Mid-Ohio Road Course on 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Schedule

When I was involved with 7-Eleven and its motorsports programs in the 80s, I heard a lot about the Mid-Ohio road course and what a beautiful place it was because its owner, the late Jim Trueman (Founder of Red Roof Inns) had been affiliated with our drivers Bobby Rahal and Lyn St. James. Now comes word that the course will host a NASCAR Nationwide race in 2013.

Mid-Ohio Joins NASCAR Nationwide Series Schedule In 2013
Full Schedule Announced; Racing Returns To Entitlement Sponsors Home State

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 13, 2012) NASCAR today announced the 2013 schedule for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, a lineup that includes a trip to Mid-Ohio for the first time in series history.

Mid-Ohio, a 2.4-mile, 15-turn road course in Lexington, marks the return of NASCAR national series racing to Ohio, the home state of the series Columbus-based entitlement sponsor, Nationwide Insurance. Mid-Ohios Aug. 17 addition fortifies the series trio of challenging road courses, joining Road America (June 22) and Watkins Glen (Aug. 10).

With Mid-Ohio on the schedule, the NASCAR Nationwide Series has another opportunity to lead the way at a new venue, said Steve ODonnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations, of the sixth time in nine years the series will run an inaugural race. This gives us the opportunity to bring the series signature side-by-side racing to a new fan base, and build enthusiasm among race fans that have yet to experience the unparalleled experience of attending a NASCAR event.

This is a competitive and well-balanced schedule that challenges our drivers and teams with a variety of different tracks and distances. Its a schedule that the fans will enjoy.

NASCAR national series racing last competed in Ohio in 2008, with the running of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Mansfield Motorsports Park. GRAND-AM Road Racing has raced at Mid-Ohio since 2000.

The balance of the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide schedule, the series 32nd season,maintains a familiar feel, with a strong mix of short tracks, road courses, intermediate race tracks and superspeedways.

Daytona International Speedway hosts the season opener on Feb. 23. That race also will feature the introduction of Chevrolets Camaro into the series. The series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway is set for Nov. 16.

On July 27, the series will race at historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the second consecutive year as part of Super Weekend at The Brickyard with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and GRAND-AM.

Next seasons schedule includes six standalone race dates: Iowa Speedway (June 8 and Aug. 3), Chicagoland Speedway (July 21), Kentucky Speedway (Sept. 21), Road America and Mid-Ohio.

Kentuckys first NASCAR Nationwide Series race on June 28, one of 27 companion weekends with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,also will be the qualifying event for the 2013 Dash 4 Cash bonus program. The subsequent four races make up the 2013 Dash 4 Cash events: Daytona on July 5; New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 13; Chicagoland and the Brickyard.

2013 NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES SCHEDULE

2/23 Daytona International Speedway
3/2 Phoenix International Raceway
3/9 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
3/16 Bristol Motor Speedway
3/23 Auto Club Speedway
4/12 Texas Motor Speedway
4/26 Richmond International Raceway
5/4 Talladega Superspeedway
5/10 Darlington Raceway
5/25 Charlotte Motor Speedway
6/1 Dover International Speedway
6/8 Iowa Speedway
6/15 Michigan International Speedway
6/22 Road America
6/28 Kentucky Speedway
7/5 Daytona International Speedway
7/13 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
7/21 Chicagoland Speedway
7/27 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
8/3 Iowa Speedway
8/10 Watkins Glen International
8/17 Mid-Ohio
8/23 Bristol Motor Speedway
8/31 Atlanta Motor Speedway
9/6 Richmond International Raceway
9/14 Chicagoland Speedway
9/21 Kentucky Speedway
9/28 Dover International Speedway
10/5 Kansas Speedway
10/11 Charlotte Motor Speedway
11/2 Texas Motor Speedway
11/9 Phoenix International Raceway
11/16 Homestead-Miami Speedway

Not NASCAR, but Bud Moore Mustangs finished 1-2 at Mid-Ohio in 1970 TransAm competition.

Mid-Ohio should be a good racetrack. I think they made some improvements last year because the Indycar crowd was getting bored with it. It's a little bit small, only 2.5 miles.

Anything that gets the series on exclusive tracks is a good thing.

Should be interesting. The track's nature made passing a risky proposition for the delicate Indycars but the stockers should have no problem creating passing room when needed. Probably will be a ton of cautions though.