Over 140 Cars Fill Phillipsburg Mall For 2018 Dirt Track Heroes Show

Story By: STEVE PADOS / DIRT TRACK HEROES – PHILLIPSBURG, NJ – The Quaker Steak and Lube Eleventh Annual Dirt Track Heroes Show opened yesterday to much fanfare and enthusiasm as racing fans flocked to the Phillipsburg Mall on Sunday to listen to great racing stories and meet a panel of legendary racing stars who came out to chat about their racing exploits and to honor legendary Nazareth homestown racing champion Bill Tanzosh.

The show organizers overcame a multitude of problems just to be be able to present the show as a huge snowstorm, power outages, fallen trees and road travel hindered some cars and drivers from making their appearances.

With the eclectic Quaker Steak & Lube eating establishment headlining the sponsorship of the show, the 55 stores making up Quaker Steak & Lube Restaurant chain annually sell more than 80 million wings per year and “The Lube” is recognized as “The best wings in the USA.” The Phillipsburg location has also been dubbed “The Official Restaurant of the Dirt Track Heroes” show. To contact the restaurant, call: 908 454 2900 or check out their website at: www.thelube.com Before or after the show head to Quaker Steak & Lube and get recharged and refueled in a great sports setting.

The excitement and the pulse for the week long show quickened with each driver being announced by the professional team of Ed and Steve Pados, Bobby Stull and Justin Beltrame. The diverse schedule of the week long show offers a bit of everything to all racing fans no matter what series or division of racing they prefer. The show will honor the legendary Modified talent Bobby Rossell with a special show on Friday, March 9th at 4 PM dubbed the “The Legends of Racing” and a tribute to racing at the famed Flemington “Square” Speedway will close the show on March 10th at 1 PM with many open wheel racing legends being present for the show. The “Tas” Awards will also be presented during the time frame.

The 11th annual edition of the show will continue through March 10th with amazing sponsorship support through headline sponsor Quaker Steak and Lube restaurant chain and associate sponsors IRCO Community Federal Credit Union, Premio Foods, Upstate Auto, Smitty’s Collision Center, Huston’s Automotive, Smith Fabrications/Stage One Modifieds, Jeff’s Automotive, Alex’s Tire/Breidingers Speed Shop, Adams Brothers Used Auto Parts, Hamlin Speedway/S&S Speedways, R&T International Muffler and Brake, Murante Auto Repair, Clean Run Auto Repair, Martocci Automotive, Dean Autosports, JPA Masonry, Phillipsburg Easton Honda, Speed Tec, ARM Automotive, Penn Jersey Food Marts, Gardner’s Auto Service, Carl’s Auto Sales and Ralphs Radiator. Nightly driver interviews and race cars of all types provide the race fan a full appetite of racing fun before the regular racing seasons begins. The Phillipsburg Mall, located on Route 22 East in Phillipsburg, NJ, has proven to be a popular setting for this special event and offers 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 2018 edition of the show is the trend setter of the many shows that are scheduled during the year.

After many long hours of planning and scheduling, the show kicked off with Emcee Steve Pados introducing the drivers who were able to attned the show. into the event. Jeff’s Automotive, Upsate Auto, Ralph’s Radiator and Huston’s Automotive were the first day event sponsors and Pados graciously thanked all of the sponsors, drivers and fans for their loyalty and support of the show and for their dedication and love for racing. Pados followed by Show organizer Bob Miller and then introducing IRCO Vice President Greg Collins to the crowd. Miller and Collins thanked the local racing community for their support and talked about how the show came together eleven years ago with the show staff who remain still on board with the show. Co-Emcee Ed Pados gave an emotional prayer to the many drivers or racing people who have passed on in the last year and the show proceeded with the driver interview session. Representative Robin was on hand as the Dirt Track Heroes event has lent their support to the Relay for Life Team through the American Cancer Society.

A great panel of driving legends were on hand, with former Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth National Speedway and Dorney Park drivers on board for the show and all had fun trading stories back and forth with the honoree Bill Tanzosh. Drivers and personalities taking part included Bill Wilson, Del Buss, Gerry and Vicki Robison, Bill Cooper, Richie Smith, Danny Huston, Randy Bok, Johnny Bright, Liz Marinelli, Dave Thomas, Bobby Braxton, Carl Mease, Deb Smith, Bob Snyder, Jack Kromer, Mel Stettler and Bob Armbruster. The show was quick moving with plenty of great stories and plenty of laughs from the drivers on hand to honor Bill Tanzosh and many racing personalities were among those in the audience. Also on hand was the lovely Miss Racing Extravaganza Carly Hendrickson, who is the grandaughter of Lee Hendrickson and niece to Wade Hendrickson.

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 through Greg Collins, Tri State, Remembering Nazareth, Bob Snyder Photos and Snyder Video, Mike Ritter Photos and Mocatek Memories through Justin Beltrame 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. More information is available regarding the show by calling: 443-513-4456.

On display at the Mall include big and small block Modifieds, Sportsman, Micro-Sprints, Midgets, 360 and 410 Sprints, 305 Sprints, Wingless Sprints, Late Models, go-karts, quarter midgets and a broad variety of vintage and restored race cars and drag racing cars. Hamlin, Snydersville, Mahoning, New Egypt, Grandview, Big Diamond, Bridgeport and Accord, are among the many speedways involved with the 2018 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 sizeable crowd.

Monday night will feature a salute to Drag Racing in the local area with the evening sponsored by Alex’s Tire/Breidinger’s Speed Shop located at 102 Commerce Way in Stockertown, PA and Murante’s Auto Repair located at 516 Biel Avenue in Nazareth, PA and Smitty’s Collision Center based at 3301 Freemansburg Avenue in Easton, PA.

The Quaker Steak and Lube Dirt Track Heroes Car Show has a must have event T-shirt done exclusively for the show. The shipment of shirts was delayed by the weather but will be available on Monday evening. The great keepsake 60-page event souvenir program book has many great articles regarding our racing heroes and how the Dirt Track Heroes became a reality. The Phillipsburg Mall is open Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM and from Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM. The event offers race teams a great opportunity to promote their sponsors and announce their racing plans for the upcoming 2018 racing season.