Atlantic City, New Jersey, January 15, 2007 . . . The Motorsports
2007 presented by VP Racing Fuels Race Car show held this past
weekend at the plush Atlantic City Convention Center for the first
time was a huge success.
With more than 250 race cars on display, more than 600 exhibitor
areas offering just about anything imaginable in motorsports, free
autographs from national, regional and local racing personalities
and so much more, thousands of people jammed the 300,000 square
foot show area.
There were appearances by national racing stars such as NASCAR
Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year Denny Hamlin, 2003 Cup champion Matt
Kenseth, NHRA drag racing star Ron Capps, NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series champion Todd Bodine, Nextel Cup star Dave Blaney, Craftsman
Truck Series standout Erin Crocker and past Daytona 500 champion
Derrike Cope.
One of the highlights of the three day show was the U.S.Tobacco Ms.
Motorsports Pageant with lovely Chelsea Lynn Miller of Langhorne, PA
judged the winner and picking up $1,500 for her winning efforts. The
5’7” blonde beauty who works as a cosmetologist was making her first
start in the competition. She has represented DIRT Motorsports, the
United Racing Company and Dream Makers MP3. Ms. Miller will
represent the show with personal appearances at a variety of events
in 2007.
Dana Hastings, a real estate agent from Georgetown, Delaware, was
the first runner-up. JoMarie Rankin of Butler, PA, a dental
hygienist who has been part of Ms. Motorsports for a number of
years, was second runner-up.
Other awards during the Saturday afternoon contest included Clara
Henson (Photogenic), Erica Aleno-Maloney (Swimwear), Dana Hastings
(Sportswear) and Laura Linder (Congeniality).
For the second year in a row the FantaSea Resorts Swimwear
Competition allowed fans to have a voice in the selection of a
winner. $500 went to fan favorite Dana Hastings in a close voice
vote of the hundreds of fans in attendance. Hastings also picked up
$500 for finishing second in the Ms. Motorsports pageant and will
step in should Ms. Miller not be able to fulfill all obligations.
Big Wheel racing featuring youngsters racing vehicles provided by
show management saw Garrett Nordberg win the Age 3-4 Class followed
by Robbie Page and Carmen Griggs. In the 5-6 age class Jacob Mueller
was the winner with Tyler Massie finishing second and Matt Toby
grabbing third. Pete Dee won in the 7-9 age category followed by
Blake Barney and Marissa Giberson.
A variety of special awards were presented including:
Best appearing stock car - Frank Guidace Dirt Modified appearing as
part of the Shadow Racing Product display.
Best appearing open cockpit car - Jason Warfield’s Micro Sprint in
the Delmarva Motorsports Park display.
Best appearing drag racing vehicle - The Elizabeth, NJ Truck Center
“The Beast” truck appearing in the Englishtown, NJ Raceway Park
display.
Best race car Display - Jammerson Motorsports promoting their
sponsors on their NASCAR Busch Series East sponsored car driven by
Dion Ciccarelli.
Best Speedway or Club Display - Wall Township Speedway which
featured one vehicle from every class that races at the track on a
regular basis.
Best Commercial Display - Speedway Entertainment/Slingshots by
Tobias which featured a hand-built wooden display and one of their
new spec midgets.
Best Quarter Midget club Display - Doylestown Quarter Midget Club
which hosts races in Honeybrook, PA
Best Vintage Stock Car Display - The Dick Cozze #44 coach that the
legendary Al Tasnady drove which was part of the Diamond State
Vintage Motorsports display.
Best Vintage Open Cockpit Display - The Chris Krumeracker #6 Quarter
Midget race car that was part of the Phoenix Raceway display.
Best Vintage Club Display - The Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club
display featuring a large display on the old Atlantic City Speedway.
“Many exhibitors participating in Motorsports 2007 are already
asking for information on Motorsports 2008 with several reserving
the same space or asking for more show space, “ commented show
organizer Len Sammons. “We are very happy with the way the show
turned out, especially when you consider that it is our first year
in Atlantic City after so many years at the Fort Washington, PA Expo
Center.”
Boardwalk Hall officials, where the “Gambler’s Classic” indoor auto
racing events were presented during the same weekend, estimated
attendance for the two days of racing at more than 10,000. The final
night of racing saw veteran racers Joey Payne and Lou Cicconi
battling for the win and Payne taking the victory by a matter of a
couple of feet.
Many fans used the convenience of the NJ Transit System to travel
to the events. The train dropped fans off right in the Convention
Center. Also proving popular were a number of organized bus trips
that allowed fans to attend the show, the races and even sneak in
some “other attractions” before heading home.
Motorsports 2008, the 23rd edition of the three day midwinter
motorsports extravaganza, will take place at the same location
January 11-13, 2008. It is not too early to make plans to attend.
Suggestions and comments are invited regarding the show and can be
sent to
motorsports@aarn.com. That same address can be used to be added
to the show and indoor racing email mailing list. Information may be
found at
www.aarn.com.