STATELINE - State Line Speedway will have new management just nine months after the site was sold.

Larry Bertrand, who was the oval track manager for Spokane County Raceway in 2009 and 2011 and has managed Fast Kart Speedway in Spokane for the past three years, has been hired as State Line's general manager.

Randy and Jeneane Koch, who took over as managers of State Line when North Pole, Alaska-based Competitive Edge LLC purchased the business from Joe and Walt Doellefeld last April, were fired on Monday along with three other full-time staff members.

Randy Koch said he believes staff infighting, including on how to mend fences between it and the racers, led to the decision.

"Yeah, some people out there don't like me, but they also don't like (others in the company and industry and the country's leadership)," Koch said. "Some people are given at least four years to try, but I didn't even get a whole season."

Bill Slayden, CEO of Competitive Edge, could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

The Kochs founded Competitive Edge Racing School that has been based at the speedway for several years, but is now under the limited liability corporation's umbrella.

"This is an absolutely huge travesty," Koch said. "It's a total destruction of everything I've built."

Koch said the full-time staff were given severance pay, but he learned on Thursday that he and his wife's checks had stop-payments on them.

The speedway, a 40-acre complex off Beck Road that has racing from April to September, employs about 80 during the racing season.

Bertrand said most of those or all of them will be brought back.

Bertrand said he doesn't foresee any changes to racing or the racing school, but plans to add a legends racing series featuring older cars.

"Our main focus will be on maintaining positive customer service with the racers," Bertrand said, adding that signups for the school have started.

Bertrand said he believes he's stepping into a good spot.

"It's something I'm excited about," he said. "The Doellefelds have more than 20 years of having a great reputation, so it's a great situation to come into. It's about trying to continue a positive legacy."

Koch said he had big plans for the site, including possibly hosting the River City Rod Run there, but wasn't given the chance to implement the programs. The Rod Run's site, the Hot Rod Cafe, closed last year due to sagging business.

The speedway was built in 1974 by Bill Eberle. It was later owned by Chuck and Terry Little, parents of former NASCAR driver Chad Little who learned the sport at the track.

The Doellefelds owned the speedway for 23 years before selling it to Competitive Edge last year.