While Sports Creek Raceway in Michigan will host North America's top two dash winning drivers on New Year's Eve, the track's Wednesday night activities will need to be concluded quickly...by the orders of the state's government.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board issued a cease and desist order on Tuesday instructing Sports Creek Raceway to cease all live and simulcast pari-mutuel wagering effective Jan. 1, 2015. The order was issued in anticipation of Sports Creek not having a 2015 contract with a certified horsemen’s organization by the December 31 deadline specified in law.

The Michigan Harness Horsemen's Association said in a statement posted on its website that it has "offered Sports Creek a number of contract proposals over the past several months, including a provision for horsemen to help off-set costs associated with conducting live racing. The terms offered are consistent with those of the Northville Downs agreement signed in August. The MHHA is hopeful that a deal can yet be reached and will continue discussions with Sports Creek in an effort to reach a workable agreement."

The five-eighths mile oval, located west of Flint in Swartz Creek, Mich., is one of two U.S. tracks racing on New Year's Eve (the other being Balmoral Park in Illinois) and has thus attracted both Aaron Merriman and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. as those two teamsters tussle for the drivers' dash title. Wrenn now boasts 843 wins in 2014, five more than Merriman's 838.

Merriman will have his work cut out for him, driving in 13 of the night's 16 races. Wrenn is listed in 14 of the 16 dashes.