NAPA AUTO PARTS DIRT TRACK HEROES CAR SHOW NEWS

SUNDAY, MARCH 4 TO SATURDAY, MARCH 10

SMITH FABRICATIONS/STAGE ONE MONDIFIED SIGN ON AS NIGHTLY SPONSOR FOR NAPA AUTO PARTS 5TH ANNUAL DIRT TRACK HEROES CAR SHOW

Much like a whirling dervish, the growing interest for the upcoming 2012 edition of the NAPA Auto Parts fifth annual Dirt Track Heroes Car Show continues to generate a full head of steam as the energetic management staff continues to put the many pieces in place for what is expected to be another highly successful gathering of the past, present and future of auto racing coming together under one roof in Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

With the recent announcement of the NAPA Auto Parts of the Delaware Valley making the transition into the major show sponsor for this year's edition of the tremendously successful show, the remaining pieces are coming together one step at a time with each passing day. The IRCO Community Federal Credit Union, who set the wheels in motion to lend their support to the show when it first launched in 2008 and have continuously sponsored the Dirt Track Heroes Car Show through the show's first four years of the show's existence, have taken a lateral move for the upcoming event set to return to the Phillipsburg Mall in 2012 with opening day set for Sunday, March 4th.

The show encompasses the majority of the local short track scene and will continue through Saturday night, March 10th. The Phillipsburg Mall, located on Route 22 East in Phillipsburg, NJ, has proven to be a popular setting for this special event and will offer a multitude of race cars, racing memorabilia, collectibles and photos on display throughout the course of the show. The 2011 edition of the show produced a record breaking 141 cars from all divisions of racing and filled the Mall space as the always free of charge racing event continues to be the trend setter of the many shows that are scheduled during the year. With an exciting and diverse schedule of events to whet the appetite of any true race fan, large crowds are expected to fill the wide walkways of the Phillipsburg Mall. This event has been a traditional Mall favorite and one of the leading attractions, continuously drawing record breaking crowds for the week-long event.

Once again Smith Fabrications, the home of the Stage One Modifieds, will play an important role in this year's edition of the show. The Smith name has remained in the local racing scene for the past six decades as father Roy Smith was a pioneer in the golden era of racing with his signature numbered 555 race cars that had many top drivers wheeling the equipment such as Freddy Adam, Bobby Bottcher, Billy Tanzosh and Richie Smith among them. "Rapid Rich", while leaving the driver's seat in the mid-90's, used his years of knowledge gained while steering a race car to come up with a scaled version of the full sized Modifieds he drove to many wins in his racing career and came up with the cutting edge Stage One Modified. Incorporating his solid background in racing and the technical know how to improve upon the finished product, the Stage One Modified is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship from the master fabricator Richie Smith. The Stage One race car is beautiful to look at and the performance of the car on the race track is a thrill a second for those who have tried the equipment on for size. Touting affordability and safety as the race car's primary selling points, a ready to race unit is priced in the neighborhood of $12,000.00 and with the recent announcement the Stage One Modifieds will becoming a regular attraction this season at the always exciting Hamlin Speedway, traveling to the races will not rob anyone blind at the gas pumps.

In discussing the Stage One racer with Richie Smith, he stated, "Our goal was to build a sharp-looking and safe race car for those who desire to leave the quarter midget, go kart and slingshot ranks. What we have come up accomplishes our mission as the Stage One car has the same characteristics as a full size Modified with all of the thrill, the need for speed and a more affordable way to go racing". Richie further added, "Our Stage One group is excited about racing the entire season at the Hamlin Speedway. The track is wide with banking and very racy and my brother Randy works his magic in keeping the speedway and the grounds in tip top shape. We are looking forward to a great season at Hamlin". Smith Fabrications and the Stage One Modifieds return for the second season as a nightly sponsor for the event but have participated in all of them to date. In referencing Richie in regards to the Dirt Track Heroes Show he remarked, "We have always enjoyed the Dirt Track Heroes Show as without question it is the best of any of the off-season events. The staff at the event has always made sure we have been recognized as a sponsor and vendor and the interview sessions we have with the guys I used to trade paint with really make for an incredible week in Phillipsburg. I want to thank all of you for working so hard at making this event so successful". For additional information regarding the Stage One Modifieds, log-on to their website at: www.smithfabrications.com

The NAPA Auto Parts Stores of the Delaware Valley has five stores conveniently located within the immediate area and the locations are: Easton, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey locations Stewartsville, Hackettstown, Clinton and Flemington. The stores are owned by Quaker City Motors Parts with their headquarters located in Middletown, Delaware. NAPA was founded in 1925 to meet America's growing need for an auto parts distribution system. To date, NAPA has 69 Distribution Centers, more than 6,000 stores and 13,000 affiliated NAPA AutoCare repair facilities, over 320,000 parts in inventory every day and ASE-Certified Parts Professionals. To learn more about NAPA Know How, go to their extensive website at: www.napaonline.com or contact by phone at: 800-LET-NAPA (800-538-6272. All of the stores will have representation at the show throughout the week offering specials and discounts to the racers and fans.

IRCO will remain a big part of the show as they will sponsor the stage area where the nightly shows will be presented. Vice President of IRCO, Greg Collins, will become part of the announcing team lined up for the shows that include the longtime broadcasting team of Ed and Steve Pados from Gasoline Alley fame, veteran announcer Bobby Stull, Bridgeport and Thunder announcer Jeff Ahlum and former Lake Mocatek co-announcer Justin Beltrame. Collins, who serves as the noted historian of the Harmony Speedway, is expected to have much of his memorabilia from the Harmony Speedway for the event and Beltrame will once again spearhead and show the vast collection of Lake Mocatek material he has collected over the years.

The "Golden Era" of auto racing from the late fifties through the early eighties was an era that saw many changes take place in the way the race cars were constructed. The word "stock" gave way to ingenuity at first and followed closely by technology as the race cars became less stock appearing and relied more heavily on the latest speed part that would make the race car go faster. While the years have changed the look and the cost of racing, the spirit of the competition remains much as it was when racing in the local area was launched. The great fan base of racing can come out to this grand Mall event and be transported back to a time when they could hop into their family jitney and travel less than a half hour to witness the excitement of a night at the races. All historical racing groups including Reading, Flemington, Harmony, Dorney Park and Nazareth will have their memorabilia on display and their many scrapbooks open for the fans to take another long look at the glory years of racing and possibly find a picture or two they want to purchase as a keepsake from past glory or racing exploits.

Entries are now accepted to display in the NAPA Auto Parts Dirt Track Heroes Show. More information is available by calling: 443-513-4456. Space is available for race cars of all divisions, vendors and race tracks as well, contact Donna or Bob Miller.

In the previous events, cars that were on display included big and small block Modifieds, Sportsman, Micro-Sprints, ARDC Midgets, URC Sprints, Late Models, go-karts and a broad variety of vintage and restored race cars. New Egypt, Grandview, Big Diamond, Bridgeport, Hamlin, Accord, Kutztown, Borger's and Snydersville will again be among the many speedways involved with the 2012 show. The week-long event will set aside one evening to salute the "Stars of Tomorrow" with a special night set aside for the budding young racing talents competing with the many quarter midget clubs in the area and this night has proven to be one of the highlights of the week as many will be giving their first ever interviews to a sizable crowd.

The NAPA Auto Parts Dirt Track Heroes Car Show will again offer a great keepsake event souvenir program book and shirt. The Phillipsburg Mall is open Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM from Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM.

For additional NAPA Auto Parts Dirt Track Heroes information, contact show organizers Bob and Donna Miller by phone at 443.513.4456, via e-mail at TOTH98@aol.com

And don't forget, the sister event to the NAPA Auto Parts Dirt Track Heroes Car Show is the popular and established 27th Annual Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show, set for the Fairgrounds Square Mall in Reading, PA February 19-25, 2012.

Both events offer race teams a great opportunity to promote their sponsors and announce their racing plans for the 2012 racing season.

2012 Fifth Annual NAPA Auto Parts Dirt Track Heroes Car Show Schedule of Events

Sunday- March 4 - (Starting at Noon) - NAPA Auto Parts Dirt Track Heroes Car Show Opening Ceremony (Stage) - All Tracks and Driver Autograph Session: Highlighting Nazareth And Nazareth National Speedways with Reading, Harmony, Orange County, Hatfield, Dorney Park, Langhorne, Trenton, Flemington, East Windsor, Sanatoga, Moc-A-Tek, Allentown Fairgrounds, Stroudsburg, Mahoning, Mountain

Monday- March 5 - (6 PM) – Saluting ATQMRA, Borger’s Speedway, Kutztown Speedway, Shellhamers Speedway, Snydersville Raceway, X-Cel 600 Modifieds, Oreville Karts and the Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium

Tuesday- March 6 - (6 PM) Saluting the “Stars of Tomorrow” featuring Quarter Midget Clubs: Oaklane, Blue Mountain, Lehigh Valley, West End Raceway, Keystone, South Jersey and Garden State Quarter Midget Clubs

Wednesday- March 7 - (6 PM) - New Egypt Speedway and Wall Stadium Night - Saluting the Legends of the East Windsor Speedway - Invite to the Garden State Vintage Racing Club

Thursday- March 8 - (6 PM) – Smith Fabrications/Stage One Modified welcome: Hamlin Speedway, Stage One Modifieds, Accord Speedway and Orange County Fair Speedway Night with Salute to the Legends of the Moc-A-Tek Speedway

Friday - March 9 - (7 p.m.) - Salute to Thunder on the Hill Series, Grandview Speedway, Big Diamond Speedway, ARDC Midgets, URC plus the Legends of the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway

Saturday - March 10 - (Noon) - Flemington Speedway, Flemington Speedway Racing Historical Society and Harmony Speedway Historical Society

All drivers invited to return for fan-fest and Autograph Session

Saturday - March 10 - (2:30 PM) - Dorney Park Speedway Tribute & Autograph Session

Mall Hours: Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. -

*Schedule subject to change

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