OAKS, PA December 30, 2021 . . . A roundtable discussion and several key seminars are in place for the 36th edition of Pioneer Pole Building Motorsports Trade and Race Car show taking place at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA January 21 and 22.
Richard Tobias, Jr., founder of Speedway Entertainment, will help define the difference between a “Racer or just a Driver?” along with a veteran roundtable discussion panel. The group, which will go on stage in D-Hall at 4:30 for one hour, will include Hall of Fame racers Billy “The Kid” Pauch and Fred Rahmer. They’ll be joined by two of the best today, Billy Pauch, Jr. and Mike Mahaney.
Tobias, who has designed and built Slingshots and SpeedSTRs after his own successful driving career, has helped through his affordable divisions to grow the careers of many young drivers. He’s also worked to showcase these upcoming racers in their starts weekly at the Kutztown, PA Action Track he co-promotes.
Each panelist will share their views on differences between those who merely drive race cars and those who are becoming racers, and what it has taken for them to transition to a consistent up-front runner and race winner.
Is it just consistency – or are there other intangibles? It’s a discussion that promises to be time well spent for aspiring young drivers trying to make their ways in the sport, and for their parents who seek to find the most productive path for their children in the sport!
Free seminars have always been an important part of the PPB Motorsports Show. Hot topics at this year’s show will be Dirt Modified Four-Coil suspension, Dirt Sportsman A To Z, and Engine Maintenance and Tuning for carburetor and fuel injected race cars.
Chuck Schmick of Mooresville, NC, a Technical Sales Advisor for Behrent’s Performance Warehouse and a renowned suspension expert with Eibach Springs, will present an informative one hour presentation.
Beginning at 12:30 in the seminar room, Schmick will present an information seminar on the advantage of using coil springs; stacking coils; loads vs. rates; linear, progressive, digressive rates; tunning with spring rubbers; tender spring vs. helper spring; compressed vs extended load numbers and coil spring maintenance.
Schmick’s the expert and he’s will to share his knowledge and answer questions so come with your pad and pencil and have questions ready. A free drawing will also be held with the winner receiving two Eibach Springs.
Dirt Sportsman racing will be the topic in the seminar room for one hour beginning at 2:00 PM on Saturday. Matt Janczuk, the 2021 DIRTcar Sportsman champion from Oneida, NY will be the key note speaker.
Janczuk, a respected veteran of the dirt Sportsman ranks, will cover all the basics he used to win 19 features and five championships in 2021 from the work at the race shop to race day changes.
Janczuk, a nine-time champion at Utica-Rome Speedway, will cover what he feels is needed for a new race team moving up to get started. He’ll go over his weekly maintenance check-list, touch on motor maintenance, valve springs and oil. He’ll spend time on chassis set-up, shocks and springs.
As a successful driver, he’ll be able to answer questions on following an ever-changing track surface and what tire prep is needed to be successful and save money. Drivers making the move up from small cars or current Sportsman drivers wanting to up their game need to attend with questions in hand for a driver known for helping his fellow competitors!
Racing Engine, Carb & Injector Maintenance and Trouble Shooting will be the one hour topic in the seminar room on Saturday beginning at 3:30. Mark Bitner, a veteran Modified and Sprint Car racer as well as a successful engine builder at Bitner Automotive in Trenton, NJ, will offer his insight and help to race teams.
Bitner will outline the proper engine care program for race cars fueled both by carburetors or injectors a team should follow. He’ll also help prepare team members on how to trouble shoot when problems develop.
Racers often lose valuable laps and thousands of dollars trying to solve a nagging, missing engine. What Bitner has to say could come in handy on race night.
Asphalt Modified and Budget Race cars be the subject of two uniquely different seminars on Friday.
At 4:30 Asphalt Modifieds By The Book will be presented by Matt Hirschman, a 22-time 2021 winner during another Driver Of The Year season. Hirschman is also a car owner and a speed shop operater so he can cover all the bases.
Hirschman will present the proper methods of maintaining, setting up and documenting the work to help advance a team into a winner in asphalt Modified or Sportsman competition. He’ll be available to answer questions and offer driving advice, race strategy and planning that can especially benefit the young racer trying to advance in the sport.
Also on Friday night, at 6:00 PM, Roy Anderson will return for another information seminar. The owner of Anderson Race Cars will focus one hour on set-up, tire and general maintenance on Street, Pure, Factory Stock and Front Wheel Drive (asphalt and dirt) “U-Car” divisions.
Area Auto Racing News photographer Bob Yurko will take the the seminar roon on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 to offer help in taking racing photos.
The award winning racing photographer has helped others step up their game before and he’s back to do it again this year. His seminar will focus on the “amateur” photographer and the person looking to enter the business. His seminar will provide “the basics” of racing photography.
A Race Track/ Tour & Series Media Workshop will be hosted by Wayne Harper, the Lincoln, Pa., Speedway press director. This Open discussion between racing writers/ photographers and track/ series Promoters/ Managers and Press Directors is set for 2:30 on Saturday.
Planned discussion includes professionalism, credential usage and pre and post-event coverage.
A featured topic will be “Today’s Racing Social Media”, with emphasis on how tracks and organizations are using Facebook, Twitter, and related social media in publicizing their events, and “credential approval by tracks in the new era of social media.”
The show itself will include nearly 200 race cars of all kinds on display. Many speedways and organizations will use the show to announce their plans for the new season.
A special Penn National Speedway reunion will be held with cars that raced there over the years on display and winning drivers signing autographs.
Aqua-Duck Water Transport is returning as sponsor of the always popular Ms. Motorsports Pageant which will be held on Friday evening this year in the larger D-Hall. Cash prizes will again go to the top three with the winner receiving $1,500 and a poster deal. Applications are currently available on-line at the event web-site.
Show hours will run 2-9 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.
A limited amount of exhibit space remains. This information is available on line at motorsportstradeshow.com, by sending an email to Danny Sammons at danny@aarn.com or by calling the show office at 609-888-3618.
OAKS, PA DECEMBER 23, 2021 . . . When the Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports presented by Sunoco and fueled by Insinger Performance will returns to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA on January 21 and 22nd in will truly have something for everyone. New, old, present and vintage cars will be among the over 200 racecars on display at the 37th annual edition of the popular show.
Showcasing this trend will be a display featuring the NASCAR Camping World Truck of Danny Bohn, a former resident of Freehold, NJ. Bohn, who now lives in North Carolina, will be on hand at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center to pose for photos next to the North American Motor Car NASCAR Camping World Series Truck he drove during his rookie season in 2021.
Bohn will be on hand both days of the show, Friday January 20th and Saturday, January 21st to sign autographs and meet fans. Team apparel will be available for sale along with other team merchandise.
Adding even more interest and excitement to the PPB Motorsports Show will be a Garden State Vintage Stock Club display that will feature Bohn’s grandfather Parker and his legendary car owner Tom Skinner.
Skinner and Parker Bohn, both deceased, will have their outstanding careers and impact on the sport recalled at the event. In the GSVSCC booth will be the original No. 659 GMC six-cylinder powered coupe and later version No. 659 Chevy Vega that were designed, built and owned by Skinner and driven to victory at Wall Stadium by Bohn in the era of the 1960s and 70s. The coupe and Vega are now owned by GSVSCC member Doug Megill.
A third car in the GSVSCC booth will be the North American Motorcar No. 65 Modified driven at one time by Parker, his son Eddie Bohn and most recently by his son Danny. That No. 65, built by Eddie and his friend Bill Megill in the early-1990s with input from Tom Skinner and Parker Bohn, is still competitive today. It was most-recently raced to a fifth place finish by Danny Bohn in the November 2021 Turkey Derby at Wall Stadium, and has been driven to victories at the storied NC’s Bowman Gray Stadium.
The GSVSCC display will also have historic videos and photos depicting the careers of Skinner and the Bohn family; and artwork by New Jersey racing artist Bill Force.
Many speedways and organizations will continue to use the show to announce their plans for the new season. The United Racing Club Sprint Car Series is planning a special large display showcasing cars from the series’ over 70 years and present day stars. A special Penn National Speedway Reunion will also be a big part of the two day event. Racers will find many displays showcasing the most up to date racing equipment as well as show specials on many parts and safety equipment.
Show hours will run 2-9 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.
All the information that exhibitors need is available on line at motorsportstradeshow.com, by sending an email to Danny Sammons at danny@aarn.com or by calling the show office at 609-888-3618.
Show information can be had at the show website www.motorsportstradeshow.com.
OAKS, PA DECEMBER 22, 2021 . . . Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports presented by Sunoco and fueled by Insinger Performance returns to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA on January 21 and 22nd. The 37th annual edition of the popular show dedicated to all forms of motorsports will be filled with what is new, what is old and what is happening in the business of motorsports. Many popular figures in the sport can often be found visiting the show, greeting fans and signing autographs.
One of the must see attractions will be one of the new SRX (Superstar Racing Experience) race cars that will be featured in a second year of competition at a variety of tracks around the nation during 2022.
The series is the brainchild of Tony Stewart, NASCAR Cup Series championship crew chief and car owner Ray Evernham, former NASCAR executive George Pyne and sports agent Sandy Montag. The series enjoyied a successful first season on dirt and asphalt short trracks across the country with Stewart winning the first championship.
Some of the well-known drivers that competed in the inaugural season included Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves, Marco Andretti, Bill Elliott, Willy T. Ribbs, Doug Coby, Tony Kanaan, Hallie Deegan and others. Some are expected to be back for season two with some new names being added.
Races at six different half-mile dirt and asphalt short tracks were 90 minutes long with a “halftime” break so adjustments could be made. It is possible that additional tracks will be included for the new season. Details on tracks, drivers and more will be announced shortly.
Founder Stewart compares SRX to the famous IROC Series of the past which featured identical cars being raced by an all-star cast of drivers. Early in Evernham’s career he was a key member of the IROC staff making him a key part of SRX’s first season.
The SRX car will be one of nearly 200 race cars of all kinds on display at the two day show. Many speedways and organizations will use the show to announce their plans for the new season in Pocono Raceway, New Egypt Speedway, Bridgeport Motorsports Park, Delaware Int’l and many more. A special Penn National Speedway reunion will be held with cars that raced there over the years on display and winning drivers signing autographs.
Aqua-Duck Water Transport is returning as sponsor of the always popular Ms. Motorsports Pageant which will be held on Friday evening this year in the larger D-Hall. Cash prizes will again go to the top three with the winner receiving $1500 and a poster deal. Applications are currently available on-line at the event web-site.
Show hours will run 2-9 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.
A limited amount of exhibit space remains. This information is available on line at motorsportstradeshow.com, by sending an email to Danny Sammons at danny@aarn.com or by calling the show office at 609-888-3618.
After the show the fun will continue, as it has in the past, at the nearby Crowne Plaza in King of Prussia. A special room rate of $98 is available and reservations can be made by phoning 610.265.7500 and asking for the special rate or using the web-link at motorsportstradeshow.com. A special post-event party will be held on Friday night with a popular DJ and beer specials being offered.
“The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks continues to be a great location in the center of the northeast motorsports world right in the suburbs of Philadelphia,” said Sammons. “It’s easy in and easy out with plenty of Free parking surrounding the Expo Center.
In respect of the current Covid-19 situation there will be no Little Miss, Big Wheel competition or autograph alley at this years show. Drivers and special guests will instead be signing autographs at booths throughout the show. Several fun activities for children will also be found throughout the show.
Show information can be had at the show website www.motorsportstradeshow.com.
OAKS, PA – As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on indoor gatherings in place in the State of Pennsylvania, the Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports Racecar and Trade Show fueled by Sunoco Race Fuels has been postponed until 2022.
The decision to postpone the event, which was to be held on January 22, 23 & 24 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, was made over the Thanksgiving holiday by event promoter Len Sammons.
“Postponing the event which has been held annually for over 30 years was one of the toughest decisions I have had to make,” stated Len Sammons.
“Up until last week I was optimistic that we would be able to find a way to host the event. But after the Governor announced his latest restrictions on indoor gatherings it became clear that it wasn’t going to be possible.”
To combat the spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Wolf announced a reduction in indoor gatherings at press conference on Tuesday, November 24. The reduction moved the capacity inside the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center to just 5% its total capacity or less than 500 people.
Before the latest reduction Motorsports Show staff was in contact with the Montgomery County Board of Health to develop a safety plan to host the event.
“We were really close to having an approved plan, things would have been different and done with the proper safety measures in place,” stated Sammons.
Title sponsor Pioneer Pole Buildings and owner Bob Greene have already pledged their support for the event in 2022. Likewise Sunoco Race Fuels, Aqua Duck Water Transport and Bob Hilbert Sportswear will all return as show sponsors.
“With the event now just a month and half away, we needed to make a decision so that all our great exhibitors can make plans,” added Len Sammons.
“Unfortunately, right now it’s not possible to host the event in the manner which we would like… or that our attendees and exhibitors have come to expect.”
“While it wouldn’t be Motorsports, if conditions improved I would be open to doing a smaller show in February or March,” concluded Sammons. “I am an optimistic person and keep hoping that things will get better and we can get back to business as usual. When that happens we will be there to help the race tracks, businesses and racers connect.”
Andrea Cap, Ms. Motorsports 2020, has agreed to keep her crown for an unprecented second year. Despite COVID-19 restrictions during the past year, Cap did an outstanding job traveling to as many events as possible. But she missed out on many special trips she’ll now be able to accomplish to represent herself, her crown and event sponsor Aqua Duck Water Transport.
Anyone interested in being added to the mailing list for Motorsports 2022 can email motorsports@aarn.com with your name, address and phone number or call Danny Sammons at 609-888-3618.
Information will be posted at the show web-site, www.motorsportstradeshow.com when available.
TRENTON, NJ – Dates for the 37th annual Motorsports Racecar and Trade Show and five Indoor Auto Racing Series events have been secured at four different venues for the 2020-2021 off-season. Specfic event information, however, remains on pause by Len Sammons Productions until ever changing COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions become more clear for the three different states that these indoor events are held annually.
“Our hopes is that we can promote all five events, but at this point there is no way of knowing,” said Len Sammons.
The Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports 2021 Presented by Sunoco Distributed by Insinger Performance Race Car and Trade Show will return to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA for a 13th consecutive year on Friday January 22nd thru Sunday January 24th.
Organizers await possible social distancing requirement changes to the Motorsports show floor plan for the 220,000 square feet show before being able to commit to sales and location assigments.
The 2020 Indoor Auto Racing Series fueled by VP Racing Fuels season finale was postponed by the COVID-19 virus a day before it was scheduled to begin in March in Syracuse, N.Y. That second annual event has now been tenative rescheduled and will kick-off the 2021 Indoor Season at the New York State Fairgrounds Exposition Center on Friday and Saturday nights November 20th and 21st.
“Much like other sports held indoors, COVID-19 restrictions remain unclear and ever changing at this point,” said Sammons.
“Obviously the most tenative event would be the first in late November in Syracuse, but we would love to host that event for all the fans and racers so earger to attend earlier this year before it was cancelled at the last minute.”
The Indoor ‘Concrete” Series featuring the TQ Midgets, Champ Karts and Slingshot is scheduled to continue at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa. on Friday and Saturday, January 8th and 9th for the sixth consecutive year.
The weekend after the Motorsports show the 19th annual Indoor Auto Racing Series events inside N.J.’s historical Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall are on the calendar. The NAPA Know How weekend in AC will be held January 29 and 30 in 2021.
The only LSP Indoor Series event held on a clay racing surface comes up next on the schedule. The fourth annual East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals featuring the 600 Micro Sprints is set to return to Trenton, N.J.’s CURE Insurance Arena on February 19 & 20.
The 2021 season finale would then follow back in Syracuse, N.Y. on March 12 – 13.
“The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center opened last week to several small shows, but it had been closed as all the arena’s our Indoor Auto Racing Series events are held, in since late March,” said Sammons.
“Our dates are secured with each venue and host hotel. Our commitment is to hold each event but at this point we cannot make any firm plans. With our first event still four months away, we feel we have plenty of time to wait during these very tormoil times.”
Further Indoor Auto Racing Series information, including advance ticket sales, for each event remains on hold until COVID-19 restrictions become more clear. Check IndoorAutoRacing.com for updates as they become available. All Indoor Series entries from the March 2020 event will role over to the 2021 season.
Those interested in receiving one of the new colorful show brochures when they are printed can drop an email to motorsports@aarn.com with name, address and phone number or call Danny Sammons at 609-888-3618. Information will also be posted at the show web-site, www.motorsportstradeshow.com when available.
OAKS, PA April 9, 2021 . . .The Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports 2021 Presented by Sunoco Distributed by Insinger Performance Race Car and Trade Show will return to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA for a 13th consecutive year a week later than previously announced.
The 37th annual event will be held on Friday January 22nd thru Sunday January 24th thanks in part to a shift in the calendar of other events based off New Year’s Day landing on a weekend.
The new 2021 show date avoids back-to-back weekends with the nearby Allentown, PA PPL Center Indoor Auto Racing Series events and the Motorsports show, both promotions of Len Sammons Productions.
With New Year’s Day on a Friday, the traditional Ironton Telephone sponsored Indoor races headlined by the TQ (Three Quarter) Midgets have moved back to January 8th and 9th in 2021. The new Motorsports date will also avoid conflict for show dealers who attend the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, OK.
The Motorsports show will now return as it had been for many years a week before the annual Indoor Auto Racing Series events inside N.J.’s historical Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall. The NAPA Know How weekend in AC will be held January 29 and 30 in 2021.
Soon to be available is the colorful brochure outlining all the details of the Pioneer PPB Motorsports Trade Show with exciting changes being made to the floor plan.
Exhibitors from this year’s show are invited to renew their space first by May 31st. After that date all remaining available space in the 200,000 square feet of show space will become available on a first come, first serve basis.
Those interested in receiving one of the new colorful show brochures when they are printed can simply drop an email to motorsports@aarn.com with name, address and phone number or call Danny Sammons at 609-888-3618. Information will also be posted at the show web-site, www.motorsportstradeshow.com when available.
One of the most popular events during the three day show has been, and will again be, Saturday night’s Ms. Motorsports Pageant sponsored by Aqua Duck Water Transport. One woman will walk off with a $1,500 cash prize along with the popular poster deal. Sunday will continue to be Kid’s Day at the show.
Many racing facilities and sanctioning bodies will be represented, using the show to announce their 2021 racing plans and schedules. The show will include over 200 race cars of all kinds
A special Motorsports hotel rate, at the Valley Forge Casino, will be available in the coming weeks through a link off the show web-site.
The three day show will feature just about everything imaginable in Motorsports. The 2020 edition of the show drew healthy crowds with former NASCAR talents and now TV personalities Dale Jarrett, a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and Kyle Petty drawing large crowds for autograph sessions.
The Expo Center is a very popular location with show attendees and exhibitors as it is easy to get to from area highways and offers free parking.
Check in at www.motorsportstradeshow.com for further information.
OAKS, PA – Andrea Cap of York, PA was named Aqua Duck Water Transport Ms. Motorsports 2020 Saturday night at the Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports 2020 Race Car & Trade Show Saturday night. Andrea was crowned her successor, Taylor Fullin. Ms. Cap’s first runner-up was Morgan Rochelle and second runner-up was Casey Robicheau. Ms. Cap was also the Swimwear winner, Ms. Rochelle the Sportswear winner, Ms. Robicheau the Interview winner, Amanda Arms the Ms. Photogenic winner and Rachel Molyneaux was named Ms. Congeniality.
Donna Miller, the pageant organizer since the inception of the Ms. Motorsports competition at the first show in 1986, was saluted for her years of excellence. Donna announced that the 2020 show was her last. Jamie Sammons will be the new pageant coordinator starting in 2021.
Nine exhibitors earned laurels superior appearing race cars and displays. Best Open Cockpit race car was the Bitner Automotive No. 15 Wingless Sprint that was part of the Bitner Automotive Display. Best Modified/ Late Model was awarded to the Mike Gular driven No. 2A that was part of the Bicknell Race Cars booth. Stephane Lafrance’s Trick Race Car Products booth display received laurels for Best Commercial Booth. Stephen Hanes’ one-of-a-kind VW drag race car was acknowledged for Best Drag Race Car.
Also earning awards were the Montgomery County Quarter Midget Club of Phoenixville PA for best Quarter Midget Display, the Atlantic Coast Old Timers Club for best Vintage Club display, and Orange County Fair Speedway for best Speedway display.
Other outstanding exhibitor awards were presented to the Jimmy Horton, Jr. Statewide Hi-Way Safety Kenny Weld No. 3 Modified that Horton drove to 47 wins in the 1978 season. The car was recently restored by DKM’s Eric Mack for Chris Larsen, who recently had acquired the car.
Finally, the Weikert’s Livestock No. 29 410 Sprint, a Ben Cook chassis car that Doug Wolfgang raced in 1987 was saluted as the Best Vintage Open Cockpit car of the show.
Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett met and greeted Motorsports Show attendees for two hours each Saturday afternoon, preceded by lively stage interviews with audience participation.
Area Auto Racing News’ winningest drivers of the 2019 season were acknowledged on stage prior to the Ms. Motorsports pageant. Matt Hirschman, Danny Dietrich, Tom Fearn, Matt Sheppard, Tommy Kunzman were the award winners; Hirschman was present to receive his award on stage while Sheppard received his laurels earlier on Saturday.
Tomorrow, Sunday, January 20 will be dedicated to Kids, with Little Ms. Motorsports and Tiny Ms. Motorsports pageants planned. The formal show events conclude with the annual running of Kids Big Wheels Races, featuring events among three ages groups of youngsters.
Dates for the 2021 Motorsports Show have been announced for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, January 15, 16, and 17, 2020.
-SATURDAY, JANUARY 18th – SHOW HOURS 11 AM – 9 PM
10:00 AM: BOX OFFICE OPENS, PRE-SHOW EXHIBITS & INFORMATION (A-Hall Entrance Only) – The public is invited to enter the D-Hall Stage Area starting one-hour before the rest of the show opens. You must have a ticket for the show which opens at 11 AM. This will allow you easy entrance to the show when it is officially opened.
10:30 – 11:30 PM: AUTOGRAPHS: (D Hall) – Top 2019 northeast race winner MATT SHEPPARD will signing a special color poster given away free. Sheppard, the top dirt Modified winners, will be presented his special awards afterwards on the E-Hall stage. Fans are encouraged to bring the poster to a second autograph session at 6 PM when top divisional winners DANNY DIETRICH (Open Cockpit), MATT HIRSCHMAN (Asphalt Modified) and TOM FEARN (Asphalt Late Model) will sign there names to the poster!
11:00 AM: Show opens to the public.
11:15 – 9:00 PM: GO-KART RACEWAY OPENS: (C Hall Raceway) – Race your racing buddies on an oval track for bragging rights in fast electric go karts. It’s just $10 a race. Tickets are available at the speedway location. You must be at least 12 years old and over 54 inches in height to take the green flag.
12:00 – 1:00 PM: AUTOGRAPHS: LEGENDS OF DELAWARE (Georgetown Speedway Display No. 516) – Drivers who made headlines for decades racing on the dirt in the state of Delaware will be gathered to sign autographs at the display featuring one of the state’s most famous raceways. Those glory days of racing in the first state are now a part of a book authored by Chad Culver entitled “Legends of Delaware Auto Racing.” Drivers signing the newly released book include Delaware’s own RICKY ELLIOTT, CURT MICHAEL, RON KEYS, GARY TRICE and car owner KEN COVEY. Also signing will be Pa. driver KENNY BRIGHTBILL who won on the Syracuse mile for Delaware car owner Eugene Mills and the 2010 Delaware International Speedway Championship. “Legends of Delaware Auto Racing” will also be available at the nearby Coastal 181 booth before and after the signing.
12:30 PM: AWARD PRESENTATION (E-Hall Stage Area): Bruce Insinger from Insinger Performance and Sunoco Race Fuels will be making a special presentation to a local race track for outstanding services and accomplishments.
1:00 – 3:00 PM: AUTOGRAPHS: KYLE PETTY (E-Hall Stage Area) – Former NASCAR Cup racer Kyle Petty, now a popular NBC Sports racing analyst, will chat with show attendees and answer questions followed by a two hour autograph session. The son of seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Richard Petty, Kyle was an eight-time winner in NASCAR Cup competition. He appeared in 829 races, finished in the top five in the NASCAR standings five times. He earned 173 top-ten finishes.
1:30 to 3:00 PM: AUTOGRAPHS/ READING REUNION – Stop by relive a great area in racing while meeting many former Reading Fairgrounds stars including RUSS SMITH, GLENN FRITZCHARLES, JUNIOR MIKOSZ, BOBBY BRAXTON, ROD BREITENSTEIN, RONNIE LEIMBACH, LEE BRISAN, BUTCH GREEN, BRUCE YOUNG, AARON BROMMER, BOB EPPIHIMER, TOMMY LONG, DONN ESKEY, TIM HIGGINS, BOB JOHNSON, RONNIE PECK, DARREL HERMAN, RONNIE KEHL, RUSS LEWIS, TIM SCHELL and BEVERLY STRUNK who once turned laps around the historical 1/2 mile dirt speedway.
4:00 – 6:00 PM: AUTOGRAPHS: DALE JARRETT (E Hall Stage) – Three-time NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 winner Dale Jarrett, now an NBC Sports broadcast team member, will be talking to fans and then signing autographs. Jarrett, the 1999 NASCAR Cup Series champion, was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2014. He will do an interview and answer questions from show attendees before signing free autographs. The 63 year old son of NASCAR legend Ned Jarrett, Dale won the Daytona 500 in 1993, 1996 and 2000. He tallied 32 Cup wins during his 24 years on the Cup circuit including two wins in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, in 1996 and 1999.
3:00 – 4:00 PM: ORANGE SPEEDWAY REUNION (C-Hall Reunion Area) – Special Autographs of top drivers who competed over the years at the Middletown, N.Y. speedway which celebrated it’s 100th anniversary this year. This group which will include BRETT HEARN, MAT WILLIAMSON, ANTHONY PERREGO, JIMMY HORTON, MIKE GULAR, GARY BALOUGH, JERRY HIGBIE, CODY HIGBIE, TIGHE SCOTT, TOMMY MEIER, RYAN KRACHUN, TYLER DIPPEL, GRANT HILFIGER, TYLER BONIFACE, CRAIG MITCHELL, RICHARD SMITH, SAM MARTZ, SR. and SAM MARTZ, JR., LEROY AMY and ANTHONY FERRAIUOLO, IV.
3:00 – 4:00 PM: AUTOGRAPHS (Pioneer Pole Buildings Display – 104) – Billy Pauch, Billy Pauch Jr., Craig Von Dohren, Davey Sammons, Jonathan and David Swanson, Trevo Kobylarz, Matt and Trent Warner, Brandon Crockford, Christin Bruno, Brian and Kevin Hirthler, Brett Bieber.
6:00 – 7:00 PM: AUTOGRAPH SESSION (Area Auto Racing News booth No. 224) – Top 2018 northeast divisional winners DANNY DIETRICH (Open Cockpit), MATT HIRSCHMAN (Asphalt Modified) and TOM FEARN (Asphalt Late Model) will be signing a special color poster given away free. Those who arrive early can get top northeast winner Matt Sheppard’s autograph on the same poster (Sheppard has to leave early to attend the Land of Legends Speedway banquet to receive his Modified track championship award).
7:00 PM: SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS (E Hall Stage) – Several important announcements will be made and awards presented.
7:30 PM: MS. MOTORSPORTS COMPETITION sponsored by Aqua-Duck Water Transport (E Hall Stage)
OAKS, PA January 17, 2020 . . . Matt Sheppard and Mike Mahaney made headlines in different ways on Friday, Day One, of the PPB 2020 Motorsports Race Car & Trade Show in the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center.
Sheppard, winner of 35 Dirt Modified features in 2019, shared trade secrets and offered advice on buying used race cars for the more than 80 racers who attended his Q&A seminar.
“I learn more about setups when things go wrong than when things go right,” Sheppard shared. “You remember what not to do.”
Mahaney was the winner of a Celebrity Go Kart race run Friday night. To win, he executed a last turn, last lap pass against Ryan Watt to register the top prize. Eric Kormann was third.
“It was a lot of fun,” Mahaney shared. “The track was pretty slippery and it made for some good racing.”
Day Two of the Motorsports Show will feature guest appearances by NASCAR fan favorites Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett.
Petty, a third generation NASCAR Cup driver prior to retirement, is now one of the top NASCAR TV commentators. He will sign autographs and meet and greet Motorsports attendees from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.
Second generation Cup driver Jarrett is a three-time Daytona 500 winner and one time NASCAR Cup season champion plus being a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and a TV personality. Jarrett will sign autographs from 4:00 to 6:00 PM Saturday afternoon.
Following the autograph signing sessions by Petty and Jarrett, the stage will be set for the 35th annual Ms. Motorsports Competition, sponsored by Aqua Duck Water Transport. Fifteen contestants have entered the competition in advance with more expected. At stake is a $1,500 top prize, a poster deal and the opportunity to travel the nation’s speedways as the official representative of the Motorsports Show.
On Sunday, the closing day of the show, three competitions, each centered on the sport’s youth, will be held. The Little Ms. Motorsports pageant and Tiny Ms. Motorsports competition transpire followed by Kids Big Wheel Races, featuring youngsters racing in various age groups with trophies presented to all winners.
The Best In Show awards will be presented to deserving exhibitors on Sunday afternoon as well.
Dates on or about the second weekend in January, 2021 are anticipated to be released in the near future.
OAKS, PA January 16, 2020 . . . The preparations necessary to transform the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center into the Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports Race Car & Trade Show 2020 were continuing in earnest through 8:00 PM Thursday evening. The 36th annual rendition of the event under the direction of Len Sammons Motorsports Productions opens to the public at 2:00 PM Friday, January 17 and continues Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 18-19.
“This year’s show is shaping up to be one of the best,” said event organizer Sammons. “Move in day was very smooth and we expect big crowds for all three days with all that we have going on at the 2020 Show.”
Much of the work centered around the Orange County Fair Speedway Display, which will feature the track’s past, present, and future. The speedway celebrated the 100th anniversary of the running of its first automobile race this past August. A never-before-seen restoration of the Statewide Hi-Way Safety No. 3 Gremlin, built by Kenny Weld, driven by Jimmy Horton, owned by Halmar International’s Chris Larsen, and restored by Eric Mack is among the features in the display and of the entire Motorsports 2020 Show.
Another vintage car, this one owned and restored by Bruce Bowen, in the entrance lobby of the Motorsports Show, is a restoration of the No. 29 Weikert’s Livestock Sprint driven by Doug Wolfgang in 1987. The car is unique in that it ran the season with a 410 Steel Block motor. The car has been displayed by Bowen only once before.
“It has been a lot of work but I’m very happy with the way it turned out,” Bowen, who hand-lettered the car, said.
Two big displays near the main entrance of the show are certain to command attention. At the Pioneer Pole Buildings display, the Modifieds of Billy Pauch and Craig VonDohren as well as the 410 Sprint of Freddie Rahmer are to be seen while the Sunoco display has cars spanning the spectrum of motorsports including a stunning Funny Car and an equally attention-grabbing Sports Car Prototype.
A new livery for Matt Sheppard’s Modified can be seen at the American Racer Tire exhibit and Joe Toth’s Crate Sportsman, displayed at the Georgetown Speedway booth, is also a dramatic contrast from Toth’s previous cars.
An oddity in this year’s show features two of Mike Gular’s Modifieds, one in the Bicknell Race Cars display and a second in the Sunoco booth.
Once doors open Friday and throughout the three-day run of the show a series of valuable Seminars will be conducted on a wide range of topics of interest to car builders, track operators, and fans alike.
On Saturday, personal appearances by Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett will highlight the three-day event. Petty will sign autographs from 1:00 to 3:00 PM with Jarrett putting pen to paper from 4:00 to 6:00 PM.
At 7:00, the festivities will begin that culminate in the crowning of Ms. Motorsports 2020.
Sunday is Kid’s Day at PPB Motorsports 2020 with Little Ms. Motorsports and Tiny Ms. Motorsports competitions as well as Big Wheel Racing competitions.
For more information about the 2020 PPB Motorsports Race Car & Trade Show, visit motorsportstradeshow.com
