2012 Announcement-Benefits-Events

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- - - THANK YOU
CONTACT: BOB MILLER 443 513 4456

Jan. 5, 2012

FIFTH ANNUAL IRCO DIRT TRACK HEROES SHOW SHOWCASES THE VERY BEST OF THE PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE OF MOTORSPORTS

BY: STEVE PADOS

Bolstered by a record shattering event one season ago, the hard-working staff behind the scenes of the successful week long show has put many of the pieces in place for the upcoming fifth edition of the IRCO Community Federal Credit Union sponsored Dirt Track Heroes Car Show that is set to return to the Phillipsburg Mall in 2012 with opening day set for Sunday, March 4th. The show encompasses the majority of the local short track scene and will continue through Saturday night, March 10th. 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 broad variety of race cars, racing memorabilia, collectibles and photos on display throughout the course of the show. Last year a record breaking 141 cars from all divisions of racing filled the Mall space as the past, present and future of racing were highlighted in a week long show that celebrates the love each of us has found in attending races and meeting so many wonderful people associated with the sport. 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. This event is a Mall favorite and one of the leading attractions, continously drawing record breaking crowds for the week-long event. The IRCO Community Federal Credit Union remains the headline sponsor of the event and will be doing so for the fifth consecutive season as President Jackie Frey and Vice President Greg Collins lend their full support to having another successful event at the Phillipsburg Mall. Successful events promoter Bob Miller and his wife Donna once again spearhead the hard working staff of individuals responsible for the continued success of the show. Miller was recently announced as the promoter of the year through the USAC organization for his continued support of USAC and the Eastern Storm promotion of non-wing racing that will once again be presented in 2012 as part of the Thunder on the Hill Series.

The restored race cars represent racing's past or what many race fans refer to as the "Golden Era" of auto racing. Either way, the spirit of the event itself takes the great fan base of the event 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. While some of the cars in attendance are original works, some of the race cars are replicars, re-created to look much like the racers the legendary drivers drove to glory at one of the many speedways that hosted racing events. Those great cars and the preserved memories gain far more impact when the fans have the opportunity to chat with many of the drivers who will be making special appearances during the week long event. 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.

Current day race cars are displayed by race teams to gain for themselves and their sponsors additional exposure and create an interest for mall walkers to visit a race track in their immediate area. The cars are displayed to also exhibit the new and changing technology of the race cars and with the many restored race cars on site, depicts the evolution of the many eras of racing ingenuity. The fans can visit the IRCO Dirt Track Heroes Car Show and on any given night, meet the guys and gal drivers who pilot these four-wheel high-powered race cars. Many race tracks participate in this event as a way to distribute their yearly racing schedules for the upcoming season and to meet and greet their loyal fans and hopefully make some new fans to attend racing events at their respective facilities.

Hall of Fame modfied driver Carl Van Horn will be at the Mall on select nights to sign autographs and to talk about the many successful seasons he spent behind the wheel of a high powered Modified and will add his own stories regarding the Harmony Speedway, a speedway Carl built for racing in 1963. The URC Sprint Group and the ARDC Midget Club will have representation at the event and the TSRS and CRSA 305 sprint clubs are expected to be on hand for the show. All speedways have been invited to take part in the event and with the former dirt but now paved Borgers Speedway ushering in a brand new era of racing at their Saylorsburg facility, a brand new wave of drivers will take part in the IRCO Dirt Track Heroes Show. Hamlin Speedway, with a fresh helping of clay from the Borgers track, is gearing up for another phenomenal season in the Poconos with the addition of the exciting Stage One Modifieds, fabricated by Modified great "Rapid" Richie Smith. Accord Speedway will have a booth at the event for the first time with a display that will feature the 305 sprint car sponsored by American Racer and Lucas Oil Products and driven by Gary Palmer Jr.

Entries are now 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, 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, Late Models, go-karts and a broad variety of vintage and restored race cars. New Egypt, Grandview, Big Diamond, Bridgeport, Hamlin, Accord, Kutztown, Borger's and Snydersville will again be among the many speedways involved with the 2012 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.

For the fifth consecutive year, CARQUEST Gasoline Alley show hosts the Pados Brothers will host the nightly events and interviews along with guest announcers. Longtime- announcer Bobby Stull, Bridegeport and Thunder on the Hill announcer Jeff Ahlum and former Lake Mocatek co-announcer Justin Beltrame have already signed on to play a major part in the show. The Sunday, March 4th start of the event will kick-off at 12 PM. In 2011, 275 drivers, owners, racing legends and track promoters were interviewed or featured during the week long activities.

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; Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM.

IRCO Community Federal Credit Union remains the lead show sponsor since the event first opened in 2008. More information on IRCO is available at the company's web site at: www.ircocu.com or please contact Greg Collins via e-mail at: gcollins@ircocu.com

For IRCO Dirt Track Heroes information, contact show organizers Bob and Donna Miller by phone at 443.513.4456, via e-mail at TOTH98@aol.com or on the web: www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com.

And don't forget, the sister event to the IRCO Dirt Track Heroes Car Show is the popular and established 27th Annual Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show, set for the Fairgrounds Square Mall in Reading, PA February 19-25, 2012.

Both events offer race teams a great opportunity to promote their sponsors and announce their racing plans for the 2012 racing season.

2012 Fifth Annual IRCO Dirt Track Heroes Car Show Schedule of Events

Sunday- March 4 - (Starting at Noon) - IRCO Dirt Track Heroes Car Show Opening Ceremony (Stage) - All Tracks and Driver Autograph Session: Highlighting Nazareth

And Nazareth National Speedways with Reading, Harmony, Orange County, Hatfield, Dorney Park, Langhorne, Trenton, Flemington, East Windsor, Sanatoga, Moc-A-Tek, Allentown Fairgrounds, Stroudsburg, Mahoning, Mountain

Monday- March 5 - (6 PM) – Saluting ATQMRA, Borger’s Speedway, Kutztown Speedway, Shellhamers Speedway, Snydersville Raceway, X-Cel 600 Modifieds, Oreville Karts and the Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium

Tuesday- March 6 - (6 PM) Saluting the “Stars of Tomorrow” featuring Quarter Midget Clubs: Oaklane, Blue Mountain, Lehigh Valley, West End Raceway, Keystone, South Jersey and Garden State Quarter Midget Clubs

Wednesday- March 7 - (6 PM) - 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 Speedway, Stage One Modifieds, Accord Speedway and Orange County Fair Speedway Night with Salute to the Legends of the Moc-A-Tek Speedway

Friday - March 9 - (7 p.m.) - Salute to Thunder on the Hill Series, Grandview Speedway, Big Diamond Raceway, ARDC Midgets, URC plus the Legends of the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway

Saturday - March 10 - (Noon) - Flemington Speedway, Flemington Speedway Racing Historical Society and Harmony Speedway Historical Society

All drivers invited to return for fan-fest and Autograph Session

Saturday - March 10 - (2:30 PM) - Dorney Park Speedway Tribute & Autograph Session

Mall Hours: Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. -

*Schedule subject to change