NORTH CAROLINA – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is requiring the ACE Speedway to immediately close and halt operations.
According to a release, the Abandonment Order has to deal with recent actions by the speedway, which reportedly created a "hazard for the spread of COVID-19."
The order follows a letter sent last week by Gov. Roy Cooper's office alerting the speedway that its actions were in defiance of an executive order limiting mass gatherings.
On Thursday, a temporary restraining order hearing was held between NCDHHS and the operators of ACE Speedway.
However, the temporary restraining order will go until the next hearing, which is scheduled for June 19, meaning that the speedway can’t hold any races during that time.
Lawyers for NCDHHS say the state has worked with other racetracks to open and operate under the guidelines, but that ACE Speedway was not following those requirements.
The operators of the speedway believe they’re being singled out because they’ve been outspoken agains the governor.
Their lawyer says they’ve taken safety precautions, like taking temperatures and documenting the license plates of attendees, in case they needed to contact anyone about positive cases.
The next hearing will include witnesses.