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State of the Speedway - Day 2

Weekly racing has always defined Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. It represents development, entertainment, and tradition. For decades, our divisions have provided a natural progression for drivers, from Young Guns to Four Cylinders or Hobby Stocks, to Pro Stocks, and ultimately to RUSH Late Models. That ladder matters. It gives young racers a starting point and gives experienced competitors a place to grow.

We believe strongly in sustaining and building local racers. They are the foundation of this speedway. When touring series visit, our weekly competitors routinely measure up well against traveling drivers and are often difficult to beat. That competitiveness is a direct reflection of the strength of our weekly program.

At the same time, weekly racing is not immune to broader economic realities. We have seen costs rise across the board. Tire prices in some instances have increased by more than 40 percent since 2021. Fuel and diesel costs were among the highest we have seen entering the 2025 season. Engine pricing in some instances have climbed over 30 percent over the past five years, while parts availability at times stretched weeks or even months. Those pressures are real for teams.

From our perspective, participation trends may reflect some of those challenges. From 2024 to 2025, most divisions experienced decreases, while the Four Cylinder division grew by nearly 28 percent. We believe shifts like this can be influenced by a combination of cost, opportunity, and the natural cycles that exist within weekly racing.

We have seen similar patterns regionally. Big Block Modified participation, for example, experienced a noticeable post-COVID dip before regaining strength in 2025. It’s more common than not that divisions move in phases. Our role is not to react emotionally to short-term fluctuations, but to stay steady and continue building.

With that in mind, it is reasonable to view Pro Stocks through a similar lens as they navigate a challenging period. From 2024 to 2025, average weekly participation declined by approximately 30 percent at the speedway. That reality cannot be ignored, and we believe it reflects both economic pressures and the natural cycles divisions can experience over time.

At the same time, the 2025 Ed Laboon Memorial proved the division’s potential remains strong. The event produced the highest car count on the Penn Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series schedule and demonstrated the depth of talent that still exists within the class.

For that reason, our commitment to strengthening the division remains unwavered. History has shown that participation can contract before rebounding stronger than before. We remain patient, consistent, and intentional in our approach, and look forward to sharing exciting news pertaining to the Pro Stocks in the coming weeks.

One division that illustrates the long-term value of that approach is our Young Guns division, which functions much like a high school sports program. Drivers enter at a young age, develop their skills, and ultimately decide whether they want to continue racing. Participation will naturally increase and decrease as drivers progress through the system.

Two recent examples come courtesy of Emmi Laboon, who began her career in Young Guns and progressed through each division at the speedway. In 2026, she will advance into RUSH Late Model competition. Gavin Kokolis made the transition from Young Guns to Four Cylinders in 2025 after three years in the beginner's division. By season’s end, he capped off the year with a third-place finish in the Sport Compact Shootout, an event that featured a 39-car field comprised of some of the strongest competitors in the region.

Progressions such as these are exactly why our chain-of-progression system remains in place. It is a structure that has historically produced talent and reinforces that development remains a priority.

So. Where do we go from here?

Ahead of our first full season in 2024, we increased weekly purses by 25 percent. In 2025, we introduced a points championship payout through the Hometown Champions Fund, rewarding the top five finishers in each division. We are excited to share that in 2026, purses will again increase by 25 percent across all four divisions. This will represent the highest weekly purse structure in speedway history. We look forward to finalizing and releasing these structures in the coming days.

We understand that purse increases alone do not solve every challenge, but they are one way we can support drivers who face increasing costs week in and week out. Sponsorship plays a critical role in making that possible. Our partners, along with our fans, are directly responsible for allowing us to reinvest into weekly racing as well as the facility. At the same time, we recognize that many businesses and families are navigating tighter margins and shifting budgets. We are grateful for those who continue to support both the speedway and our competitors.

We have also made slight adjustments to our weekly format. Entering 2025, we aimed to provide each division three to four scheduled nights off throughout the season to reduce financial and physical strain on teams. While that plan was implemented early in the season, we adjusted as car counts required us to maintain a program that met the expectations of our fans. Those adjustments also allow for periodic appearances by additional divisions, including RUSH Sprint Cars, 410 Sprint Cars, Vintage Modifieds, Crown Vics, among others. We will attempt to continue this format change for 2026.

Rules are another area that requires careful balance, but can at times provide relief to teams. Where flexibility exists outside of series-sanctioned guidelines, adjustments have been made with sustainability and equipment accessibility in mind. Rules are a sensitive subject, as every driver and car owner has opinions on what should be implemented, adjusted, or removed.

We welcome that input. In fact, it is integral to how we operate. Our teams are the ones competing week in and week out, and their firsthand perspective carries real weight in our decision-making process.

At the same time, we have learned that incremental allowances made over an extended period can sometimes lead to unintended consequences or place a division at a competitive or technical impasse. For that reason, rule decisions are approached carefully and with long-term sustainability in mind. These decisions are never simple, and we weigh long-term impact over short-term reaction.

What does all of this mean for weekly racing as a whole?

We cannot speak to the future of weekly racing at every speedway. In some instances, weekly racing is as strong as it has ever been. In arguably more ways, it is also more fragile than ever. Costs are higher. Equipment is harder to source. Teams are making difficult financial decisions.

At the same time, teams and drivers remain just as committed as ever to making their programs work. They continue investing their time, money, and energy to pursue what fuels them. For many, this is more than competition. It is a hobby, a passion, and a way of life.

For us, the commitment does not waver. Weekly racing is not an afterthought or a filler between bigger shows. It is the core of what this facility was built on. It develops drivers, supports our local teams, and gives fans a consistent place to gather each week.

We are thankful to find ourselves in a position where we can continue making increases and improvements, even during a time when many programs are facing significant challenges. That is due in part to the strong foundation left by previous ownership, and primarily because of the fans, teams, and partners who continue to support us week in and week out.

We will continue investing in our divisions, strengthening what already exists, and approaching each season with the discipline required to sustain it.

Tomorrow, we shift our focus to the events that elevate this facility on a broader stage — our marquee events. Building marquee events and strengthening weekly racing are not separate strategies. They move together. Stay tuned for day 3.

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