By Ben Deatherage
MERCER, Pa. (Feb. 10, 2026) — RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars will once again thunder around Michaels Mercer Raceway Park in 2026, as the western Pennsylvania facility sanctions the division for a track championship campaign for the second consecutive year.
The 3/8-mile clay oval, located roughly an hour from the shores of Lake Erie and just minutes from the Ohio–Pennsylvania border, has quickly established itself as the Saturday night battleground for Sprint Car competition in the region. Under the leadership of promoter Mike Mathieson, now entering his third season at the helm, the speedway continues to build momentum with strong fields and competitive racing.
“When these gates open, it’s all about hard racing, clean competition, and giving the fans every bit of action they came for,” Mathieson said.
The upcoming season also marks a major milestone for the historic speedway. Michaels Mercer Raceway Park enters its 75th anniversary campaign under new ownership, as Earl and Michelle Michaels finalized the purchase of the facility in late 2025 from Earl’s brother, Edward. Following the acquisition, Earl and Michelle immediately began implementing facility improvements at the conclusion of the season, with additional upgrades planned throughout the winter months.
The purchase kept the raceway within the Michaels family. Edward and Earl’s father, Howard Michaels, originally bought Mercer Raceway in 1994, with Edward and Earl both playing active roles in operating the track until it was sold in 1997. In the years that followed, the facility passed through several ownership groups before Edward reacquired the speedway in 2018. Mathieson also shares ties to that era, having worked at the facility during the Michaels family’s original tenure in the 1990s.
On the competition side, last season produced a historic championship storyline. Lady Eagle racer Vivian Jones became the first-ever IMCA track champion crowned at Michaels Mercer Raceway Park, a title run that also made her the only female Sprint Car track champion in IMCA competition in 2025.
A total of 13 RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car dates are scheduled in 2026, with the season opener set for April 18 and the final points race slated for September 19. Events will be primarily on Saturday nights, with the lone exception coming on Friday, August 21.
For more information, visit michaelsmercerraceway.com or follow Michaels Mercer Raceway Park on Facebook for updates, schedules, and event news.