DIRT TRACK HEROES NEWS

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MOTORCYCLE LEGEND CHRIS CARR HIGHLIGHTS 5TH ANNUAL NAPA AUTO PARTS DIRT TRACK HEROES SHOW. . .CONTINUES THROUGH MARCH 10 AT PHILLIPSBURG MALL

The 5th Annual NAPA Auto Parts sponsored Dirt Track Heroes Show in Phillipsburg, New Jersey rolled into the third day of the week long show last evening and seven time AMA Pro Grand National Champion and former world land speed record holder for motorcycles, Chris Carr was on hand for the evening of events that showcased the "Stars of Tomorrow". Quarter midget and karting stars talked about their budding racing careers as well. After an opening introduction to begin the show with NAPA Representative John Niles, who talked the increased involvement in this year's show through the NAPA Auto Parts chain, "The Warrior" Chris Carr was introduced to the nice crowd on hand.

Carr, who began his successful racing career at the age of three, was a total inspiration to the youngsters and adults on hand in his answering of the many questions posed to him throughout his interview that included audience participation. Carr, in a remarkable racing career, competed in excess of 400 main events and captured 78 wins along the way after turning pro back in 1983. Carr captured his first crown in 1992 and followed up with a title in 1999 and added five consecutive titles from 2001 through 2005. Carr stepped away from the flat tracks for a couple of seasons to try his hand at road racing bikes and had the same amount of success that earned him induction into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2004. Carr was also a seven time AMA 600cc Dirt Track title holder and the 2000 Formula USA Dirt Track Champion. Carr captured the AMA Sacramento Mile event an amazing nine times and earned the distinction of being the world land speed record holder for Motorcycles when he stopped the clocks at 350.8 miles per hour on September 5, 2006 at the Bonneville Salt Flats and became the first motorcyclist to break the 350 mile per hour mark. When the record was broken in 2008, Carr came right back in September of 2009 and regained the title with a run of 367.382 mile per hour. While the Dirt Track Heroes show is geared towards racing on four wheels, the appearance of the motorcycle legend Chris Carr presented another milestone for the hard working events team as the pairing of the racing legend with the future stars in racing made for a memorable evening at the show.

Carl Mease from Lehigh Valley, Rich Pursell from Blue Mountain and fabricator extraordinaire Ed Pensyl from West End were brought to the stage to talk about quarter midget racing and just how much labor and effort it takes to continue to run the successful programs for the future stars in the sport. The quarter midgets are a great way to begin the careers of the budding young drivers and many graduates have gone on to great racing careers in the sport and one such driving star Paul Koch was on hand to talk about what quarter midget racing did for him. Paul entered two vintage quarter midgets into the show and talked about how the rewards he earned from quarter midget racing later vaulted him to a modified track championship at the Big Diamond Raceway and into sprint and silver crown racing later in his career. Drivers on hand and most giving their first interview ever included Billy Lasko, Kevin Holt Jr, Aidan Swanda, Cody Quagliato, Thomas Flanagan, and Olivia Mease. Mark and Brian Gilmore were on hand for the evening and talked about their plans for ARDC racing events this coming season as Mark, a former 600 Micro Champion at Hamlin begins his second season in the club and Brian will be a rookie and plans to compete for rookie of the year honors with the club. Makenzie and Shelby Harper were on hand for the evening and talked about their plans for racing at Hamlin this coming season as Makenzie was a runner-up in the rookie 270 Micro division a season ago and will make the move to the regulars while Shelby will once again be part of the talented roster of 600 wingless Micro drivers at Hamlin and looks to earn her mark in victory lane this coming season.

This evening is New Eygpt and Wall Stadium Night at the show with a special tribute to drivers who once raced at the East Windsor Speedway and appearances from the Pauch Family is highly anticipated. This evening's show is sponsored by Caffe Europa, located in the Mall and the official restaurant of the Dirt Track Heroes Show. Come out early and grab a great meal at Caffe Europa and enjoy the show. Offerings throughout the week include the NAPA coloring contest with the winners being selected on Saturday and through the connections with the NAPA Stores, there are store specials throughout the week in Easton, Stewartsville, Hackettstown, Clinton and Flemington Stores. Sonny Croughn's DARE 2B BAD 1,000 horsepower Trikester is part of the show as Sonny celebrates 50 years in the racing industry. The Legends Showcase will be presented on Friday March 9th and headlining the showcase will be racing greats Bill Wimble and Freddy Adam and both will be selling and signing copies of their books.

Wimble's Book, "I'll Never Be Last Again" tells Bill's story of a dairy farmer who desired to race and after finishing last in his very first event vowed to never be last again and he never was. The book is great reading as it captures the fact there is more to life than just racing and Wimble describes it his way in the very popular book along with Lew Boyd. Adam is an integral part of the Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society and attends as many events as possible and his book, "The Life And Times Of The Kutztown Komet" is another great read as Freddy tell his story to Paul Weisel.

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.

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

Wednesday- March 7 - (6 PM) - Presented by Caffe Europa featuring 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) – Hamlin Speedways/Smith Fabrications/Stage One Modifieds welcoming Hamlin Speedway, Stage One Modifieds, Accord Speedway, Orange County Fair Speedway and Big Diamond Speedway Night

Friday - March 9 - (4 PM) Corey Mechanical presents the Legends Showcase: Bill Wimble and Freddy Adam with a book signing and showcase discussion with Carl "Fuzzy" Van Horn, Gerald Chamberlain, Ronnie Dunstan, Sammy Beavers, Tom Hager, Kenny Wismer, Richard Marinelli, Bill DeCoster, Red Coffin, Randy Smith, Richie Smith, Leroy Amey, Earl Derr and many more of the legendary stars who are our "Dirt Track Heroes"

(7 PM) - Presented by Martocci's Automotive Salute to Thunder on the Hill Series, Grandview Speedway, Bridgeport Speedway, ARDC Midgets, URC, TSRS Sprints, CRSA Sprints, plus the Legends of the Reading Fairgrounds and Dorney Park Speedways

Saturday - March 10 - (Noon until complete) Corey Mechanical welcomes the stars from Flemington Speedway, all divisions, Flemington Speedway Racing Historical Society and Harmony Speedway Group. All drivers invited to return for fan-fest and Autograph Session. Special Appearance by David Polenz

Caffe Europa serves as the Official Restaurant of the NAPA Auto Parts Dirt Track Heroes Show

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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