Owner closing Mansfield Motorsports Park in Ohio

MANSFIELD, Ohio — The owner of Mansfield Motorsports Park says the central Ohio track is closing due to the slow economy.

Track owner Mike Dzurilla said the half-mile oval track was thrown into limbo Wednesday when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race scheduled for May 23 was canceled. No other events are planned for the track at this time.

Dzurilla says he had to tell remaining employees that they would be unemployed by Christmas.

The track he was unable to locate a title sponsor for the truck race due to the economy. Race fans who had already bought tickets to the truck race will get full refunds.

NASCAR says Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa, will replace Mansfield on the truck series schedule, with the race scheduled for Sept. 5.