Tough times force two local tracks to shut down

How tough has it gotten for local racetracks? Bad enough that two local tracks abruptly announced this week that they're shutting down early — one because of economic reasons, one because of staffing problems.

At Poplar Bluff Speedway, owner Shon Stuart announced on the track's Web site that the track can't afford to stay open for its final two months of the schedule. Stuart said in the note that the track will race just once more in a season finale October 20.

"Everyone thinks race tracks make a ton of money," Stuart wrote. "I got news for you. They don't. And that is the No. 1 reason I'm closing for the year."

The track has competed on Saturday nights since opening in April 2004.

Up the road, Fredericktown Raceway's season is over ... again. The track announced two weeks ago that it would close because of low participation, then changed course two days later and said it would stay open, but without its Late Model division. Its season came to an end again this week when owners Curley and Anne DeBold said the track has sufferend "staffing issues," Anne DeBold wrote in a posting online.