by the Associated Press

The owner of the Heartland Motorsports Park says he’s looking into razing the Topeka racetrack and moving to the Kansas City area because of a tax fight.

Chris Payne says several parcels of land are for sale and bids are being taken to remove some of the buildings. He says the current tax situation makes it nearly impossible to run a profitable business. The Shawnee County Appraiser’s website says that Payne currently owes nearly $522,000 in back taxes. He purchased the facility in 2016.

Payne says he’s offered to donate the property to the city and then pay rent on it. Payne says the idea was rejected, but Topeka city manager Brent Trout says it’s being reviewed. Trout says the situation is “concerning.”