This April 2009 photo shows cars race around the track at the Hutchinson Raceway Park. With attendance wilting because of a struggling economy and extreme heat this summer, the owner has decided to close the track and put it up for sale, canceling races scheduled for Wednesday, July 20 and Friday, July 22, 2011.

Hutchinson ? With attendance wilting because of a struggling economy and extreme heat this summer, the owner of the Hutchinson Raceway Park has decided to close the track and put it up for sale.

Owner Paul Dutton canceled races scheduled for Wednesday and Friday of this week after deciding it “would be more cost effective to close it down rather than be out of money and be forced to close it down,” he said.

The last race at the red-dirt track on July 8 attracted only a handful of fans as the track’s sponsorship support and attendance have declined.

Dutton and two co-owners struggled with the decision to close the 3/8-mile track, which opened 10 years ago.

“Although I hate the thought of it, if it’s a deal where it costs you money every time you open the doors up, eventually the well runs dry,” Dutton said. “You can’t rob from any place else to keep it open.”

Low attendance has hurt other Kansas tracks this summer, The Hutchinson News reported Thursday.

C. Ray Hall, in his 40th year as general manager of 81 Speedway in Park City, said his crowds have dwindled since the start of the season.

“I opened in the month of April really on a high note,” Hall said. “The month of June was horrible compared to what I’ve had. There weren’t any people and there wasn’t any enthusiasm — they were just here. I think part of it was (fans) think they’ve got all summer to come and nobody has any extra money right now. So there (are) a lot of reasons not to go do something.”

Dutton opened the Hutchinson track this season with high hopes. The International Motor Contest Association returned to the track for the first time since early 2000s. The track’s modified, sport-modified and hobby-stock classes were under the IMCA banner, with its traditional super-stock, street, hornet and cruiser classes remaining.

Dutton hoped the three new classes would bring in more fans and drivers. The modified division averaged 15 to 20 cars per night but the other two classes attracted only a few cars. At the same time, attendance was dropping.

“We just don’t have a good car-to-spectator ratio,” Dutton said. “I don’t think it’s going to get any better.”

Dutton said he has talked with the IMCA about transferring drivers’ point standings to Salina Speedway.

“I told them I’d go to help if they can switch the points from one track to another,” Dutton said. “I feel bad for my racers. They are the ones that wanted IMCA, which is a good organization.”

Dutton said he plans to meet with a relator about selling the property, while other items will be auctioned off.