O’Reilly Auto Parts Four Hours of Mid-Ohio |
| NASCAR Truck | 1:27.745 | Parker Kligerman | Chevrolet Silverado NASCAR | 2022 O'Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio |
| Super Touring | 1:28.181 | David Donohue | Dodge Stratus | 1997 Mid-Ohio NATCC round |
| ARCA Menards | 1:28.237 | Brent Crews | Toyota Camry | 2024 Zinsser SmartCoat 150 |
| GTU | 1:28.344 | Darren Law | Porsche 911 (996) GT3-R | 2000 U.S. Road Racing Classic |
| USRRC GT3 | 1:28.918 | David Murry | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR (993) | 1999 U.S. Sports Car Classic |
| IMSA GTU | 1:29.380 | Stu Hayner | Dodge Daytona | 1990 Nissan Grand Prix of Ohio |
| Mustang Challenge | 1:30.944 | Robert Noaker | Ford Mustang Dark Horse R | 2024 Mid-Ohio Mustang Challenge round |
| AAC | 1:31.360 | Rick Dittman | Oldsmobile Cutlass | 1991 Nissan Grand Prix of Ohio |
| Mazda MX-5 Cup | 1:34.698 | Gresham Wagner | Mazda MX-5 (ND) | 2024 Mid-Ohio Mazda MX-5 Cup round |
| IMSA Supercar | 1:35.846 | Shane Lewis | Chevrolet Corvette LT1 | 1995 Bridgestone Supercar Championship Mid-Ohio |
| Original Road Course (with Chicane before The Keyhole): 3.862 km (1963–present) |||||
| CART | 1:19.984 | Roberto Guerrero | March 87C | 1987 Escort Radar Warning 200 |
| IMSA GTP | 1:20.920 | Jan Lammers | Jaguar XJR-10 | 1989 Nissan Grand Prix of Ohio |
| Can-Am | 1:22.219 | Al Holbert | VDS-001 | 1982 Valvoline Budweiser/7-Eleven Can-Am |
| F5000 | 1:22.285 | Al Unser | Lola T332 | 1975 Buckeye Cup |
| Group 7 | 1:22.470 | George Follmer | Shadow DN4 | 1974 Buckeye Cup |
| Superbike | 1:24.796 | Josh Herrin | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 2024 Mid-Ohio MotoAmerica Superbike round |
| Formula Atlantic | 1:25.920 | Whitney Ganz | Ralt RT4 | 1982 Red Roff Inns Formula Atlantic Challenge |
| Group 6 | 1:27.260 | Jim Trueman | Ralt RT2 | 1981 Mid-Ohio 500 |
| IMSA GTO | 1:27.600 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Mercury Cougar XR-7 | 1989 Nissan Grand Prix of Ohio |
| Supersport | 1:27.726 | Cameron Beaubier | Yamaha YZF-R6 | 2013 Mid-Ohio AMA Pro Daytona Sportbike round |
| IMSA GTP Lights | 1:27.810 | Charles Morgan | Spice SE89P | 1989 Nissan Grand Prix of Ohio |
| IMSA GTX | 1:28.520 | Brian Redman | Lola T600 | 1981 Red Roof Inns GT 200 |
| Group 5 | 1:29.350 | Rolf Stommelen | Porsche 935 | 1981 Mid-Ohio 500 |
| Trans-Am | 1:30.900 | Scott Pruett | Merkur XR4Ti | 1987 Mid-Ohio Trans-Am round |
| IMSA GTU | 1:34.020 | Joe Varde | Dodge Daytona | 1989 Nissan Grand Prix of Ohio |
| Group 4 sports car | 1:34.150 | Dennis Aase | BMW M1 | 1981 Mid-Ohio 500 |
| IMSA AC | 1:35.980 | Clay Young | Pontiac Grand Prix | 1989 Nissan Grand Prix of Ohio |
| Supersport 300 | 1:37.471 | Carson King | Kawasaki Ninja 400R | 2024 Mid-Ohio MotoAmerica Supersport 300 round |
| Group 3 GT | 1:51.000 | Tom Payne Ken Miles Bob Johnson | Shelby Cobra | 1964 Mid-Ohio USRRC round |

## The Mid-Ohio School

Founded in 1993, The Mid-Ohio School offers licensed drivers and motorcycle riders programs in defensive driving, high performance driving and performance track riding programs. Students in each course partake in classroom and private instruction and group drills. Participants test their newly refined skills in the controlled environment of the facility's Vehicle Dynamics Center and on the track.
The Mid-Ohio School is AAA Approved and recognized as a recent recipient of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Partners for Safety award. 18 programs are available to drivers and riders of all ages and ability levels from defensive driving programs for teens and adults, on-track high performance courses for the automotive enthusiasts to current and aspiring racers.
There have been over 50,000 graduates from the Mid-Ohio School, including 18,500 teenagers and 13,300 motorcycle riders.