IRCO Dirt Track Heroes Show Completes Successful Week

IRCO Dirt Track Heroes Show Concludes Successful Week At Phillipsburg Mall Saturday With Huge Crowd, Tributes to Flemington & Dorney Park



PHILLIPSBURG, NJ - Despite adverse weather conditions, a huge crowd flooded the Phillipsburg Mall on Saturday to conclude the weeklong IRCO Community Federal Credit Union Dirt Track Heroes Car Show.



The final day of the third annual event began with a new addition for the next generation of racers - the first-ever Easter Egg Hunt as part of the show - and concluded with tributes to racing's storied past at Flemington (N.J.) Speedway and Dorney Park (Pa.) Speedway.



The Pados Brothers of the CarQuest 'Gasoline Alley Gang' anchored the interviews at the stage area during the afternoon.



The newly-formed Flemington Speedway Historical Society assembled an all-star cast of talent for the inaugural Flemington Speedway Late Model Reunion. The group's president, Bill Hanna, spoke about the organization's mission and growing membership.



Among the former Flemington racers, regional legends and current stars taking the stage were Ray Neary, Gary Butler, Dean Gulick, Clyde Cox III, Bernie Kelly, Lee Taylor Jr., Ed Harrington, Phil Cox, Stan Janiszewski, Joe Inglin Jr., Matt Slowinski Sr. and Jr., Steve Slowinski, Dean Carman, Jeff Harrison, Bob Travagline, John Micek, John McCaughey, Sean Carman, Mike Corcoran, Bob Benz, Kim Cooke, Pat Auriemma and Nate Strunk.



Racing photographer Henry Wilt, meanwhile, organized a tribute display to Dorney Park Speedway and coordinated a reunion for former racers at the tight paved oval.



Dorney Park stars sharing stories about their days at the one-fifth-mile track were Don Vauder, Dave Cicone, Ken Golden, Keith Kid, Red Coffin, Russ Frantz, Homer Keinart, Gary Grim, Russ Bensiger, Todd Geist, Mike Krempasky, Charley Gilmore, George Wambold and Mike Garris.



Approximately 25 children took part in an Easter Egg Hunt held when the mall opened on Saturday. Eggs were hidden throughout the mall.



Garden State talents David and Ryan Polenz spoke of their 2010 plans for competition in Virginia at Old Dominion.



Nearly 300 interviews were conducted by the Pados Brothers and their announcing team at the show during the week.



An impressive, record-setting 122 race vehicles were displayed at the Phillipsburg Mall, located on Route 22 East in Phillipsburg, N.J.



Attendees of the show were treated to a wide cross-section of race vehicles including big- and small-block Modifieds, Sportsman, Micro-Sprints, ATQMRA Midgets, vintage and restored cars, Micro-Stocks, ARDC Midgets, dirt and pavement Late Models, Slingshots, XCel Modifieds, Stage One Modifieds, Quarter Midgets and much more.



New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway, the half-mile oval co-owned by Fred Vahlsing and Bill Miscoski and managed by Danny Serrano was well represented at the show.



Hometown driver David Van Horn Jr., who announced last week his plans to switch Saturday-night venues, displayed his No. 71 big-block Modified outfitted with New Egypt-legal sail panels.



Competitors from numerous race facilities throughout the region were represented, including Big Diamond (Pa.) Raceway, Grandview (Pa.) Speedway, Hamlin (Pa.) Speedway, Kutztown (Pa.) Fairgrounds Speedway, Borger's (Pa.) Speedway, Shellhammer's (Pa.) Speedway, Old Dominion (Va.), the West End Quarter Midget group and others.



America on Wheels Museum, Snyder Video, Reading Plastic Fabricators, Gary Silverman Productions, MoTorsport Video Productions along with an expansive, in-store display for J&L Speed Supplies of Hellertown, Pa., were among the exhibitors.



The Flemington Speedway Historical Society had a large presence at the show with vintage cars and a glimpse into racing's past at 'The Square.'



The long legacy of racing at Pa.'s Nazareth Speedway was recognized with a display of photos and memorabilia.



Honoring the 40th anniversary of the speedway's 1970 Season Opener, the Harmony (N.J.) Speedway Historical Society was on hand at the IRCO Dirt Track Heroes Show. Photos, race results and articles from the 1970 opener - won by Ray Neary - were on display, along with a number of restored cars.



Through the efforts of noted racing photographer Henry Wilt, Dorney Park Speedway was remembered at the show. Anchoring the Dorney Park display were pictures, vintage sheet metal, collectibles, T-shirts, trophies, driver's suits and more.



The Reading (Pa.) Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society had a presence at the show to honor the history of the famed Berks County track.



The third edition of the IRCO Community Federal Credit Union Dirt Track Heroes Car Show was a joint effort between event originator Bob Miller and Brett Deyo.



IRCO Community Federal Credit has been the lead sponsor of the Dirt Track Heroes event since its inception in 2008. To find out more on IRCO, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ircocu.com/  or contact Greg Collins via e-mail at gcollins@ircocu.com.



Plans are underway for the 2011 edition of the IRCO Dirt Track Heroes Show. Visit http://www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com/  for further information on the fourth annual event.