The official revival came when Milliron and promoter Cody Sommer struck a deal to bring back Mansfield as a premier dirt track, rebranding it Mansfield Motor Speedway. Returning to dirt honored the track’s original roots and positioned it as a home for major dirt racing events like the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the All Star Circuit of Champions, marking a comeback moment for fans and drivers as the historic speedway roared back with some of the biggest dirt shows in the country. From 2017 through 2019, the track hosted seven events under Sommer’s operation, including the $100,000-to-win Comp Cams Sprint Car World Championship and the Arizona Sports Shirts Dirt Million with a potential $1,000,000 purse. Despite these highlights, the facility was later deemed inoperable and faced plans for conversion into an industrial site, until Matt Tifft purchased the property in a last-hope effort to save the speedway and continue its storied legacy.

After foreclosure and years of uncertainty, the track could’ve been lost forever. But Grant Milliron stepped in. This was critical without Milliron, Mansfield Speedway may have been demolished or redeveloped. His decision saved the historic property, even though the stands were empty and the track was deteriorating. It marked a turning point from abandonment toward possible revival.

This was a massive turning point. Converting from dirt to pavement cost significant investment but opened the door to attracting national-level racing. With the new asphalt, the facility could host bigger series like NASCAR and ARCA, putting Mansfield on the map in a way dirt racing couldn’t at that time. The new name, Mansfield Motorsports Speedway, also signaled ambition: this was no longer just a local track but a motorsports facility built for major events.

This was the birth of the speedway. Local racing fans finally had a dedicated track, and the dirt surface reflected the grassroots style of racing popular across Ohio at the time. Dirt racing meant accessibility for local racers and an authentic, raw environment where car culture thrived. It laid the foundation for the venue’s long and evolving legacy.