News from the 26th annual Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show presented by Reading Eagle and WEEU 830 AM
Media Contact: Brett Deyo - 845.728.2781 or Deyo99H@aol.com
For Immediate Release/Feb. 5, 2011
358-Modified Cars & Stars Will Be Out At Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show presented by Reading Eagle and WEEU 830 AM; Mahoning Valley Speedway Adds Pavement Flare To Feb. 20-26 Show
READING, PA - The cars and stars of the Pennsylvania 358-Modified circuit will be out in full force at the 26th annual Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show presented by Reading Eagle and WEEU 830 AM.
Many of the most successful and high-profile drivers from Big Diamond Speedway (Minersville, Pa.) and Grandview Speedway (Bechtelsville, Pa.) have set plans to attend the Feb. 20-26 show at Fairgrounds Square Mall on 5th Street Highway - the former site of the 'Home of Champions' Reading Fairgrounds Speedway which hosted its final event in 1979. Race fans have the opportunity to take an up-close look at the cars they will cheer on when the 2011 season gets the green flag, while meeting their favorite Friday and Saturday night dirt track heroes.
Some of the talent displaying equipment and taking part in this year's show:
*Craig Von Dohren, the leading 358-Modified winner at Big Diamond and Grandview with his self-owned No. 1c;
*Meme DeSantis, Grandview's Freedom 76 winner for the last two seasons in the Harvey Bitler No. 88D;
*Jeff Strunk, multi-time champion set to drive for Norm Hansell Motorsports in the famed No. 357;
*Doug Manmiller, 2010 Big Diamond 358-Modified champion driving for Josh Biever;
*Ryan Godown, the New Jersey driver reuniting with car owner Johnny Rea in the No. R1; and
*Kevin Hirthler, with backing from BPG Racing/Chad Sinon Motorsports for '11.
Kevin Albert Jr., the Lebanon, Pa.-based 358-Modified rising star plans a two-car display for the show: one car with high sail panels representing the Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. Short Track Four Crown organized by BD Motorsports Media and another convential-body car sporting windows to be run in weekly 358-Modified competition.
There are many other Modified stars set to show off their equipment at the show, including last year's Big Diamond top rookie Michael Weinert, Terry and Addison Meitzler, John Willman, Brad Missimer, Kyle Follweiler, Brad Grim (in the Jim Reid race car this season), Andy Burkhart, Scott Irwin, Ryan Grim, Ron Seltmann, Gary Wagner Jr., Kyle Weiss, Barry White and many others.
More than 100 race cars in total will fill the mall representing the past, present and future of auto racing in the region. Speedways and sanctioning bodies, vendors selling collectibles, local speed suppliers and other organizations will be present for the thousands visiting the show during the week. Randy's Raceway of Kutztown, Pa., will be on hand with his popular slot car track. Among the different types of vehicles entered this year are 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.
Mahoning Valley Speedway, the circular paved quarter-mile located in Lehighton, Pa., plans 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. Representing the speedway will be the pavement Modified of defending champion John Bennett, the pavement Late Model of nine-time '10 winner Austin Kochenash the dirt Mod to be run on pavement of Mike Stofflet and the Buddy Sload ATQMRA Midget.
Registration is ongoing at http://www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com/. Space is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Entry forms have been posted on the web at http://www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com/. Completed forms should be mailed to Brett Deyo, 137 Village Drive Boyertown, PA 19512. Complete registration information can be submitted via e-mail to Brett Deyo at Deyo99H@aol.com.
A vehicle registration fee of $25, covers insurance, should be remitted upon arrival at the mall on setup day. All space is reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Activities are planned during the weeklong event for attendees, including Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. Open Wheel Night Monday (Feb. 21), Reading Plastic Fabricators Small Car Night Tuesday (Feb. 22), BFP Specialty Modified Madness Night Wednesday (Feb. 23) and Four Star Lettering Late Model & Sportsman Night Thursday (Feb. 24).
The Applebee's location adjacent to the mall welcomes the racing community with celebrity bartenders during the show to include ARDC Midget racers Brett Arndt, P.J. Gargiulo and Ryan Watt (Feb. 21), Modified racers Ryan Godown, Doug Manmiller, Kevin Albert Jr. and Ryan Grim (Feb. 23) and Late Model talents Sean Merkel, Kyle Merkel and Chuck Schutz (Feb. 24).
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.
After the show closes Friday, attention turns to the Temple Fire Company for the annual BASH Awards Party. The highlight Don Marks Memorial Contribution to Motorsports Award will be presented along with the overall Best of Show distinction (voted by show attendees) and divisional award winners. The BASH begins at 9 p.m. with music for dancing from DJ Jammin' Jimmy Payne, racing videos courtesy of Gary Silverman Productions and a cash bar. Tickets are sold at the show and at the door. Manmiller Electric has signed on as the awards sponsor for this year's BASH.
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 will produce show apparel and a souvenir program book will also be available.
Marketing opportunities for the 26th annual Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show are currently available. A marketing fact sheet has been posted on the event website.
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 as well. Registration is underway for the Big Diamond Speedway Race Car Show at the Fairlane Village Mall (Pottsville, Pa.) March 7-12 at 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, 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
Sunday, February 20 - 26th Annual Opening Day presented by BD Motorsports Media
11 a.m. - Show Kickoff
Monday, February 21 - Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. Open Wheel Night
7 p.m. - Meet Drivers from ARDC, URC, SpeedSTR Series and more - Brett Arndt, Ryan Watt, P.J. Gargiulo, Trevor Kobylarz and more TBA...
9 p.m. - Drivers Guest Bartend at Applebee's 5th Street Highway (adjacent to mall) - Brett Arndt, Ryan Watt, P.J. Gargiulo
Tuesday, February 22 - Reading Plastic Fabricators Small Car Night
6:45 p.m. - Micro-Sprint, Legends Car, Slingshot & XCel 600 Modified Drivers - Tim Henry represents the Keystone Legends group and provides info on 2011
7:30 p.m. - 600Scene.com Small Car Roundtable Discussion - Barry Angstadt of Small Cars-Big Buzz in Area Auto Racing News, Kevin Steele of 600Scene.com, 600 Pro Series promoter Wayne Lesher, Randy West, RTS Chassis employee and former Micro standout/current 360 Sprint Car racer, XCel 600 Modified leader Doug Borger and others TBA...
Wednesday, February 23 - BFP Specialty Modified Madness Night - Introducing the 2011 BFP Specialty Young Guns of the PA 358-Modified Circuit
3-5 p.m. - Live WEEU 830 AM radio broadcast sponsored by Berks County Historical Society
7 p.m. - Meet drivers from the area's big- and small-block Modified divisions - Craig Von Dohren, Jeff Strunk, Mike Gular, Ryan Godown, Doug Manmiller, Kevin Hirthler, Ryan Grim, John Willman, Terry Meitzler, Brad Grim and many more TBA...
Introducing the 2011 BFP Specialty PA Young Guns: Michael Weinert, Jared Umbenhauer, Jordan Umbenhauer, Mike Lisowski, Billy Pauch Jr., Nick DeSantis, Sammy Piazza, A.J. DeSantis, Kyle Follweiler, Kevin Albert Jr., Danny Nicholas, Addison Meitzler, Brad Missimer, Jordan Umbenhauer, Carroll Hine III, Jimmy Horton IV - Young Guns will be available for autographs at the BFP Specialty display following interviews!
9 p.m. - Drivers Guest Bartend at Applebee's 5th Street Highway (adjacent to mall) - Ryan Godown, Doug Manmiller, Kevin Albert Jr., Ryan Grim
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 TBA
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
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. -
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