THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 4, 1995 TAG: 9508040622
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
The East Carolina Motor Speedway in Robersonville, N.C., abruptly ceased operation Thursday and president Elwood Jarman said if it reopened it would be under new management.
The decision to close was so sudden that track promoter Ray Everett was not informed until shortly after noon as he was preparing for Saturday night's scheduled events.
A short announcement said the track would suspend all operations at the close of business on Thursday and the weekend events were canceled.
In a telephone interview, Jarman said Everett would be retained through next Wednesday and then ``would be out looking for something.''
He said he had ``no idea'' what would happen to the track, which was not affiliated with NASCAR.
Jarman, who owns a tire store in Kinston, N.C., said he decided to close the track immediately ``after sitting down and talking to some people who have a lot more sense than I do.''
He said the track, located about 60 miles southwest of Elizabeth City, had lost money most of the two seasons he operated it.
``I won't tell you how much I've lost, but it is quite a bit more than I intended to lose,'' he said.
Jarman said the track had attracted between 700 and 900 fans at the beginning of the season, but attendance had dropped to less than 500 last week. by CNB