Modified Stars Pack The House At 25th Annual Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show presented by Reading Eagle and WEEU 830 AM
READING, PA - Modified stars drew a packed house the Fairgrounds Square Mall on Wednesday night as Reading Plastic Fabricators presented 'Modified Madness Night' during the 25th annual Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show presented by Reading Eagle and WEEU 830 AM.
An overflow crowd congregated in center court as many of the top driving stars of the region's dirt Modified ranks were interviewed by Jeff Ahlum and Brett Deyo.
New Jersey legend Billy Pauch took the stage to discuss his memories of Penn National (Pa.) Speedway (where he led all drivers in victories) and his ambitious 2010 schedule which includes racing for three owners: Kevin Bifulco, Will Brown and Ray Tuit.
Modified talents from the Grandview (Pa.) Speedway and Big Diamond (Pa.) Raceway turned out in full force with Jeff Strunk, Doug Manmiller, Kevin Hirthler, John Willman, Terry Meitzler, Keith Brightbill, Ray Swinehart and Jason Smythe among those on hand.
Jason Bashore of BFP Specialty in Bethel, Pa., formally introduced the 2010 Pennsylvania Young Guns program. Members of the BFP Young Guns interviewed included Mike Gular, Billy Pauch Jr., Sean Merkel, Brad Missimer, Kyle Follweiler, A.J. DeSantis, Addison Meitzler, Jordan Umbenhauer, Kevin Albert Jr., Danny Nicholas, Carroll Hine III, Mike Lisowski, Jared Umbenhauer and Michael Weinert.
The Young Guns were available for autographs following the on-stage activity.
Bridgeport (N.J.) Speedway big-block Modified racer Ryan Watt addressed the crowd with his plans of Mod racing with Ron Roberts and ARDC Midget events driving for Fred Schell.
Mike Gular, Doug Manmiller, Kevin Hirthler and Jeff Strunk spent time behind the bar at Applebee's on 5th Street Highway after show hours. The bartenders filled the bar area.
A celebrity race held at the Randy's Raceway slot car track featured six top Modified racers: John Willman, Billy Pauch Jr., Mike Gular, A.J. DeSantis, Addison Meitzler and Kyle Follweiler.
Earlier in the afternoon, WEEU 830 AM broadcast live for two hours from the mall's center court. Keith Fritz of the Reading Eagle joined the Jo Painter Show to share stories with Reading Fairgrounds Speedway stars Kenny Brightbill, Freddy Adam, Earl Derr, Red Coffin, Whitey Kerschner and Del Bitting.
With 113 race cars on display, the show continues through Saturday (Feb. 27) with nightly activities planned. The show features a wide cross-section of racing vehicles, including vintage/restored cars, big- and small-block Modifieds, Late Models, Sprint Cars, ARDC Midgets, SpeedSTR Midgets, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Micro-Sprints, XCel 600 Modifieds, Slingshots, Go-Karts, Quarter Midgets and more.
Tonight (Thurs., Feb. 25) is Late Model and Sportsman Night presented by Joe Adams Lettering LLC. Weather permitting, drivers from the Grandview Speedway Late Model division and regional Sportsman division are scheduled to appear including Sportsman stars Jason James, Michael Weinert, and Daryl Dissinger, Late Model talents Brian Shuey, Chuck Schutz, Bryon Sipe, Nate Christman, Kyle Merkel and Kurt Spotts. Kevin Kovac of the World Racing Group will report on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series.
At 9 p.m., drivers Brian Shuey, Chuck Schutz and Nate Christman guest bartend at Applebee's.
Among the 2010 show exhibitors are Grandview Speedway, Big Diamond Raceway, Kutztown Fairgrounds (Pa.) Speedway, Thunder on the Hill Racing Series, URC, Reading Eagle, Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc., Speedway Entertainment (Slingshots and SpeedSTRs), Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Historical Society, RAACE Foundation, Doug Borger's XCel 600 Modifieds, Gary Silverman Productions, Dale Snyder Video, Clyde Martin Memorial (Pa.) Speedway, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Keystone State Quarter Midget Club, the NEETS Enduro Series and the Montgomery County Quarter Midget Racing Club
The annual Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Reunion (Friday evening, Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m.) and the LLANDCO Inc. Penn National Speedway Reunion (Saturday afternoon, Feb. 27 at 5 p.m.) are among the show highlights.
Show awards - including the first Don Marks Memorial Contribution to Motorsports Award - will be distributed during the popular BASH Racing Party to be held Friday night, Feb. 26 at the Temple Fire Company, just blocks from the mall, beginning at 9 p.m. Beer City of Quakertown and Lee Myles Transmissions are presenting sponsors of the BASH.
The BASH Party will feature music for dancing, a cash bar, racing movies (including 2009 footage from the Pennsylvania Dual-Track circuit) and plenty of bench racing. Tickets to the BASH are $10 and will be sold during the show and at the door.
Author Gary Ludwig appears nightly beginning at 4 p.m. and during mall hours on Feb. 27 to autograph copies of his best-selling book Tommy Hinnershitz, The Life and Times of an Auto Racing Legend, which will be on sale at the show.
Randy's Raceway of Kutztown, Pa., has set up his HO slot car track all week during the show.
Vendors are on hand selling national and local racing memorabilia, collectibles, racing DVDs and much more.
For general show information, contact Brett Deyo at 845.728.2781, via e-mail at Deyo99H@aol.com or on the web: http://www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com/.
For further information on the Reading Eagle or WEEU, log on to www.readingeagle.com or http://www.weeu.com/.
25th Racing Reunion & Car Show Schedule of Events
Thursday, February 25 - Joe Adams Lettering LLC presents Late Model & Sportsman Night
7 p.m. - Drivers from the Grandview Speedway Late Model division and regional Sportsman division - Kevin Kovac of the World Racing Group reports on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series - Drivers scheduled to appear: Sportsman stars Jason James, Michael Weinert, and Daryl Dissinger, Late Model talents Brian Shuey, Chuck Schutz, Bryon Sipe, Nate Christman, Kyle Merkel, Kurt Spotts (additional drivers TBA) - Meet Ms. Thunder on the Hill Cassi Pinder
9 p.m. - Drivers Brian Shuey, Chuck Schutz & Nate Christman Guest Bartend at Applebee's 5th Street Highway (adjacent to mall)
Friday, February 26 - Salute to the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway - 31 years later!
6:30 p.m. - Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Reunion (Stage)
9 p.m. - Beer City of Quakertown BASH Racing Party - Temple Fire Company on Kutztown Road (tickets available for $10 during show & at the door) - Sound provided by Lee Myles Transmissions - Presentation of the first Don Marks Memorial Contribution to Motorsports Award - PLUS Show Awards, Music for Dancing, Racing Movies, Cash Bar, Snacks and more.
Saturday, February 27 - Salute to Penn National Speedway presented by LLANDCO Inc.
5 p.m. - FIRST EVER Penn National Speedway Reunion presented by LLANDCO Inc. of Leesport, Pa., a landfill construction company (Stage) - Former drivers, owners, officials, sponsors, fans, etc., gather to remember the Grantville, Pa., oval that closed its doors in 1996.
- Mall Hours: Sunday 11 a.m-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. -
*Schedule subject to change
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