MANSFIELD — Matt Tifft invested millions of dollars in Mansfield Speedway for days like Friday — the weather notwithstanding.
Thousands of fans braved the wet, windy, chilly elements for the first night of Mansfield Monster Trucks. They didn’t leave disappointed despite persistent rain and 50-degree temperatures.
The parking lot at the Crall Road facility was nearly full well before the trucks roared onto the infield just before 7 p.m.
There were food trucks and merchandise tents set up beside the grandstand. Young fans collected drivers’ autographs and waited in line at the face-painting booth.
The sound system boomed pop hits like like Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” and rock classics like Ozzy Osborne’s “Crazy Train” and AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”
By the time public address announcer Robbie Devore gave the five-minute warning at 6:45 p.m. all three sections of the grandstand were near capacity.
When Tifft and wife Jordan bought the long-dormant facility last June they promised it would be more than a race track.
Mission accomplished.
“This is more than a comeback,” Tifft said. “This is a reset.”
Last weekend’s season-opening Comeback Classic and Night of Destruction were postponed because of inclement weather. That made Friday the de facto opener.
“It’s exciting,” said Outlaw Truck Cross driver Chris Van Den Elzen as he signed autographs. “We’re here to put on a good show and help everything grow a little bit more.”
The weather refused to cooperate again Friday night, but fans didn’t seem to mind. Children 10 and under were admitted for free.
The Outlaw Monster Truck Drags were the star of the show Friday. Excaliber and driver Mike Pagliarulo beat Raminator in the finals and also won the popular donut contest.
“This rain is horrible, but we don’t care,” Pagliarulo said in his post-race interview.
The action resumes Saturday. Gates open at 2 p.m.
