OAKS, PA January 5, 2018 . . . Waterloo, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard will be honored by national trade publication Area Auto Racing News as the top 2017 Northeast feature race winner at Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports 2018 presented by Sunoco and fueled by Insinger Performance. Sheppard, who won 41 dirt Modified feature events will be in the spotlight on that Saturday of the show held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa., on January 19-21.

On his way to the AARN’s top honors, Sheppard became the first driver since Brett Hearn to win more than 40 features in a season. Hearn, the veteran driver from Sussex, N.J., won 42 features in 2002 and reached 900 career victories this past season.

Sheppard was also the top AARN winner in 2016 when he won 29 times. For his 2017 accomplishment, he will receive a beautiful painting by Ken Frantz, a plaque for winning the most in the dirt Modified division and $700.

Sheppard and other divisional top 2017 winners will be honored at the stage prior to the Oliver Construction Ms. Motorsports competition. Others receiving divisional awards are David Gravel (Open-Cockpit, 20 wins) Matt Hirschman (Asphalt Modifieds, 17 wins), Mike Sweeney (Asphalt Late Model, 10 wins), Max Blair (dirt Late Model, 23 wins) and Tyler Walton (600 Micro-Sprints, 10 wins).

Despite living in Watertown, Ct., an area rich in asphalt racing, David Gravel has become a super star in dirt Sprint Car competition. In 2017 he won 20 features, including 18 on the World of Outlaws tour where he finished third in points. At the Motorsports Show, Gravel’s CJB Motorsports Muddy No. 5 team will have both their new car and its hauler on display for the fans.

Hirschman, a second-generation racer from Northampton, Pa. won 17 feature events last year despite racing less. Like Sheppard, he won over 50% of the asphalt Modified feature races he entered.

For the second straight year Max Blair and Mike Sweeney topped the dirt and asphalt Late Model division respectively. Blair was a big winner at many Western Pa. dirt tracks. Sweeney dominated at his home track, Pa.’s Mahoning Valley Speedway, where he won the championship.

Tyler Walton of Mifflintown, Pa. was a big winner in 600cc Micro-Sprint competition for the second straight year as well.

All the award winners will participate in an autograph session signing a special colored poster available free only at the show to fans at the AARN booth display from 5 to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Going back to 1978 when Area Auto Racing News started keeping track of the most wins in a Northeast season, the record is 52 jointly held by three drivers. Former NASCAR star Geoff Bodine won 52 mains in 1978, NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans did so in 1979 and Sprint Car racer Doug Wolfgang tied the mark in 1985 while battling Central Pa. competition. There has not been another driver to reach the 50 win mark since.

The most wins recorded since 1978 by a dirt Modified racer such as Sheppard was 48 by Billy Pauch Sr. in 1990. Bob McCreadie took 47 wins in 1994.

Also headlining the show on Saturday, January 20, will be three time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart who is now turning his racing efforts to the Sprint Cars. Former NASCAR Cup Series crew chief and FOX TV personality Larry MacReynolds will also be part of the Saturday activities along with 20-time World of Outlaws champion Steve “King” Kinser.

More than 250 racing vehicles and booth displays will make up the three day event that fills 250,000 square feet of show space.

The show opens on Friday, January 19 at 2 p.m. and closes at 9. Doors open on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. The box office and D-Hall exhibit area open one hour earlier each day.

Check out www.motorsportstradeshow.com or call 609-888-3618 for further information.

By HERBANASTOR

OAKS, PA – One of the cars that is sure to be a “must-see” at the 33rd Annual Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports 2018 Race Car and Trade Show presented by Sunoco and fueled by Insinger Performance here at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (Jan. 19-21) is Ray Evernham’s 1936 Chevrolet Sedan Modified Stock Car.

And what makes this “currently one-off,” pearl-white, blue and red “No. one 9 teen” so special is that it was designed by Evernham from a clean sheet of paper using all of his knowledge from over 40 years of racing in combination with some of the most-modern technology available.

“We did it the old-school way with modern technology, but without CAD [computer-aided drafting] and simulation,” said the 60-year-old Evernham who will not be at Motorsports 2018 due to his induction that weekend into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“The 1936 Chevy Sedan was my favorite race car when I was a kid watching the races in New Jersey and I just wanted to see what I could do building a car without regard to any rules or specifics; something that was neat.”

As Evernham sees it, “The Ghost” – which got that name due to the pearl white Axalta-provided paint scheme – is what a modern-day Modified Stock Car would look like if it combined his admiration for old-school automotive styling and aesthetics with his knowledge and access to modern-day technology and performance.

And he certainly has the background to design and build such a machine for prior to his years as a three-time (1995 and 1997-1998) NASCAR Cup Series Champion Crew Chief for Jeff Gordon in the famed No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets, Evernham raced Asphalt Modifieds at New Jersey’s old 5/8-mile Flemington Fair Speedway and on the one-third-mile at Wall Stadium where he won seven feature races on the Belmar high banks (1976-1981).

Although primarily funded by Valvoline, the car was built on a small budget by Evernham, along with lead mechanic Eddie Bohn and lead fabricator and painter Dan Baker at his Big Iron Garage in Mooresville, North Carolina.  And he plans to compete with it in some Sportscar Vintage Racing Association events this year at Road Atlanta, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Pikes Peak and some other places just to see how his ideas turned out.

To get things started, the chassis was designed as a combination of a current NASCAR Asphalt Modified, an SCCA Trans-Am Sports Car and a little bit of a NASCAR Cup Series car.  And while the main frame rails are rectangular 2” x 3.125” mild-steel tubing, a NASCAR-style 1.75” round .095 mild-steel DOM-tubing integral roll cage is what provides the driver’s protection.

Weighing-in at 2,650 pounds with driver and fuel, the 52.5”-high “concept car” features a nicely-done, all-steel body with opening doors and a Plexiglas windows while the cockpit contains: Sweet Manufacturing Rack and Pinion Steering; an MPI-GT-13-A Steering Wheel by Max Papis; a Kenny’s Components Carbon Fiber Racing Seat; a Schroth Racing 5-Point Safety Harness; a Tilton 800-Master Pedal Assembly and Cylinders; a Safecraft AT10 Dual-Hose Fire-Suppression System; and an accessible oil tank and battery.

A custom-fabricated ATL 22-Gallon Fuel Cell is mounted in the rear, an AirJax Air-Powered Racecar Lifting System get “The Ghost” off the ground when that occasion arises and hand-formed chrome bumpers give the car some of the glitz that was evident in former days.

Under the car’s pleasingly-shaped aluminum hood (no fiberglass is used anywhere) is an all-aluminum, 410-cubic-inch/850-horsepower Chevrolet SB2 engine built by Pro Motor Engineering that uses an old-school Kinsler fuel-injection unit controlled by a new-school electronics system from AEM Performance Electronics.  And to get the most out of that package Evernham opted for: Kooks Stainless Steel Headers and Exhaust Pipes; a custom-built C&R Racing Radiator and Oil Coolers; a Jerico Performance Products 4-speed transmission; a custom carbon fiber driveshaft; and, a Winters Aluminum Center Section Quick-Change rear end with a 4:12 ring and pinion.

“The Ghost” has a 63” front tread and its suspension features unequal length A-arms with mono balls, adjustable degree steel spindles and coil-over shocks by JRi Shocks with Hyperco springs.  While in the back the 67” rear tread’s suspension uses 36” aluminum radius rods and FK Rod Ends with a single adjustable Neuline torque arm, front-center-bearing-mounted Watts link, coil-over shocks by JRi Shocks and springs by Hyperco.

As far as tires go, front Goodyear Eagle Racing D1570s are on 13” x 16” Aluminum Wide 5 Real Racing Wheels, while in back Goodyear Eagle Racing D1751s use 14” x 16” Aluminum Wide 5 Real Racing Wheels.  PFC Brakes with ZR94 Zero Drag Calipers (41mm and 44mm staggered pistons front and 29mm and 36.5mm staggered pistons rear to reduce pad taper and wheel locking) and Zero Failure Discs with V3 disc technology control the stopping.

And the car’s final inventory is it electronics: an AEM Performance Electronics Infinity Series 7 Engine Management System; an AEM Performance Electronics CD-7 Digital Dash Display; an AEM Performance Electronics Vehicle Dynamics Module GPS/G-Meter; AEM Performance Electronics Smart Coils; and, wiring from Brown and Miller Racing Solutions.

Because Evernham wants “The Ghost” to perform in a variety of situations, it was constructed with a wide range of adjustability so it can be set up to compete on ovals, road courses, drag strips and hill climbs.  And to accommodate its open wheels, downforce was created through a top-rear-mounted aerodynamic wing and making the underside of the chassis like that of a 1980s Indy 500 racer – flat all the way until it reaches the back where the air meets a huge rear diffuser.

If anyone who sees this car would like to have one for his or her own, that can be arranged as Evernham is interested in building some others.

“As much as I like coming to work every day and just creating whatever comes to mind, we need to run a business, too,” said the designer and builder.

“I think it is dang cool.  It’s something I want to drive, and I hope that others feel the same way and want one, too.

“That’s what it takes to let us come up with other ideas like this moving forward.”

Oaks, PA — Pine Brook Speedway, the purpose-built race track in northern New Jersey where drivers ranging from World Champion Mario Andretti and NASCAR Hall of Fame member Ray Evernham to current stars “Liquid Lou” Cicconi and “Jersey Jet” Joey Payne cut their racing teeth, will be the focus of this year’s speedway reunion during the Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports 2018 race car and trade show, presented by Sunoco and fueled by Insinger Performance at the Greater Philadephia Expo Center January 19-20-21.

Each year a different regional track from racing’s past is highlighted at the show, and this year a special display dedicated to Pine Brook will be erected in Hall D of the spacious Expo Center, which will offer more than a quarter million square feet – some six acres – of racing related exhibits over the three day period.

Activities at the Pine Brook display will include interviews and autograph sessions with drivers who raced at the tight and highly-competitive speedway, and attractions will include a lineup of race cars representing the evolution of the machinery through the three decades that the track was in operation.

A special added attraction will be a live television production on Friday evening, January 19, where in a one-hour late-night talk-show format personalities from the track’s history will tell their stories. Among those scheduled to appear on the stage in Hall E are Bob Dini, winner of the very first race at Pine Brook in 1962, brothers Drew and Noki Fornoro, prolific winners at the track through the years, Jack Duffy, who raced at Pine Brook in each of the track’s 28 seasons, Lenny Boyd, a championship driver in TQs, Midgets, and Modifieds, and Johnny Coy, Jr., who raced at Pine Brook against both his father and his brothers.

Music and additional entertainment will be part of the show.

Pine Brook Speedway, originally named Pine Brook Stadium, opened in Montville Township, New Jersey, in 1962, having been built specifically for the open-cockpit TQ Midgets of the American TQ Midget Racing Association. The TQs raced weekly at Pine Brook through the track’s closure at the end of the 1989 racing season, and Micro-Stocks were added to the weekly program in the early 80s.

Pine Brook Speedway, which sat on leased land, closed when the property was earmarked for retail development. A Home Depot occupies the site today.

In addition to the drivers already mentioned, a virtual Who’s Who of racing in the northeast raced at Pine Brook, including early Modified stars Jim Hendrickson and Al DeAngelo, “The Old Master” Frankie Schneider, and Syracuse winner Gary Balough. Pine Brook racers who made it to Indianapolis include Andretti of course, but also Wally Dallenbach, Al Loquasto, Jerry Karl, and others.

But Pine Brook grew its own stars, too. Drivers such as TQ champions Doug Craig, Tony Romit, Larry Michaels, and Jack Bertling became household names in racing on the strength of their Pine Brook successes. Still others, including the innovative Jerry Wall and the outgoing Bob Cicconi, made their mark at Pine Brook before gaining the attention of race fans nationally.

Additional information concerning The Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports 2018 race car and trade show, presented by Sunoco and fueled by Insinger Performance at the Greater Philadephia Expo Center, can be found at https://motorsportstradeshow.com.

OAKS, PA December 28, 2017 . . . David Gravel’s Sprint car racing season went from very good to outstanding in 2017. The rising star of the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series kicked off his season with a win in the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint car race at Volusia Speedway Park in Barbourville, Florida and then closed it out with a huge win in the in the Textron Off Road World of Outlaws World Finals at the Dirt Track in Charlotte.

Gravel and his CJB Motorsports team, owned by Chad and Jenn Clemens, will part of the Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports 2018 Racecar and Trade Show Presented by Sunoco and Fueled by Insinger Performance at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA January 19-21.

The win at Charlotte put Gravel third in the final World of Outlaw standings. Overall during the season he won 18 WoO features and a total of 20 features. The Connecticut racer, a fast rising star in Sprint car racing, earned 72 top-10 finishes out of 86 races entered. He led a total of 421 laps.

One of the team’s rare disappointments came on Sprint Car racing’s biggest stage. While leading this year’s $150,000 to win Knoxville (Iowa) Nationals the motor blew. The team rebounded quickly by winning the Williams Grove (PA) Speedway National Open to pocket $50,000.

“We obviously still have the goals of winning an Outlaws championship, a Knoxville Nationals title and a Kings Royal. We have identified areas where we can do better,” said Gravel recently

Unique will be the opportunity for show attendees to meet Gravel on Saturday afternoon and collect an autograph while hearing him talk about his great season and plans for 2018 in a casual setting near the team display. CJB Motorsports will have one of their new GoMuddy.com. Big Game Treestands sponsored No. 5 410 Sprint Cars and their hauler on display and will be open for tours. The team will be debuting a new sponsor, Wiekert’s Livestock, who will join C&S Lawn & Landscape, Nyce Crete and Landis Block and Concrete, Bair’s Tree Service, J.R.C. Transportation and Ecynbro Trucking on his year’s race cars.

Gravel will be honored by the Area Auto Racing News on Saturday along with other top Northeast winners. The group will include top Northeast dirt Modified and overall biggest winner Matt Sheppard at the stage prior to the evening’s Oliver Construction sponsored Ms. Motorsports competition at 6:30 p.m. along with overall top winner and top Modified winner Matt Sheppard at the stage prior to the Saturday evening Mr. Motorsports competition.

Gravel, the top 2017 Northeast driver in open cockpit racing, will also be part of a group autograph session at 5 p.m. at the Area Auto Racing News display. Drivers will be signing a special full-color poster depicting all the top divisional winners during the season that will be given away only at the show.

Top winners that are scheduled to be part of the signing include Sheppard who won 41 events, Matt Hirschman (tops in Asphalt Modified wins with 17), Mike Sweeney (winner of 10 Asphalt Late Model victories) and Tyler Warren (top winner in 600 Micro Sprints with 16).

Also headlining the show on Saturday will be three time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart who is now turning his racing efforts to the Sprint cars. Former NASCAR Cup Series crew chief and FOX TV personality Larry MacReynolds will also be part of the Saturday activities.

More than 250 racing vehicles and booth displays will make up the three day show that fills 250,000 square feet of show space.

The show opens on Friday, January 19th at 2 p.m. and closes at 9. Doors open on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. The box office and D-Hall exhibit area opens one hour earlier each day.

Check out www.motorsportstradeshow.com or call 609-888-3618 for further information.

OAKS, PA October 23, 2017 . . . For the 33rd time, the Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports Racecar and Trade Show Fueled by Sunoco and Distributed by Insinger Performance will host the Oliver Construction Enterprises Ms. Motorsports Pageant — one of the most anticipated parts of the three-day event that runs from January 19-21, 2018.

On Saturday, January 20 — the second-day of the Motorsports Race Car and Trade Show — Ms. Motorsports 2017, Taylor Albert, will stand on stage before a crowded room at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center and relinquish her crown to one of the many hopefuls competing to be Ms. Motorsports 2018.

“Winning the title and my journey as Ms. Motorsports 2017 has made me love the sport and everything that comes along with it even more,” Albert said.

Entries for the Ms. Motorsports 2018 Pageant are currently being accepted. Ladies between the ages of 18-35 who are outgoing, with a high-level of energy and some knowledge of motorsports are encouraged to enter the competition. No talent or pageant experience is not necessary to compete in the Ms. Motorsports pageant.

Competition segments include interview, sportswear, swimwear, and photo. A panel of judges from the Motorsports industry will score the contestants on personality, poise, appearance, choice of swimwear, choice of sportswear and their swimsuit photo pose with a race car.

In addition to the crown and coveted title of Ms. Motorsports 2018, the winner will receive a cash prize of $1,500 courtesy of Oliver Construction. The winner is also entitled to a poster deal valued at $1,000 in exchange for five mandatory appearances. Judges will determine the winner and award a 1st runner-up ($500 prize) and a 2nd runner-up ($250 prize).

When talking about last year’s competition, Ms. Motorsports 2017 explained that one of the best parts of competing is the relationships developed backstage.

“It’s nice going into that nerve-racking situation and knowing that the other contestants have your back,” said Albert. “It’s a huge confidence booster, and I hope that anyone who may be on the fence about entering the pageant keeps that in mind and enters the competition.”

Entry forms are available at the show’s new website, motorsportstradeshow.com. Contestants are encouraged to enter early so that a photo may be included in the show program used by judges for reference.

“I hope the pageant continues to spark the interest of women in the motorsports industry,” said Albert.

For the fourth year, Oliver Construction Enterprises of Bordentown, New Jersey returns as the title sponsor of the Ms. Motorsports Pageant. Oliver Construction Enterprises is owned by dirt Modified competitor, PJ Oliver.

The Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports Race Car & Trade Show Fueled by Sunoco and Distributed by Insinger Performance takes place on January 19-21, 2018.

The Oliver Construction Enterprises Ms. Motorsports 2018 pageant takes place on Saturday, January 20 at 8 PM and is free to attend with tickets to the Motorsports Trade Show.

Information about the Ms. Motorsports Pageant and the Motorsports Race Car & Trade Show are available by emailing motorsports@aarn.com. “Like” Motorsports Race Car and Trade Show on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MotorsportsTradeShow.

MAY 6, 2017 . . . Pioneer Pole Buildings and Sunoco Distributed by Insinger Performance will be back as sponsors of the Motorsports Race Car and Trade Show which is set to take place January 19-21, 2018 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA. This will be the 33rd year for the northeast’s most popular show.

Exhibitors from the 2017 show are invited to renew, enlarge or move their space to a new location by June 1st. After that date all remaining 250,000 square feet of exhibit space becomes available on a first come, first serve basis. Those who were part of the last show were sent a new colorful 20018 show brochure this past week.

PPB Motorsports 2018 presented by Sunoco will again offer attendees the opportunity to see up close just about everything imaginable in auto racing. And many will be anxious to learn who the headliners will be. That information will be released as the show dates move closer.

Richard Petty, considered the King when it comes to NASCAR, attracted long lines of fans to hear his interview and collect his artistic autograph in January. Another huge attraction was the only American owned Formula One entry owned by Haas Automation.

“With all the attractions we offered, the free autograph opportunities, the appearance of Richard Petty and so much the 2017 show was a big success,” said show promoter Len Sammons. “We are expecting this edition to be even a bigger success. You can bet our staff will be working hard to make it happen. The three day show will again fill all space available in the hall. We are suggesting that those planning to exhibit reserve their space as soon as possible.”

Racers from all over the Northeast pencil in the Motorsports show date so they can talk first hand with manufactures and distributors of products they use. In 2017 all major builders of dirt Modifieds were on hand to exhibit and meet with customers. The show has also become known for its outstanding show special cash and carry prices on many ideas especially a long range of safety equipment from seats, to helmets and uniforms.

“The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks is a great location in the center of the northeast racing world,” said Sammons. “It’s easy in and easy out with plenty of Free parking surrounding the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. It has become a very popular location with show attendees and exhibitors. We welcome the opportunity to return the show to the Expo Center which continues to improve annually. The new HD Lights were a great addition last year.”

Additional details on show plans will be released in the near future.

Again the popular Crowne Plaza will remain as the host hotel. Room reservations can be made at www.aarn.com or telephone 610.265.7500 and mention the special Motorsports 2018 deal of $94 per night. The hugely popular Saturday post-event party, a show tradition, will continue at the Crowne Plaza.

Information on being a part of the 2018 show can be had by visiting the show link at www.aarn.com, dropping an email to motorsports@aarn.com or telephoning 609.888.3618. A colorful show brochure giving all exhibitor information is available upon request.