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.
Source: Ernie
Saxton/Ernie Saxton Communications
Posted:
January 19, 2009
