BFP Specialty 'Modified Madness' Packs Fairgrounds Square Mall

News from the 26th annual Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show presented by Reading Eagle and WEEU 830 AM - Powered by VP Racing Fuels



Media Contact: Brett Deyo - 845.728.2781 or Deyo99H@aol.com



For Immediate Release/February 24, 2011



BFP Specialty 'Modified Madness' Packs Fairgrounds Square Mall Wednesday As 26th Annual Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show presented by Reading Eagle and WEEU 830 AM Rolls On



READING, PA - The stars of the 358-Modified division packed the Fairgrounds Square Mall Wednesday night during the 26th annual Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show presented by Reading Eagle and WEEU 830 AM.



Twenty-four drivers were featured on stage during interviews with announcer Jeff Ahlum as Jason Bashore of BFP Specialty presented 'Modified Madess' at the show, which runs through this Saturday (Feb. 26). Leading 358-Modified talents from Big Diamond Speedway (Minersville, Pa.) and Grandview Speedway (Bechtelsville, Pa.) met fans, talked shop and presented their plans for the 2011 season as a large crowd filled Center Court.



Jeff Strunk spoke of his new ride in the Norm Hansell No. 357, while his brother Glenn Strunk discussed his return to the sport after a long absence and his plans for the new season driving for Gagliardo Motorsports. Other drivers taking part in interviews included Craig Von Dohren, Doug Manmiller, Kevin Hirthler, Mike Gular, Terry Meitzler, John Willman, Kyle Weiss, Ryan Grim, Bill Gensler and Brad Grim.



Many up-and-coming talents slated to participate in the BFP Specialty Young Guns program were introduced to the crowd, including Michael Weinert, Kevin Albert Jr., Addison Meitzler, Nate Christman, Kyle Follweiler, A.J. and Nick DeSantis, Danny Nicholas, Jordan and Jared Umbenhauer, Jordan Dreher and Carroll Hine III.



Earlier in the evening, six drivers - John Willman, Michael Weinert, Addison Meitzler, Kyle Follweiler, A.J. DeSantis and Kevin Albert Jr. - took part in a celebrity slot car race at Randy's Raceway .



After show hours, drivers Doug Manmiller, Ryan Grim, John Willman and Kevin Albert Jr. served as guest bartenders at Applebee's adjacent to the mall.



WEEU 830 AM 'The Voice of Berks County and Beyond' broadcast live from 3-5 p.m. in Center Court with Jo Painter and Keith Fritz reliving Reading Fairgrounds Speedway with many of the legendary drivers from the 'Home of Champions' facility that hosted its final event in June 1979.



The show continues tonight (Feb. 24) with Four Star Lettering & Graphics Late Model & Sportsman Night. Meet drivers from the Grandview Speedway Late Model division and regional Sportsman division including Sean and Kyle Merkel, Chuck Schutz, Kory Fleming, Late Model rookie contender Steve Butler, Craig Whitmoyer, Dave Dissinger and more.



At 9 p.m., the Merkel brothers and Chuck Schutz guest bartend at the Applebee's 5th Street Highway location adjacent to the mall.



The 2011 edition of the Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show, 'powered by VP Racing Fuels' has filled the Reading, Pa., 5th Street Highway shopping center with 114 beautifully-prepared race cars including dirt Modifieds, Sportsman, XCel 600 Modifieds, Sprint Cars, dirt and pavement Late Models, ARDC Midgets, Slingshots, Micro-Sprints, vintage Modifieds, Stage One Modifieds and more.



The Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Racing Historical Society turned back the clock with an expansive display featuring vintage/restored race cars and a tribute to the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway 'Home of Champions' which closed its doors in June 1979.



Collectibles, racing videos and printed materials, speedway/sanction displays, local speed suppliers, racing organizations and the popular Randy's Raceway slot car track provide plenty to keep show attendees occupied.



The show, with free admission, continues through Saturday (Feb. 26) during mall hours.



Show awards will presented on Friday night (Feb. 25) as part of the annual BASH Racing Party at the Temple Fire Company on Kutztown Road. The overall 'Best of Show' plus divisional awards and the Don Marks Memorial Contribution to Motorsports Award, given to an individual who has contributed greatly to local auto racing will be presented during the Bash, kicking off at 9 p.m. Manmiller Electric is the awards sponsor for 2011.



There will be music for dancing courtesy of DJ Jammin' Jimmy Payne, racing videos from Gary Silverman Productions, snacks and a cash bar. Tickets are $10.



The overall 'Best of Show' will be decided by show attendees. A ballot has been placed in the show's souvenir program book. Completed ballots should be returned to a ballot box in center court. Voting began Sunday at 11 a.m. and ends Thursday (Feb. 24) at 9 p.m. to allow time for tallying the votes. Only official ballots from the program book will be counted.



Mahoning Valley Speedway, the circular paved quarter-mile located in Lehighton, Pa., has a strong presence at this year's Racing Legends Reunion. Promoters Doug and Gena Hoffman have assembled a display promoting the speedway's upcoming season.



Other speedways/sanctions represented include Grandview (Pa.) Speedway, Big Diamond (Pa.) Speedway, Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway, Shellhammer's (Pa.) Speedway, Kutztown (Pa.) Speedway, Race of Champions, BD Motorsports Media's Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. Short Track Four Crown, XCel Chassis, ARDC, URC, Thunder on the Hill Racing Series, Shellhammer's (Pa.) Speedway, Rich Tobias' Speedway Entertainment, Montgomery County Quarter Midget Club and more.



Friday night (Feb. 25) during the show is reserved for the annual Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Reunion. This year, the evening is dedicated to the memory of legendary announcer Warren Ruffner, whose voice and charisma is synonymous with racing at Reading.



On Saturday (Feb. 26), the 'Next Generation Stars' are saluted at 3 p.m. with go-kart, Quarter Midget and Junior Slingshot talents among those interviewed on stage. Later, at 7 p.m. the second annual Penn National Speedway Reunion takes place to remember the Grantville, Pa., facility that hosted its final event in 1996.



Bob Hilbert Sportswear has produced show apparel, available at the program stand near the center court area.



For further information on the Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show, contact show organizer Brett Deyo by phone at 845.728.2781 or via e-mail at Deyo99H@aol.com. A show schedule is updated on the web at http://www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com/ as it is finalized.



The affiliate events of the Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show are taking shape. Registration is underway for the Big Diamond Speedway Race Car Show at the Fairlane Village Mall (Pottsville, Pa.) March 7-12 at http://www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com/ and the fourth edition of the IRCO Dirt Track Heroes Show at the Phillipsburg Mall (Phillipsburg, N.J.) March 6-12 at http://www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com/.



The 26th annual Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show is presented by Reading Eagle, WEEU 830 AM, VP Racing Fuels, Reading Plastic Fabricators, 600Scene.com, DJ Jammin' Jimmy Payne, Manmiller Electric, Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc., BFP Specialty, GSP Video, Berks County Historical Society, Four Star Lettering & Graphics, Racers Roundtable Radio and BD Motorsports Media.



26th Annual Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show Schedule of Events



Thursday, February 24 - Four Star Lettering & Graphics Late Model & Sportsman Night

7 p.m. - Meet drivers from the Grandview Speedway Late Model division and regional Sportsman division - Sean & Kyle Merkel, Chuck Schutz, Kory Fleming, Late Model rookie contender Steve Butler, Craig Whitmoyer, Dave Dissinger and more

9 p.m. - Drivers Guest Bartend at Applebee's 5th Street Highway (adjacent to mall) - Sean & Kyle Merkel, Chuck Schutz



Friday, February 25 - Salute to the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway - 32 years later! A tribute to late announcer Warren Ruffner

6:30 p.m. - Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Reunion (Stage)

9 p.m. - BASH Racing Party @ Temple Fire Company on Kutztown Road - Show awards presented, Don Marks Memorial Contribution to Motorsports Award, music for dancing by DJ Jammin' Jimmy Payne, racing movies, cash bar, snacks and more! BASH award sponsor for 2011 - Manmiller Electric, Tickets $10



Saturday, February 26 - Salute to Penn National Speedway presented by DJ Jammin' Jimmy Payne

3 p.m. - The Next Generation Stars - Meet the driving talent of the future with Quarter Midget, Go-Kart, Junior Slingshot and other youth recognized

7 p.m. - DJ Jammin' Jimmy Payne-sponsored Penn National Speedway Reunion (Stage) - Former drivers, owners, officials, sponsors, fans, etc., gather to remember the Grantville, Pa., oval that closed its doors in 1996.



Sound provided all week by Racers Roundtable Radio Show on WXLV 90.3 Lehigh Valley Sundays 6-8 p.m.



- Mall Hours: Sunday 11 a.m-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. -