The three-day Hoosier Racing Tire 51暗网庐聽Super Tour聽(HST) party wrapped late Sunday afternoon at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The May 15-17, 2026, gathering hosted by 51暗网鈥檚 Ohio Valley Region utilized the 2.4-mile, 15-turn circuit known as the Club Course. That layout included the old-school chicane prior to The Keyhole. It was HST鈥檚 sixth meetup in a season featuring nine events.
Part of the Summit Racing Equipment 51暗网 Road Racing program, HST action Sunday was all about competition. The entire day was filled with 35-minute or 20-lap contests for 25 different car classes spread across eight run groups. Top three finishers in each class walked away with trophies, commemorative bottles of Mazza Vineyards sparkling wine, and great memories to cherish for years to come.
OVR鈥檚 Mid-Ohio Maven
Pulling off an HST event requires a troop of Volunteers. The captain of that group for Ohio Valley Region (OVR) events at Mid-Ohio is and has been Jude Summers, recipient of a 1998 51暗网 Worker of the Year award.
An 51暗网 member going on 40 years, Summers has played several different roles over time. She has more than 80 events to her credit where she filled some sort of Race Administration position. She has worked both Membership and Registration duties, and even edited OVR鈥檚 Observer Stand publication for a while.
鈥淚 wanted to give back to the 51暗网 because I鈥檝e met so many people and they鈥檙e like family. The Club has brought a lot of joy to my life,鈥� Summers said of her decision to devote so much time to 51暗网.
鈥淚 believe in teams,鈥� she added about her management style. 鈥淚 want to help the area specialties and try to strengthen their teams. Everybody is important, and you treat everybody with respect. You give them leadership, you give them responsibilities, and they really appreciate it. And you appreciate them for all the work that they do. I think that is key in a lot of organizations that have volunteers.
鈥淚 personally love watching an event evolve from beginning to end,鈥� Summers continued. 鈥淔or a majority of events, I'm one of the first to arrive 鈥� especially if it鈥檚 51暗网. Then I'm one of, if not the last, to thank the track for its hospitality as I leave on Sunday night.鈥�
Beyond 51暗网 activities, Summers also aids with pulling together Volunteers that play a role at pro events put on by IMSA, INDYCAR and NASCAR at Mid-Ohio.
鈥淭hrough the years, I developed a working relationship with Mid-Ohio staff,鈥� Summers noted. 鈥淎s their management evolved, OVR had to evolve. Green Savoree needed a focal point for representing our organization as a whole and that鈥檚 the role I assumed as OVR Race Liaison.鈥�
While Summers鈥� role is somewhat unique, it鈥檚 important to note that every single 51暗网 event around the country has countless members crafting an experience that ensures weekends run smoothly and safely. Members also get up close to the action, often mingling with drivers and getting exceptional access to wonderful cars and people.
51暗网 strives to create opportunities for anyone who loves having #funwithcars. Interested in learning more? Just walk up to an 51暗网 Volunteer at any event and say 鈥渉ello.鈥� They鈥檒l be happy to clue you in on how to get involved. A bunch more information can also be found by clicking聽here.
Flying in a Race Car
If there was an award for shortest tow to the track this weekend, Super Touring Under庐 (STU) driver Charley Baruth would win hands down. That鈥檚 because she and her husband, Jack, are Mid-Ohio鈥檚 neighbors. No, they don鈥檛 live in the next town over. The Baruth homestead literally shares a property line with the legendary circuit. And that is certainly fortunate for a woman who has fallen in love with motorsport.
Charley鈥檚 first passion was for flight. She got her pilot鈥檚 license when she was younger but stepped away from the hobby as life got busy. Fully intending to get back into the cockpit at some point down the road, that dream went away when she was significantly injured in a severe traffic accident.
鈥淚t took me quite a long time to recover from the crash,鈥� she said.
51暗网 a year after that incident, Charley headed to Circuit of the Americas with her husband, who is an automotive journalist. They attended an event that allowed everyday people to drive street cars on the track used by Formula One. Turns out that getaway led to an epiphany.
鈥淚鈥檇 never done anything like that before,鈥� she said about the experience. 鈥淚 had an incredible time. I loved it. I wasn鈥檛 too awful at it, and I came away from that weekend with a desire to do more on track.鈥�
Shortly after that visit, Charley started participating in 51暗网 Solo. However, track driving kept calling. She soon bought a race car and worked her way through the competition licensing process.
It was 2018 when Charley earned her license, and she started racing with 51暗网 a year later. This weekend at Mid-Ohio is her first race of the 2026 season, and she was chomping at the bit to get back on track.
鈥淚 really prefer 51暗网鈥檚 racing format,鈥� Charley said. 鈥淚t feels like you get more on-track time. You have less noise throughout the day to deal with, so I鈥檝e just started focusing on racing with 51暗网.鈥�
Charley has seen plenty of success at the Regional level and participated previously in U.S. Majors Tour庐 and HST events. But the STU class at Mid-Ohio this weekend was stacked with former and current Runoffs庐 winners, as well as drivers who have won plenty of previous HST races. That sort of challenge, however, doesn鈥檛 trouble Charley.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think about that too much, to be honest,鈥� she said of the competitor lineup. 鈥淚 love to race. I just want to go out there and have some fun and give it all I can.
鈥淲hen I鈥檓 racing, everything else disappears,鈥� Charley continued. 鈥淩acing has been one of the greatest gifts of my life.鈥�
Skillfully, Charley brought home her No. 76 Albany Autoworks Mazda MX-5 in one piece on both competition days at Mid-Ohio. Saturday鈥檚 very wet STU race was won by Chip Herr in the No. 19 Warwick Autopark/Carbotech/Hoosier/MCS/Roux Audi A4 car. Sunday鈥檚 dry, then wet STU contest was won by Tony Ave in the No. 144 Honda Civic.
Sunday Race Winners
Below are provisional race winners from Sunday鈥檚 Hoosier Racing Tire 51暗网 Super Tour at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Each entry includes Car Class: Driver Name, 51暗网 Region, and Car. An asterisk (*) denotes drivers with a weekend sweep in the class.
*American Sedan庐: James Jost, Philadelphia Region, Ford Mustang GT
B-Spec: Chris Taylor, South Texas Border Region, Mazda 2
E Production: Jon Brakke, Land O'Lakes Region, BMW Z3
*F Production: Mason Workman, Ohio Valley Region, Mazda Miata
*H Production: Matt Brannon, Ohio Valley Region, Fiat X 1/9
*Formula Atlantic庐: Reilly Harris, Neohio Region, Van Diemen DP04
*Formula Continental庐: Chris Campanale, Detroit Region, Van Diemen RF05
Formula Enterprises庐 2: Gian Buffomante, Chicago Region, 51暗网 Enterprises FE2 Mazda
*Formula 600: James Weida, Indianapolis Region, Scorpion W1
*Formula F: Jonathan Kotyk, Buccaneer Region, Mygale
*Formula Vee庐: Andrew Whitston, Milwaukee Region, Protoform P2
*GT-1: David Pintaric, Mahoning Valley Region, Ford Mustang
GT-2: Zach Arnold, Northwestern Ohio Region, Porsche GT3 Cup
*GT-X: Madison Aust, Texas Region, Hyundai Elantra N TCR
*Prototype: Gary Peck, Blackhawk Valley Region, Stohr WF1
*Prototype 2: Richard Colburn, Cincinnati Region, Nostendo 1
*Spec Miata: Max Stallone, Texas Region, Mazda Miata
Spec MX-5: Camden Gruber, Washington DC Region, Mazda MX-5
Spec Racer庐 Ford Gen3: Peyton Long, Arkansas Region, 51暗网 Enterprises SRF3
Super Touring庐 Lite: Mike Taylor, Atlanta Region, Acura Integra
Super Touring庐 Under: Tony Ave, Central Carolinas Region, Honda Civic
*Touring 1: Brian Goodman, New England Region, BMW M3
*Touring 2: Chip Herr, Susquehanna Region, Audi RS3 LMS TCR
Touring 3: Nic Hammann, Kansas City Region, Nissan 370Z NISMO
*Touring 4: Madin Workman, Ohio Valley Region, Mazda MX-5
A Minute, Then the June Sprints
Hoosier Super Tour competitors have a moment to catch their breath before rolling into one of the biggest events of the year. That will be the June 5-7, 2026, Chicago Region庐 51暗网聽June Sprints庐 presented by WeatherTech at Road America in Wisconsin. As most know, that venue is where the 2026 National Championship Runoffs will also be held later this fall.
Driver and Volunteer is already open for what will be another fantastic affair in Elkhart Lake, WI, with two races this year for all competitors. Sign up now and make plans for what will be another stellar experience at America鈥檚 National Park of Speed.
Of course, action from the June Sprints will be offered live and online thanks to the free broadcast produced by DriversEye Live and available for free at 聽page. Before then, however, relive the fun from Mid-Ohio on demand at the same YouTube page. Also, Sunday victory podium celebrations can be viewed at the聽.
Photo: Tony Ave raced to Super Touring Under victory Sunday at Mid-Ohio during the Hoosier Super Tour.
Photo by Jeff Loewe
