After weeks of negotiations between Renegade DirtCar Racing Series President Rick Gross and Xtreme DirtCar Series owner Doug Bland agreement has been reached between the two parties for the sale of the Apple Creek,OH based sanctioning organization to Bland's Mooresville,NC based sanctioning organziation. The sale was completed Tuesday, November 4 with the name of the organization changed to the Northern Xtreme DirtCar Series.

"Rick and I have been talking about this for quite a few weeks.", said Bland. "There was a lot of give and take in our negoatiations but both of us are happy and we both feel that this is for the betterment of DirtCar racing as a whole. I know there has been a lot of speculation and rumor recently about this situation but now all the rumors can be laid to rest. It's a done deal."

When posed the question of what is in store for the Northern Xtreme DirtCar Series Bland said, "The series will run independent of the national touring Xtreme DirtCar Series. There are no plans whatsoever to shut down one of the most popular organizations in our sport. All the former Renegade Series employees will remain on board and Rick Gross will remain with the series for the next two years in a consultant/advisory role. And, the sale will have no bearing on the upcoming races at East Bay Raceway Park in February. I'm really excited to be able to work with Rick, Bret Emrick, Walter Burson and the rest of the staff of the former Renegade Series. They are all class individuals and are very good at what they do. When we did the co-sanctioned event at West Virginia Motor Speedway a month ago, which was very impressive in how both staffs worked so well together, that had a great deal to do with our decision".

Bland also stated that until January 1 the offices of the new Northern Xtreme DirtCar Series will remain at the Apple Creek,OH location. "Rick has agreed to let us keep the office location where it's been at all these years, for now. But, after January 1 there will be a different location with different contact numbers and everything else that goes along with it. Once we get all that taken care of we will release that information. And, I'll be getting to work to get the 2004 schedule completed as quickly as possible and the few race rules and race procedures we will be changing".

Rick Gross, who along with his father Don, have owned and promoted the series for the past 18 years said, "Both dad and myself thought long and hard about this. But, we feel that it's time to pass the torch on to an enthusiastic entrepeneur, which Doug is. We believe that Doug will be a true leader and a catalyst that will breath fresh air into our sport. Yes, this was a hard decision to make but we feel it's for the betterment of the sport. Doug has some great ideas and resources to take the sport where it's never been. That's exciting for all of us. And, I'll do my best to help Doug reach those goals he has set".





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