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| MOTORSPORTS 2009 ATTRACTS LARGE UPBEAT CROWDS TO ATLANTIC CITY |
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - January 19, 2009 . . .
Judging from the number of people roaming the aisles of the Motorsports
2009 Race Car & Trade Show at Atlantic City’s Convention Center
this past weekend the sluggish economy is not impacting motorsports in
this area.
A huge crowd turned out for the 24th edition of the Northeast’s largest mid-winter motorsports event.
Jim
Hunter, Vice President of Corporate Communications with NASCAR, kicked
off the show with an upbeat question and answer session regarding
NASCAR. Hunter responded to all questions with straight forward answers
and addressed the economy and its impact on NASCAR and racing in
general.
Despite all the doom and gloom forecasts from some
media Hunter feels that the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will have full
fields of cars and the season ahead will be a good one.
“Most
of the show participants I spoke with seemed to be upbeat about the
motorsports business,” said show promoter Len Sammons. “Most of the
racers, the fans, the promoters in attendance are excited about the
season ahead.”
Long lines of fans waited to collect autographs
from NASCAR Sprint Cup racers Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, James Hylton
and Dave Blaney along with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion
Johnny Benson. And fans were patient as they waited to meet and collect
autographs from drag racing stars Antron Brown, Kenny Koretsky and Matt
Smith. Former NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief Ray Evernham, now a TV
personality and track owner, was signing autographs as was former
IndyCar great Wally Dallenbach Sr.
Dozens of local and regional racing stars were on hand to meet fans.
The
first annual Joe Pratt Award of Excellence, named in honor of the
highly respect show manager who passed away in 2008, went to Bob
Hilbert Sportswear. The company has been a long time participant in the
show and a major supporter.
Art Leidl took home the award for “Best Appearing Open Cockpit Race Car” with his “LaYogurt” sprint car.
The No. 21 J of Jason Dunn earned the “Best Appearing Stock Car Race Car” award.
A 1934 Willys Coupe displayed in the Avanti Performance booth was the pick of judges at “Best Appearing Drag Car.”
The “Best Appearing Vintage Stock Car” award went to the Ray Hendrick #11 Coupe.
Tops in the “Vintage Stock Car” category was the beautifully restored Ray Brady Indianapolis Roadster #43.
New Jersey Motorsports Park, located in Millville, NJ, earned the “Best Speedway or Club Display” award.
RaceSeng Designs got the judge’s nod for having the “Best Commercial Booth Display.”
NHRA
Pro Stock racer Kenny Koretsky took home top honors for the “Best Race
Car Display” with his display of Nitro Fish Wear sponsored race cars.
The “Best Appearing Quarter-Midget or Kart Display” was earned by the Blackbird Quarter Midget Association.
The Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Association was the top Vintage Car Club Display.
Alyssa
Sharman, a two time runner-up, finally had her dreams come true as she
was named Ms. Motorsports 2009 in the U.S. Tobacco Ms. Motorsports
Pageant topping an impressive list of entries.
Sharman was Ms. Area Auto Racing News 2008 in addition to Ms. Dirt Trackin 2007.
The
Sinking Spring, PA beauty comes from a racing family and will represent
the Motorsports show at a number of events during 2009.
Sharman also earned the Sportswear award.
The
first runner-up honors went to Melissa Hassell and second runner-up was
Andrea Pyles. Ms. Hassell has agreed to serve as Ms. Area Auto Racing
News for 2009 attending races and other events representing the weekly
trade publication.
Most photogenic honors went to Heather Thompson and Melissa Hassell took the Swimsuit honors.
In
Saturday afternoon Big Wheel competition Anthony Deluito won the 3-4
year old feature while Peter Tripoli was tops in the 5-6 year feature.
And it was Richie Rice getting the win in the 7-9 year old feature.
More
than 300 exhibit areas and over 250 race cars filled more than 250,000
square feet of the plush Atlantic City, NJ Convention Center.
Also
a part of the show as a two day Promoter’s Summit that attracted
speedway promoters and organization officials who had the opportunity
to hear from industry experts on a variety of business related subjects.
“Overall
those attending the Summit felt that 2009 could very well be a very
good year for the sport,” said Summit organizer Ernie Saxton. “Some
promoters are making changes in the way they will be doing business
during the new season but all were optimistic that it would be a good
year if everyone does their homework and gets back to the basics of
good promotion.”
“It was great to see the enthusiasm for the
business being generated by attendees and I know a lot of businesses in
Atlantic City appreciated the influx of people we brought to help their
economy,” said Sammons. “It was great to see the excitement and so many
having so much fun. I think the sport will be OK in 2009.”
Plans
for the 2010 edition of the Motorsports 2010 Race Car & Trade Show,
the 25th anniversary show, will be announced in the near future.
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