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State of the Speedway - Day 3

Marquee events serve a different purpose than weekly racing. They elevate the profile of the facility, challenge our competitors against outside talent, and create defining moments within a season. In an industry filled with high-profile events and entertainment options, they help maintain the attention of dedicated fans while giving drivers the opportunity to compete on a larger stage.

Marquee events are not what define a season to us, but are instead enhancements to it. Weekly racing drives consistency. Community events expand reach. Major weekends amplify attention. All three are intentional and coincide with one another.

We host major events for divisions that do not compete with us weekly, while also ensuring the divisions that call PPMS home have their own marquee opportunities. Touring series bring outside competition and visibility. Our weekly divisions deserve spotlight moments as well. Both are deliberate.

The Pittsburgher 100 Weekend has proved that with structure, consistency, and investment, a once well respected and highly anticipated event can re-establish itself as a national destination.

In 2024, the Lucas Oil program expanded to two nights, paying $10,000 to win on Friday and $50,000 to win on Saturday, making the event the richest purse in speedway history. That expansion was intentional. It signaled that Pittsburgh belonged back on the national stage.

The response from competitors validated that decision. Super Late Model participation has grown 22 percent since 2023, climbing from 36 entries to a peak of 44 in 2025. RUSH Late Models peaked at 51 entries in 2024 and have averaged 47 cars since 2023 for the $10,000-to-win Bill Hendren Memorial. Pro Stocks, competing Friday night for the Bob Walters Memorial, have averaged just over 19 cars since its inception.

Fan participation has mirrored that strength, with the 2025 weekend featuring a nearly sold-out grandstand and sold-out camping. Saturday now includes live entertainment and structured driver-to-fan activation before the main event, while the Pittsburgher Karting Clash at 3RK continues to strengthen the connection between competitors and community.

That same mindset now applies to sprint cars.

Over the past five seasons, 410 Sprint Cars have supported PPMS with admirable car counts, memorable races, and consistent regional strength. Fans make it a point to attend when scheduled. Their commitment has not gone unnoticed, and the decision to elevate one of their four events was made for 2026.

The July 11 FAST on Dirt event represents the next step in building a second national pillar. A sprint car showcase that grows through structure, consistency, and long-term intent, while basing it on the very community in which the race resides. Paying $10,000 to win and $1,000 to start, we believe this will gain the attention of some of the top sprint car teams in our region and begin making strides to becoming a nationally recognized event.

Yesterday we touched on the feeling that throwing money at a problem does not solve the problem. With that in mind, we believe a $10,000 to win sprint car event does not automatically give the event credibility or achieve our goals for it. What we can do with the partners who support the event and the fans who attend the event are what we are looking at to make it successful.

This event is being built with fans on the forefront of our minds. Through the “Name the Race” Sweepstakes at ppms.com/sweepstakes, fans can help shape the identity of the event while entering to win VIP roles such as honorary flagman, grand marshal, and victory lane presenter. Our belief is that events feel different when fans are not simply attending them, but participating in them.
From our perspective, national relevance develops when teams continue showing up, fans remain engaged, and the event continues to evolve the right way year after year.

While national showcases elevate visibility, regional events reinforce our place within the surrounding racing landscape and keep our weekly divisions connected to something larger than a single Saturday night. They tie Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway into competition across Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and other neighboring states, giving our local talent the opportunity to measure themselves against comparable competition without losing the identity that defines them here at home.

Events such as the Pot of Gold, the Jook George Steel City Classic, the Ed Laboon Memorial, and the Sport Compact Shootout do that intentionally.

The Jook remains one of the most significant stops on the RUSH Late Model Touring Series calendar. Touting a $6,000 to win purse, its importance extends beyond purse money. It ties our Late Model division directly into the broader regional conversation and gives our competitors a meaningful benchmark.

The Ed Laboon Memorial functions the same way for the Penn Ohio Pro Stocks. It produced the highest car count on the Penn Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series in 2025, reinforcing that the division still carries depth and pride when given the proper stage.

The Sport Compact Shootout with the SCDRA Northeast provides the Four Cylinder division with its own marquee stage, routinely attracting one of the strongest fields of the year and giving the division a moment that feels larger than weekly competition.

Beyond national and regional alignment, it is equally important that each division has a moment that feels elevated within its own season.

The Hobby Stock Triple Crown Series builds momentum across multiple events and culminates in the Josh Langer Memorial, providing an increased purse and serving as the division’s most significant night of the year.

These events matter because they strengthen the connective layer of our program. They keep divisions engaged in something broader while preserving the identity that makes weekly racing meaningful.

Marquee events elevate the facility. Weekly racing sustains it. Regional events connect it.

But the true measure of a speedway is not found solely in car counts or purse totals. It is found in participation. This ranges from drivers, from fans, and from families who choose to spend their time here. Events such as our Free Easter Egg Hunt and Trunk or Treat reflect that same mindset. They may not involve race cars, but they matter to us.

We’ve seen families walk through the gates for the first time because of those events. Kids running around on the same property where race cars compete. Parents getting comfortable with the facility before ever buying a race ticket. We believe that opportunity is incredibly important.

Not everyone’s first experience at a speedway needs to be loud and fast. Sometimes it’s picking up Easter eggs. Sometimes it’s walking through a row of decorated trunks in October. Those moments build familiarity, and familiarity makes it easier for someone to come back on a Saturday night. If this place is only active when engines are running, it’s limited. We want it to feel like part of the community and not separate from it.

If we continue building responsibly, elevating where appropriate, and reinvesting as support allows, then both racing and our community will benefit together. We’ll touch more on this tomorrow for day 4.

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