🎖️ 2026 Hall of Fame Class 🎖️

Our fourth inductee into the 11th class of the Midvale Speedway Hall of Fame of course, wrote his own bio. He was a contributor to the sport of auto racing and Midvale Speedway as a reporter, columnist, and track publicity worker.

Matt attended his first race in 1961 at the age of 7 at Canfield Speedway, and was hooked immediately. He continued to attend with his family, and once in high school decided to get more involved with the sport. Initially he did race reports/stories for Mid-American Auto Racing News covering a variety of tracks in the Youngstown/Warren/Sharon area. His first job doing publicity for a track was at Expo Speedway in Warren, Ohio in 1972 when he was a senior in high school. While going to mostly dirt tracks during this time, Matt also enjoyed the racing at Sharon Speedway which was paved during this era, from 1971 through 1980. Sharon attracted many drivers from the Canton/Massillon area, who also raced weekly at Midvale Speedway. In 1974, Matt switched almost exclusively to pavement/asphalt racing. This was also the first year he attended Midvale Speedway.

It was then, in 1974, that Matt started his weekly column in Mid-American Auto Racing News, which he titled “Asphalt Aspects”. Mid-American was a popular regional racing newspaper that covered hundreds of race tracks from several states. Matt’s objective was to give recognition to the many asphalt tracks and drivers throughout Ohio, of which he thought were some of the best in the country. “Asphalt Aspects” was a popular feature in Mid-American Auto Racing News, helping to expand interest in the state’s paved tracks, including Midvale Speedway. It was during this time that Matt was also Publicity Director at Sharon Speedway – in 1976, 1977, and again in 1980 the final year Sharon was asphalt.

From the mid 1980s through the ’90s, it seemed asphalt racing around Ohio was at its peak. Not only with Midvale Speedway, but also Canton, Barberton, Cloverleaf, Painesville, Lorain, Sandusky, Toledo, Columbus, Kil-Kare, Shady Bowl. Super Late Models, Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks, Compacts. The Main Event Series. And Matt and his “Asphalt Aspects” column was there to cover it all, and promote upcoming events. Also, briefly in the early ’90s, Matt did some of the publicity/race results for Midvale Speedway.

Mid-American stopped publishing around 2008, but by then, Matt had cut back on his racing schedule. But then he started going more regularly, and in 2015 decided to revive his “Asphalt Aspects” column on a new format, as a Facebook page. It proved popular from the start, giving asphalt tracks and drivers in Ohio more visibility.

Matt prided himself on timeliness and accuracy in his reporting and stories. When working at tracks, stories and results were completed the same night as the racing. Often delivered to newspapers that night for publication the next day. Columns were ready for that week’s publication. When he transitioned to social media with “Asphalt Aspects” on Facebook, no matter what track he was at, stories, results, and photos were posted that very night, immediately after the racing.

In looking over his time as a contributor to the sport, Matt is thankful for the many friendships made over the years, some close and decades long, filled with good times and laughter. Also the joy of being at the track and watching the races. Matt has visited countless tracks and witnessed thousands of races over five decades. And with that, not only is Midvale Speedway his most attended track, it is also his all-time favorite speedway.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the Midvale Speedway Hall of Fame…..MATT WERTZ!!