MANSFIELD, Ohio — There were a couple of speed bumps, but by all accounts the return of racing to the the city’s north side was as smooth as a trip around the recently patched half-mile asphalt oval racing surface.
The green flag flew over Spitzer Motor Speedway on Sunday and even though the 3,000 or so fans had to wait a little longer than they would have liked at the concession trailers and the new public address system occasionally cut out, the response was overwhelming.
“It’s great that so many individuals stepped up to the plate,” said Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker, who was in attendance Sunday afternoon. “We had some issues to work through and we worked through those issues and now we’ve got everything in place.”
The first event at the track in five years featured the Midwest Supermodified Association, with modifieds and hobby stock cars filling out the undercard. In all there were 42 competitors in the three classes and they were well received by local racing enthusiasts.
“The community has been incredible with its support,” said Dan Blaker, the track’s marketing director and a hobby stock racer. “In three weeks we filled up all but one of the suites. We filled up all the billboards. We were selling so fast that we couldn’t get [advertising] up in time. They couldn’t print them fast enough.”
The track is like an old friend to Blaker and his family. His father helped build the original 3/8-mile dirt track in 1959.
“This is an emotional day for me,” he said. “I can’t tell you what this means.”
While his goal is to grow the track, Blaker doesn’t want Spitzer Motor Speedway to lose the intimate feel.
“I haven’t gone to corporates because I want this to be local,” he said. “This is a local track for a local community and I want local businesses to be here.
“As we prosper, they prosper and it helps the entire community.”
Theaker agreed.
“The best part of it is this is just the first one. They’ve got some little things they need to work on, but you learn and you work through those issues and you continue to grow,” Theaker said. “I think that later on in the summer, when we have some more events, that it’s going to be filled.”
“The community has been incredible with its support,” said Dan Blaker, marketing director.
