DIRT LATE MODEL & FLAT OUT Magazines Sold To Three Wide Media
by: Doc Lehman

KNOXVILLE, TN (Dec. 27, 2006) - Beginning January 2, 2007 the extremely popular dirt track racing oriented national magazines Dirt Late Model and Flat Out will have new ownership when Three Wide Media based in Independence, IA assumes proprietorship of the magazines from Mind Over Media Publishing, announced Dean Nardi of Mind Over Media and Brian Lillie of Three Wide Media on Wednesday morning.

"I feel we are passing the torch on to the right person in Brian Lillie to carry on the tradition of fine quality publishing that was begun 12 years ago with Dirt Late Model magazine,” stated Nardi. “Brian is bright and energetic and clearly has the best interests of the sport at heart."

Three Wide Media, an offshoot of sorts of the successful eCreative Group is headed by Lillie, Mike O’Connor and Rick Hartzell, all of whom have extensive backgrounds in the dirt racing industry.

“Our decision to purchase the magazines was based on a few different factors,” explained Lillie. “The first factor was our passion for the sport. Regardless of how well a person can run a business if there isn’t a passion for it, it’s just work. I’ve always been inspired by those who took a hobby and made it a career.”

“The second reason was because of my other company, eCreative Group. At eCreative Group we have a division that is dedicated to motorsports marketing. We’ve worked with numerous sanctioning bodies, tracks, promoters, and race teams over the past couple years. We felt that the addition of these two magazines made our agency stronger, and visa versa, we also feel that our agency makes the magazines stronger.”

Subscribers and advertisers will see little immediate change in production, printing, staff and content other than the goal to expand the scope and depth of the publications.

"There should be no apparent changes to either magazine,” commented Nardi. “The entire staff will remain in their current position. There is no reason to mess with something that works very well. At the same time, it will be very exciting to see how the new owners expand upon the business and use their expertise to grow the company in years to come."

“The only change is the name of the publishing company and the location of the corporate office from Knoxville, TN to Independence, IA,” added Lillie. “All employees of Mind Over Media Publishing will continue to be employees of Three Wide Media. We’re very excited about having everyone stay on board too. They’ve all done such a wonderful job taking the magazines to the level that they are currently. We have plans to expand in a few areas to give more benefits to subscribers and advertisers alike. With the current team, and the addition of my team at eCreative Group, we believe we are poised and ready to take these magazines to the next level.”

Lillie and associates also have some specific goals in place for the publications.

“Our goals with the magazines are to continue with the road map that Dean has put in place,” said Lillie. “To add value to the magazines we plan on developing a new online presence that will serve as an extension of the great coverage that they both currently have for subscribers. For advertisers, there will be online marketing tools that will add tons of value and even return on their advertising investment.”

“In short, we just want to stay on track with the success that they’ve both had so far and continue to grow them.”

Tim Lee will remain as editor of Dirt Late Model while Justin Zoch retains the editor’s position at Flat Out. Susan Bauer Lee and Martin DeFries will also remain as art directors of Dirt Late Model and Flat Out, respectively.

Both magazines feature some of the top Motorsports writers and photographers from around the country including Al Martin III, Todd Turner, Bryan Householder, Paul Fletcher, Doc Lehman, Scott Wolfe, Doug Kennedy, Barry Johnson, Mike Sullivan, Bob Markos, Kendra Jacobs, Michael O’Leary, Tony Hammett, David Allio, Bob Appleget, Robbie Ray, Jerry Reigle, Pete Zanardi, Jim Butler, Mike Campbell, Rick Schwallie, Chuck Gonzales, Ron Meyer, Ken Coles, Mike Nelligan, Steve Koletar, Tom Hein, Mike Feltenberger, Brian Tidball and dozens of others.

Nardi, who two years ago went into partnership with Carl Short as the promoters of the famed dirt Late Model ‘crown jewel’ race, the Dirt Track World Championship, will consider additional race promotions once Three Wide Media assumes ownership of the magazines.

"For my wife Theresa and myself, there is a sadness with letting these two magazines go,” commented Nardi. “We've been in the racing business as publishers since 1990 and as competitors and fans for many years before that. It's been a huge part of both our lives. But as Pete Seeger has said, 'There is a season and a time for every purpose, under heaven.' This is a good thing - both for the new owners of the magazines and us - and a time of new beginnings."

For additional information on Dirt Late Model and Flat Out magazines visit: www.mompub.com , www.ecreativegroup.com  and/or www.threewidemedia.com