In 1992 Les Griebling opened the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The first event was a driving school. In 1967 Jerry Titus won the first Trans-Am race held at Mid-Ohio driving a Ford Mustang. All of the 2.4 mile, 15-turn road course was resurfaced in 1972 and in 1977 David Hobbs won the first GTP race held at Mid-Ohio driving a BMW 320.
The first IndyCar held at Mid-Ohio was held in 1980 and was won by Johnny Rutherford driving a Chaparrai-Cosworth, and in 1983 AMA professional road racing debuted at Mid-Ohio. Also during 1983, amphitheatres were built in Turns 1, 6, 7, 8 and 14 and a three-sided scoreboard was erected. A five storey Goodyear Tower was also built housing media, timing and scoring, two V.I.P. suites and a race information centre as well as three garages being built in the paddock housing 28 stalls.
During 1984 a concession stand and picnic area was built in the paddock and the ticket office and registration building were remodelled. The next year, the Camel Deck and concession stand were built in the infield, a tunnel under the back straight to Grandstands 1 and 2 was built, an Amphitheatre was constructed in the keyhole and the front gate was redesigned.
Mid-Ohio celebrated its 25th season in 1986 and the maintenance and food commissary buildings were constructed as well as the registration gate entrance being redesigned and a new septic system installed.
In 1987 the technical inspection building was renovated by MAC Tools, Inc., the main infield concession stand was renovated and a souvenir stand was added to the main infield concession stand. 1988 saw a number of changes, including a retail parts supplier building being constructed, the pit lane being widened by 13' and lengthened by 250' and concrete barriers were added - 300' to the pit lane, 300' to the main straight and 400' to Turn 2. Runoff areas to turns 1, 2, 9, 11 and 14 were redesigned and gravel added and the tire walls added to Turns 7, 11 and 14.
More construction work continued in 1989 with the Infield food preparation building as well as 150' of cement barrier being added to Turn 9 and tire barriers being added to Turns 1 and 9. During 1990 there was 100% resurfacing of the track which was also widened to 40'. Also a chicane/straight option was designed between Turn 1 and the keyhole.
1992 saw the construction of the Starters' stand on the back straight and in 1993 the Mid-Ohio School was established with the school building being constructed in the paddock and the school skid pad being constructed in the grass paddock. Additional debris fencing was added in Turns 4 and 11. More debris fencing (1500') was added in Turn 8 with additional curbing added to Turn 1, the keyhole and the back straight, with 75% of the secondary paddock being paved.
Further work continued in 1995 with the tire barrier at Turn 7 being moved back and enlarged and in 1996 with the Goodyear Drive-over Bridge at Turn 1 being replaced by a two-lane bridge with a walkway. A security building was also built at the Gate 3 entrance.
Up-to-date, work that has taken place in 1997 includes 1200' of concrete barriers being moved along the front straight to provide 50' of runoff area, a gravel trap installed between Turn 15 and the Start-Finish line, a 2000 square foot addition to the Communications building in order to house timing and scoring, race control and television and radio booths. Other work included 500' of debris fencing added along the front straight, 600' of debris fencing added to Turn 7, 10,000' of spectator fencing installed throughout the entire facility, two storm water retainage ponds constructed in the infield, a runoff area elevated and a gravel trap enlarged at Turn 14 and finally awnings covered paddock garage balconies being replaced with permanent roof structures.
