FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE- - - THANK YOU
IRCO DIRT TRACK
HEROES CAR SHOW
CONTACT:
BOB MILLER 443 513
4456
Release prepared by
STEVE PADOS
PHILLIPSBURG MALL SHOW TO RUN MARCH
10 TO MARCH 16. . . . . . .
PAVEMENT
GREATS TONY AND MATT HIRSCHMAN ON BOARD TO OPEN 6TH ANNUAL IRCO DIRT
TRACK HEROES CAR SHOW SATURDAY, MARCH 10
The countdown
continues for the upcoming 2013 edition of the IRCO sponsored Sixth Annual Dirt
Track Heroes Car Show and with the solid backing from a cross section of a great
group of sponsors for the week long extavaganza, the final details are being
finalized for the show in what is projected to be another successful gathering
of the past, present and future of auto racing as they all join forces together
under one roof in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. With IRCO Community Federal Credit
Union headlining the sponsorship for this year's edition of the tremendously
successful show and the addition of Smith Fabrications and the Stage One
Modifieds, Martocci's Automotive, MMF Chassis, Vogel Race Design, Hamlin
Speedway/S&S Speedways, Caffe Europa, Reagle Dodge, Persa Auto Repair,
Murante Auto Repair and Penn Jersey Super Markets signing on as nightly
sponsors, the event work staff has worked some long hours to work their
magic and fill in the necessary blanks for another amazing event.
The IRCO
Community Federal Credit Union set the wheels in motion to lend their support to
the show when it first launched in 2008 and have continuously supported the Dirt
Track Heroes Car Show throughout its run will continue to have a strong presence
at the event when the doors of the Mall swing open to welcome the return of the
show to the Phillipsburg Mall in 2013 with opening day set for Sunday, March
10th. The show encompasses the majority of the local short track scene and will
continue through Saturday night, March 16th.
Opening day
will see the Father-Son duo of Tony and Matt Hirschman joining an elite group of
driving stars as they chat about their racing exploits throughout the day. In
announcing the return of IRCO to the marquis position, IRCO President/CEO Jackie
Frey stated, "IRCO Community Federal Credit Union is pleased to continue its
relationship with the Dirt Track Heroes Show. Our sponsorship of the show the
past five years has afforded IRCO an excellent opportunity to increase our brand
awareness and display the various financial products and services we offer to
our community". Mrs Frey further added, "We are proud to once again work with
Bob Miller in bringing to the Phillipsburg Mall this very successful show that
celebrates racing's rich and storied history in our area as well as displaying
today's cars and drivers". IRCO Vice President Greg Collins has been an integral
part of the show since its inception and will continue in his capacity to assist
with the show and to answer any questions the Mall goers and racing fans have
regarding the many services of IRCO. The Phillipsburg Mall, located on Route 22
East in Phillipsburg, NJ, has proven to be a popular setting for this special
event and will offer a multitude of race cars, racing memorabilia, collectibles
and photos on display throughout the course of the show. The show continues to
be free of charge to the mall traffic and the 2013 edition of the show continues
to be the trend setter of the many shows that are scheduled during the year.
With an exciting and diverse schedule of events to whet the appetite of any true
race fan, large crowds are expected to fill the wide walkways of the
Phillipsburg Mall.
The March
10th opening of the show will feature tributes to two of the grittiest but
always entertaining dirt tracks, the Nazareth National Speedway and the Nazareth
Speedway. The often referred to "Big Track" at Nazareth enjoyed a few lives,
first as a dirt facility and then the move to a pavement surface when the
speedway was purchased by Roger Penske. Although the the now dormant facility
remains visible, the years of inactivity have taken their toll on the speedway
but for the fans that witnessed the great racing there, they can more than
likely remember each pass and each winner of the events they saw while it was
active. Much the same can be said for the half mile speedway as many of us
racing fans lived for Sunday nights and a quick ride in the family truckster to
take in a show at Jerry Fried's race track.
The speedway
closed in 1988 and left the landscape shortly thereafter for a super market and
strip mall that was built over-top the old raceway. Even though the years have
rolled by us in swift fashion, those of us who remember the racing action and
the excitement caused by the great driving stars who competed there, the opening
of the IRCO Dirt Track Heroes Show allows each one of us to chat and listen to
many of our racing heroes as the opening day takes us back to a time when life
was far more carefree, the racing was far more affordable and the world in
general was in a far better state of affairs than it is in present day form.
With a great group of stars contacted for the event, it is with great
anticipation the show will kick off and headlining the opening day will be five
time Whelen Modified Tour Champion Tony Hirschman. Tony began his successful
racing career at the Dorney Park Speedway in Allentown, Pennsylvania and quickly
moved through the ranks of the racing world by capturing two championships at
the Mahoning Valley Speedway in back to back seasons 1977-1978 and two titles at
the Mountain Speedway in 1978-1980. Tony followed up by moving into the Whelen
Modified Tour ranks as he raced alongside the best of the best the pavement
Modified world had to offer. Tony earned his first series title in 1995 and
captured additional series titles in 1996, 1999, 2004 and 2005. Tony captured
ROC titles in 1989 and 1997 and has won numerous awards for his great
performances on the race track.
While only
competing in occasional races currently, Tony still shows the moxie and the
necessary talent to get the job done on the race track as evidenced by his
second place run in 2011 at the ROC Race of Champions event at Oswego Speedway.
In 2003 Tony was named as one of the top NASCAR Modified drivers of all-time
earning the number six slot on the list of driving greats. Tony earned Rookie of
the Year honors in the Busch East Series in 1992 and captured the Richie Evans
Performance Award in 1996. Proving the apple does not fall far from the tree,
Matt Hirschman followed in his Dad's footsteps in racing and quickly earned high
marks for his prowess on the race track and just as his father did, Matt has
driven with the same extreme patience and style as his Dad and never the abuses
the racing equipment he goes to the speedway with. In 2012 Matt captured the
ROC Pavement Title for the fifth time in his young career, having captured
titles in 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012. Matt enjoyed a great season behind
the wheel as he captured the Turkey Derby at Wall Stadium, won a 10G event at
Seekonk, pocketed almost 9 G's from a Star Speedway triumph and won at numerous
speedways in 2012 while dividing his time locally, the ROC, Whelen and Valenti
Mod Tours. Matt has captured the North-South Shoot-Out event four times,
captured Octoberfest at Mahoning in 2012, captured King of the Mountain at
Mountain Speedway in 2011 and 2012 and is a past Concrete King at the new
Shangri-La Speedway. Matt began the 2013 in Florida only to suffer a broken
wrist in an early skirmish during the Battle at the Beach In Daytona,
Florida.
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 will head up the announcing team for
the week long show. IRCO Vice President Greg Collins, who also 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 first 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, Tri State, Friends
of Nazareth and Bob Snyder Photos and Snyder Video 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.
Entries are
being accepted to display in the IRCO Dirt Track Heroes Show. More information
is available by calling: 443-513-4456 or you may complete the entry form located
on the home page of the: www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com web site. Follow the simple
instructions posted on the web site to register. Space is available for race
cars of all divisions, street rods, vendors and race tracks as
well.
In the
previous events, cars that were on display included big and small block
Modifieds, Sportsman, Micro-Sprints, ARDC Midgets, URC Sprints, TSRS Sprints,
Late Models, go-karts, quarter midgets and a broad variety of vintage and
restored race cars. New Egypt, Grandview, Big Diamond, Bridgeport, Hamlin,
Accord, Action Track USA, Borger's and Snydersville will again be among the many
speedways involved with the 2013 show. The week-long event will set aside one
evening to salute the "Stars of Tomorrow" with a special night set aside for the
budding young racing talents competing with the many quarter midget clubs in the
area and this night has proven to be one of the highlights of the week as many
will be giving their first ever interviews to a sizable crowd.
The IRCO Dirt
Track Heroes Car Show will again offer a great keepsake event souvenir program
book and shirt. The Phillipsburg Mall is open Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM and from
Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM.
For
additional IRCO Dirt Track Heroes information, contact show organizers Bob and
Donna Miller by phone at 443.513.4456, via e-mail at TOTHILL98@aol.com or on the web at: www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com.
The event
offers race teams a great opportunity to promote their sponsors and announce
their racing plans for the 2013 racing season.
2013 Sixth Annual IRCO Dirt Track Heroes Car
Show
Schedule of Events
Sunday-
March
10 - (Starting at 1:00) - Martocci
Automotive presents the IRCO Dirt Track Heroes Car Show Opening
Ceremony with Driver Interviews and Autograph Session: Highlighting Nazareth
And Nazareth National Speedways with Reading, Harmony, Orange County,
Hatfield, Flemington, East Windsor, Moc-A-Tek and Hinchliffe
Stadium
Monday- March
11 -
(6:30 PM) – Reagle Dodge
and Caffe Europa Saluting Action Track USA, SpeedSTRS, ATQMRA,
Borger’s Speedway, Shellhamers Speedway, Snydersville Raceway, X-Cel 600
Modifieds, Oreville Karts
Tuesday- March
12 -
(6:30 PM)- Persa Auto
Repair and Murante Auto Repair Saluting the “Stars of Tomorrow”
featuring all Quarter Midget Clubs: Oaklane, Blue Mountain, Lehigh Valley, West
End Raceway, Keystone, Phoenixville, South Jersey and Garden State Quarter
Midget Clubs
Wednesday- March
13 -
(6:30 PM) – Hamlin
Speedway/S&S Speedways and Vogel Race Design Saluting New
Egypt Speedway, Hamlin Speedway Open Wheel Divisions, Wall Stadium and the
Legends of the East Windsor Speedway - Invite to the Garden State Vintage Racing
Club
Thursday- March
14 -
(6:30 PM) – Smith
Fabrications/Stage One Modifieds Saluting Hamlin Speedway
Slingshot Divisions and Stage One Modifieds, Accord Speedway and Orange County
Fair Speedway Night
Friday - March
15 –
(Tentative) 1st Show (4 p.m.) – MMF Chassis presents
Special Edition “The Legends of Racing” with Legendary stars Sammy Beavers, Carl
Van Horn, Richard Marinelli, Gerald Chamberlain, Red Coffin, Newt Hartman, Gary
Gollub and many more.
2nd Show
(6:30 PM) Salute to Thunder on the Hill Series, Grandview Speedway, Bridgeport
Speedway, Big Diamond Speedway, ARDC Midgets, URC, TSRS and CRSA Sprint Cars
Saturday - March
16 -
(Noon) –Penn Jersey
Supermarkets Presenting Flemington Speedway & Flemington
Speedway Historical Society. Harmony Speedway
Pavement Afternoon
---Flemington, Mountain, Mahoning, Dorney Park
All drivers invited to
return for fan-fest and Autograph Session
Caffe Europa is the
official designated restaurant for the IRCO 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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