Ernie Saxton

NEWS FROM THE EASTERN MOTORSPORT PRESS ASSOCIATION
More than 200 professional media covering motorsports
Media Contact: Ernie Saxton
215.752.7797 or 215.752.2392
Fax: 215.752.1518
Email: Esaxton144@aol.com
Cell: 267.934.7286
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE WITH OUR THANKS
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ALLEN, COZZE, REUTIMANN, BULLOCK, GLIDDEN, WALTRIP AND HAMILTON TO ENTER EMPA HALL OF FAME, RAHMER AND STEWART NAMED DRIVERS OF THE YEAR BY EMPA

TREVOSE, PA December 30, 2005 . . . When the Eastern Motorsport Press Association holds its annual convention at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Trevose, PA at the end of January seven new names will be entered in the EMPA Hall of Fame. During the same convention, attended by more than 100 professional media that cover the sport on a regular basis, NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart will receive the Al Holbert Memorial/EMPA Driver of the Year award for the third time and sprint car racing star Fred Rahmer will accept the Richie Evans Memorial/EMPA Northeast Driver of the Year award.
Bobby Allen, winner of more than 251 sprint car races at more than 15 different speedways with a variety of organizations, will top the list of racers being inducted into the Hall of Fame. One of the all-time greats of Modified stock car racing Buzzie Reutimann will be inducted along with one of the all-time great Modified car owners Dick Cozze; outstanding Dirt Modified car owner Joe Bullock; ten-time NHRA Pro Stock World Champion Bob Glidden; three time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip and Al Hamilton who has owned sprint cars that have won more than 400 features driven by numerous drivers.
Special awards presented during the three day convention set for January 27-29th include a President’s Award to six time American Racing Drivers Club champion Ray Bull; a one time EMPA Outstanding Achievement Award to former head of N.J. Motor Vehicles Motorsports Division Capt. John Wyckoff plus the T.Wayne Robertson Newsmaker of the Year Award to Indy Racing League star Danica Patrick and veteran Nextel Cup racer Morgan Shepherd will receive the “Junie” Donlavey Spirit of the Sport Award.
Other awards, to be announced at the convention, will include the Frank Blunk Memorial Award to an outstanding journalist, the Ace Lane Memorial Award to an outstanding photographer and the Art McHugh Memorial Award presented to an individual who works behind the scenes for the good of the EMPA organization.
The three day EMPA Convention, first presented in 1969, will include a number of news conferences that will feature the United Racing Club, American Racing Drivers Club, Indy Racing League, Pocono Raceway, Dover International Speedway, Richmond International Raceway, American LeMans Series, DIRT Motorsports, ARCA Re/Max Series, Race of Champions Series, Sam Schmidt Motorsports and NASCAR.
Sponsorship support for the convention comes from Pocono Raceway, NASCAR, Indy Racing League, SPEED Channel, Performance Racing Industry Magazine, Valvoline, American LeMans Series, DIRT Motorsports and others.
All speedway and organization champions and a guest are invited to be part of the Pocono Raceway/EMPA Casino Night that will kick off the convention on Friday, January 27th. ARDC champion Ray Bull and Grandview Speedway champion Jeff Strunk have already indicated their plans to attend. Those planning to attend must make their intentions known before January 15th to Ernie Saxton at 215.752.7797.
There are still opportunities for sponsorship available and speedways, race teams, sanctioning organizations and others wanting to take part in the convention are invited to contact EMPA President Ernie Saxton at 215.752.7797 or email Esaxton144@aol.com.
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ERNIE SAXTON COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
1448 Hollywood Avenue, Langhorne, PA 19047-7417
215.752.7797
Cell: 267.934.7286
Email: Esaxton144@aol.com
Fax: 215.752.1518
PUBLISHER: Motorsports Sponsorship Marketing News

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ December 17, 2005 . . . Dirt and asphalt Modified stock car drivers will collide to earn off-season bragging rights during the Atlantic City Indoor Race Weekend January 20-21 at the famed Boardwalk Hall.

Dirt Modified stars Frank Cozze, Doug Hoffman and Alan Johnson along with asphalt Modified standouts Tony Hirschman, Matt Hirschman and Jimmy Blewett will climb into Slingshot by Tobias cars for a "Dirt vs. Asphalt Celebrity Race" on Saturday night, Jan. 21.

The special event will be part of an evening program that is topped off by the 40-lap Three Quarter Midget/600cc Micro-Sprint "Gambler's Classic" finale.

USAC (United States Auto Club) Silver Crown racer Richie Tobias, who builds the economical Slingshot by Tobias cars and organizes the division's traveling series, will provide identically-prepared machines for the celebrity drivers.

A 20-lap contest will be run on Saturday night to determine a champion Modified team. The trio with the best combined finishes will earn the nod as the lords of the "Dirt vs. Asphalt Celebrity Race."
Adding an extra wrinkle to the event will be Slingshot by Tobias national champion Pete Intravao. He'll start scratch (last) and try to upset the big-name invaders.

The celebrity entrants bring some serious credentials to the table. On the dirt racing side, Wind Gap, Pa.'s Cozze is the reigning New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway big-block Modified champion and a two-time winner of the prestigious Eastern States 200 at Orange County (N.Y.) Fair Speedway; Allentown, Pa.'s Hoffman owns more than two dozen championships, including a 2004 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional title, and nearly 500 career feature wins; and Newark, N.Y.'s Johnson is a four-time Mr. DIRT Modified champion and three-time winner of the Eckerd 200 at the Syracuse,NY Mile.

The asphalt squad is headed by the Hirschmans of Northampton, Pa.--father Tony, who captured his fifth NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points crown in 2005, and Matt, who won the Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Tour title in 2005. Blewett is a home-grown Jersey talent who has two Modified championships at Wall Township (N.J.) Speedway to his credit.

A full day of competition is set for Sat., Jan. 21, starting at 12:30 p.m. with the "Small Car Nationals" for Senior Champ Karts, Micro-Stocks, Modified Micro-Stocks and Slingshot Young Lions.

Saturday night’s program, which is headlined by a main event for the Slingshots and the 40-lap TQ/Micro "Gambler’s Classic," begins at 7 o’clock. The evening action will be preceded by a meet-the-drivers Fan Fest on the racetrack for reserved-seat ticket holders.

The TQ/600cc Micro-Sprint entry list was approaching 60 at press time. Among the notables set to compete are short-track legend Billy Pauch; dirt Late Model star Rick Eckert; defending "Gambler's Classic" victor Jeff Heotzler; ISMA Supermodified speedster Lou Cicconi Jr.; central Pennsy Sprint Car racer Doug Esh; young dirt Modified talent Stewart Friesen; ARDC Midget standout Steve Buckwalter; prolific Micro-Sprint winner Mike Dicely; and TQ Midget champ Tim Adams.
Entry forms are available in the pages of Area Auto Racing News or on-line at www.aarn.com.
Spectator tickets are currently on sale through Ticketmaster, at the Boardwalk Hall box office and at the Area Auto Racing News office located at 2829 South Broad St. Trenton, NJ.
Sponsorship inquiries and information requests should be directed to 609-888-3618, or visit www.aarn.com.
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MEDIA CREDENTIALS: For those planning to cover the event we ask that you please send your request for credentials to Ernie Saxton by fax at 215.752.1518 or by mail to 1448 Hollywood Avenue, Langhorne, PA 19047-7417. All requests must be on media letterhead and freelancers must have proof of assignment. Thank you and please in in touch should you need anything in regards to your coverage of the events.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR - Ernie Saxton

NEWS FROM ATLANTIC CITY INDOOR RACES
Indoor Auto Racing at Boardwalk Hall
Event Organizer: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
MEDIA CONTACT: Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.
Ernie or Marilyn Saxton
215.752.7797 or 215.752.2392
Fax: 215.752.1518
Cell phone: 267.934.7286
Email: Esaxton144@aol.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE WITH OUR THANKS
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DICELY HOPING TO FINISH THE JOB IN 2006 A.C.INDOOR RACE

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ NOVEMBER 25, 2005 . . . Ten months ago Mike Dicely nearly won the Three Quarter Midget/600cc Micro-Sprint 'Gambler's Classic' that highlighted the Atlantic City,N.J. Indoor Series Weekend at Boardwalk Hall.
The Lewisberry, Pa. race driver was the leader going into the final lap of the big event. He was probably thinking about what he would do with the prize money. But with the white flag flying he was passed through turns one and two by dirt Modified standout Jeff Heotzler, who stole the lucrative victory in dramatic fashion.
When the fourth edition of the Boardwalk Hall Indoor Series takes place on Jan. 20-21, 2006, Dicely will be ready to avenge that loss while driving an all-new car.
But it won't be with a 600cc Micro-Sprint like he entered in the 2005 edition of the event. Instead, he will be at the wheel of a new-design Three Quarter Midget.
The 41-year-old Dicely is a many-time winner and champion in the Micro-Sprints, and he's built cars for that division in his Hyper Chassis shop in Lewisberry, Pa., since 1995. In 2005 his business turned out its 350th Hyper Chassis.
This year the first-edition "Spitfire" Chassis pavement TQ-Midget was constructed from the ground up in Dicely's Hyper shop. Well-known TQ Midget car owner Colin Martin, looking to have an affordable TQ available to teams that could be built in a short time, approached Dicely with the idea.
What resulted was an instant "winner" in all respects. With input from Martin, fellow car owner/mechanic Alan Mollot and TQ driver/engine specialist B.J. MacDonald, the Spitfire was designed and built.
The car was a winner in its first race at New Jersey's Wall Township Speedway this summer with veteran driver Russ Bailey at the wheel. Former American Three-Quarter Midget Racing Association (ATQMRA) champion John Gambuti also went to Victory Lane at Wall during the season in the same mount.
Now Dicely will try to continue the Spitfire machine's run of success on the oval track set up on the concrete floor of Boardwalk Hall. He'll drive a new Spitfire TQ Midget entered by Colin Martin as part of the Denver, Pa., car owner's formidable three-car effort.

Dicely's teammates will include Gambuti, driving the Spitfire No. 16, and veteran Micro-Sprint driver Heath Hehnly, who will run Martin's conventional TQ No. 36.
After his oh-so-close second-place finish in January, Dicely is anxious to test the Spitfire TQ on the indoor track. He said his 600cc Micro-Sprint ran exceptionally well at the Hall 10 months ago, but he thought Heotzler's ability to hold the inside lane better with his TQ Midget was the deciding factor in the January, 2005 event.
"During time trials and heats, the Micros are equal to the TQs," said Dicely, who will be making his fourth attempt at the A.C. Indoor Race. "But when the track 'rubbers up' (builds up rubber from the tires typically in the feature), the Micros tend to get tight and the TQs have an advantage.
"Hopefully we'll be ready with the Spitfire if the track changes."
The 2006 A.C. Indoor Race weekend will kick off on Fri., Jan. 20. Time trials for the TQ Midgets/600cc Micro-Sprints will begin at 6:15 p.m., and racing action featuring three "Roaring 20s" qualifiers for the TQ/Micros, the "Dirty Dozens" prelims for the Slingshots by Tobias and a Senior Champ Kart main will get the green flag at 7:45 p.m.
A full day of competition is set for Sat., Jan. 21, starting at 12:30 p.m. with the "Small Car Nationals" for Senior Champ Karts, Micro-Stocks, Modified Micro-Stocks and Slingshot Young Lions.
Fans purchasing reserved seat tickets are given the opportunity to be part of the exciting FAN FEST that allows the fans to get up close to the cars and drivers before the Saturday night events get the green flag.
Saturday night's program, which is headlined by a main event for the Slingshots and the 40-lap TQ/Micro "Gambler¹s Classic," begins at 7 o¹clock.
Entry forms are available in the pages of the nationally circulated motorsports trade publication Area Auto Racing News or on-line at www.aarn.com.
Spectator tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster, the Area Auto Racing News office (2829 South Broad St. Trenton, NJ 08610) or at the Boardwalk Hall ticket office.
Inquiries regarding event marketing opportunities and event information requests should be directed to 609-888-3618, or visit www.aarn.com.
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MEDIA NOTE: We will be happy to make arrangements for interviews with the various competitors. Media planning to cover the event should let us know what they will need in the way of credentials. All credential requests should be made on media letterhead via fax (215)752.1518 or snail mail at ESC, Inc. 1448 Hollywood Avenue, Langhorne, PA 19047. Thank you for your consideration. ERNIE SAXTON

More than 100 media professionals are expected to attend the three day convention that will include press conferences featuring key figures in motorsports, workshops, seminars and more.

Nominations for the EMPA Hall of Fame include modified car owners Dick Cozze and Joe Bullock; modified racers Buzzy Reutimann, C.D.Coville, Merv Treichler, Don LaJoie, Sammy Beavers and Tony Siscone; sprint car owner Al Hamilton; sprint car racer Van May; NASCAR Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip; and drag racing champion Bob Glidden. Five of these nominees will be voted into the EMPA Hall of Fame by vote of the professional membership. Legendary sprint car racer, the original outlaw, Bobby Allen has been selected for induction by the Board of Directors.
World of Outlaws sprint car champion Steve Kinser, NHRA drag racing champion Tony Schumacher, IHRA drag racing champion Clay Millican, Champ Car Series champion Sebastian Bourdais, NASCAR Nextel Cup star Tony Stewart and Indy Racing League champion Dan Wheldon have all been nominated for the prestigious Al Holbert Memorial EMPA Driver of the Year honors.

Nominees for the Richie Evans Northeast Driver of the Year Award include sprint car star Fred Rahmer, Busch North Series champion Andy Santerre, Hooters Cup star Benny Gordon, NASCAR Modified champion Tony Hirschman, DIRT Motorsports Modified ace Tim Fuller and ARDC midget racing champion Ray Bull.
Morgan Shephard will be honored with the Junie Donlavey Spirit of the Sport award.

The T. Wayne Robertson Newsmaker of the Year Award will go to either IRL racer Danica Patrick or the new National Sprintcar League. EMPA members will decide on the award recipient.

John Wyckoff, the former head of motorsports in the state of New Jersey, will receive a special Outstanding Achievement Award.

Six time American Racing Drivers Club champion Ray Bull will receive a President’s Award for his dedication to the sport and his support of the EMPA.

One of the most prestigious awards that a journalist can earn is the Frank Blunk Memorial Award (presented in memory of the late New York Times motorsports writer who was instrumental in improving the way the sport was covered). Nominees are Pete Schnatz (Philadelphia Inquirer), Bill Fleischmann (Philadelphia Daily News) and Brett Deyo (Area Auto Racing News).

The Ace Lane Memorial Award, presented to an outstanding photographer in the industry, will go to Bill Nuver, Rich Kepner, Jim Smith or Rich Grunert.

The annual Art McHugh Memorial Award, presented to an EMPA member who has shown great support for the organization and works behind the scenes to improve the organization, will go to Ron Hedger, Ace Lane, Monte Dutton or Jerry Reigle.

In addtion awards will be presented to winners in the Valvoline Journalism Contest, the Performance Racing Industry Broadcasters competition and the annual EMPA Photographers contests.
Awards will be presented on Saturday, January 28th at the annual NASCAR/EMPA Hall of Fame Dinner.
Sponsorship support of the annual convention, EMPA was founded in 1969, comes from Valvoline, Pocono Raceway, NASCAR, American LeMans Series, ARCA, Indy Racing League, Performance Racing Industry Magazine and others.

Sanctioning organizations, sponsors, promoters (national and local), and race teams are invited to participate.
“Often times we hear that race teams, sanctioning organizations and speedways, especially on the local level, complain that they do not get coverage from the media,” said EMPA president Ernie Saxton. “Here is a great opportunity to reach many of the media that cover the sport on a regular basis.”
Information on participating in the convention, sponsorship, or EMPA membership may be had by contacting Ernie Saxton at Esaxton144@aol.com or telephone 215.752.7797.

Heotzler, 48, of Wallkill, N.Y., won the 2005 "Gambler’s Classic" in dramatic fashion, passing Micro-Sprint standout Mike Dicely of Lewisberry, Pa., for the lead on the final lap and went on to victory. "We're working on an Atlantic City effort as we speak," Heotzler said last week while working at Behrent's Speed Center in Florida, N.Y. "We don't want to wait until the last minute like last year."

Heotzler's winning deal with car owner Michael Sweet of Merrick, N.Y., materialized less than three weeks before last winter's Indoor Race. After the duo were serious contenders in the event's 2004 edition, Sweet sold his car a couple months later and planned to sit out the '05 show. But he got the itch to compete as race day approached, so he bought a Dempster chassis Three Quarter Midget from BR Machine Works' Bob Reis of Elma, N.Y., at the 11th hour and reunited with Heotzler.

Sweet dropped the car off at Heotzler's shop for a mechanical overhaul just 10 days before the start of the Indoor Race weekend. The work paid off to the tune of $5,450 -- the booty that Heotzler collected for his victory, including a $3,000 "gambler's" bonus.

"It was real nice to make some good money in the middle of the winter," Heotzler said with a smile. But that cash didn't come easily.

While Heotzler dominated a majority of January's 40-lap "Gambler's Classic," his hopes appeared to be dashed when he slowed due to engine woes and was passed for the lead on lap 38 by fellow dirt Modified star Billy Pauch ofFrenchtown, N.J. But Pauch spun seconds later, bringing out a caution flag and giving Heotzler new life.

Heotzler, who restarted second, found a second wind to slip underneath Dicely for the lead rounding turns one and two on the race's last circuit. "I think the thing must have vapor-locked," Heotzler said of his car's GSXR Suzuki 750 engine. "The motor just laid down. I thought we were done. But it must have cooled off enough under caution enough to bring it back alive. At least it had another couple laps in it."

The triumph ranked high on Heotzler's list of career accomplishments. "To wind up winning that race without much experience in TQs was just amazing to me," said Heotzler. "Considering we didn't have anybody who really knew what they were doing on the car, it felt great to pull off a win." Though the winning car may not be available Heotzler said car owner Sweet is "pumped" about returning to Boardwalk Hall and going for a second straight victory. Heotzler, who won his third career big-block Modified championship this season at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y., is equally excited.

"We have a couple avenues to go," said Heotzler. "Mike could possibly get back the same car we ran in January. There's another car available to him, and there's also some people in the TQ business who are interested in teaming up with us."

Heotzler would also like to find an Indoor Race ride for his son, Jeff Jr., a budding 17-year-old racer who competed this season in Orange County's Modified division.

The 2006 A.C. Indoor Race weekend will kick off on Fri., Jan. 20. Time trials for the TQ Midgets/600cc Micro-Sprints will begin at 6:15 p.m., and racing action featuring three "Roaring 20s" qualifiers for the TQ/Micros, the "Dirty Dozens" prelims for the Slingshots by Tobias and a Senior Champ Kart main will get the green flag at 7:45 p.m. A fullday of competition is set for Sat., Jan. 21, starting at 12:30 p.m. with the "Small Car Nationals" for Senior Champ Karts, Micro-Stocks, Modified Micro-Stocks and Slingshot Young Lions.

Saturday night's program, which is headlined by a main event for the Slingshots and the 40-lap TQ/Micro "Gambler¹s Classic," begins at 7 o’clock. Entry forms will be available in the pages of the nationally circulated trade publication Area Auto Racing News or on-line at www.aarn.com, and spectator tickets will go on sale through Ticketmaster in early November. Sponsorship inquiries and event information requests should be directed to 609-888-3618, or visit www.aarn.com. -END-

MEDIA NOTE: Please let us know what your media credential needs will be for the indoor events. Requests should be on media letterhead faxed to 215.752.1518 or mail to ESC, Inc. 1448 Hollywood Avenue, Langhorne, PA 19047. Please indicated Atlantic City Indoor Race credentials. Thank you. ERNIE SAXTON

Fans and racers are still talking about the 2005 “Gambler’s Classic” that saw D.I.R.T. Modified star Jeff Heotzler top a stellar field of racers including the legendary Billy Pauch and then Micro-Sprint standout Mike Dicely in a last lap battle to score an impressive victory.

“We are hoping to be able to top that exciting finish,” said Sammons. “We want to present another memorable night of racing that will give fans an “adrenaline shot” to carry them through the balance of the winter months until the outdoor auto racing season gets the green flag.”

Kicking off the weekend of auto racing action will be a Friday night (January 20th) program that will feature the “ROARING 20s” for TQ Midgets/600CC Micro-Sprints. Time trials will set the starting fields for the three 20-lap races that will move the qualifiers to the Saturday night “Gambler’s Classic.”
In addition the Friday night action will include 12-lap “Dirty Dozen” qualifiers for the Briggs & Stratton sponsored Slingshots by Tobias and a very special feature event for the Senior Caged Champ Kart racers. The Kart racers drew rave reviews last January.
The “Small Car Nationals” return as part of the Saturday afternoon racing with events for the Senior Champ Karts, Micro-Stocks, Modified Micro-Stocks, Slingshot Young Lions (racers 13 to 15 years of age) and Junior Champ Karts.
Saturday night racing action will feature final qualifying and features for the TQ Midgets/600CC Micro-Sprints plus the Slingshots.

Officials have announced that for the first time 16-year-old racers will be allowed to compete in the TQ/600CC Micro-Sprint competition. However in order to be approved for competition the teenagers must send a copy of their birth certificate IN ADVANCE to the event organizer’s office which is located at P.O. Box 8547, Trenton, NJ 08650. In addition a complete resume detailing past racing experience must be included with the birth certificate copy. The original birth certificate must be available for inspection during the race weekend.
Sixteen-year-old racers will be required, keeping safety in mind, to wear a head-and-neck restraint device and will also be required to attend a rookie orientation meeting with officials prior to be allowed on the race track.
Entry forms for the “Gambler’s Classic” weekend, January 20th and 21st, at Atlantic City, NJ’s Boardwalk Hall will be available in the pages of the auto racing trade publication, Area Auto Racing News or online at www.aarn.com by the end of October.

Spectator tickets will go on sale through Ticketmaster locations in early November.
Requests for additional information or sponsorship inquiries should be directed to 609.888.3618 or visit www.aarn.com.
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MEDIA NOTE: Requests for media credentials for this event should be directed to Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc. at 1448 Hollywood Avenue, Langhorne, PA 19047. Faxes will be accepted at 215.752.1518. All credential requests MUST BE on media letterhead. For information on credentials telephone Ernie Saxton at 215.752.7797 or email Esaxton144@aol.com . Thank you for your consideration.

NEWS FROM MOTORSPORTS 2006 PRESENTED BY VP RACING FUELS
“THE MID-WINTER MOTORSPORTS EXTRAVAGANZA”
EVENT ORGANIZER: Len Sammons @ 609.888.3618
MEDIA CONTACT: Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.
Ernie or Marilyn Saxton
215.752.7797 or 215.752.2392
Fax: 215.752.1518
Cell: 267.934.7286
Email: Esaxton144@aol.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE WITH OUR THANKS
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VP RACING FUELS IS NEW PRESENTING SPONSOR OF MOTORSPORTS 2006 AND BEYOND

FORT WASHINGTON, PA OCTOBER 2, 2005 . . . There is a new sponsor in place for Motorsports 2006, the mid-winter motorsports extravaganza set for January 13th through 15th at the Fort Washington, PA Expo Center. The 21st annual edition of the Motorsports trade show will have VP Racing Fuels as the presenting sponsor for the next three years.

Motorsports 2006 Presented by VP Racing Fuels will cover close to 300,000 square feet of the Expo Center with more than 600 exhibit areas offering just about everything automotive. Close to 200 race cars will be on display and there will be appearances by many of the top names in the sport along with many local and regional stars.
“We are very excited to have such a well known company in the motorsports industry become part of our show,” said show organizer Len Sammons. “VP Racing Fuels has an outstanding reputation in the sport and will bring even more attention to our show.”

VP Fuels have earned a reputation for superior power and consistency -- as is illustrated by the National Hot Rod Association Pro Stock Champions who have made VP their fuel of choice for 30 consecutive years, a record unmatched by any other company in the industry.

“Over the years we have worked with drivers, teams and tracks from all forms of motorsports,” said Jim Kelly, VP Regional Manager. “Jeff Gordon, Brett Hearn, Ricky Carmichael, Kenny Tremont, Tim McCreadie, Chub Frank, Ted Christopher, John Force, Warren and Kurt Johnson, and Greg Anderson are just a few in the sport that we have worked with or are supplying fuel to at present.”

VP Racing Fuels is the official track fuel at a variety of tracks around the nation including Atco (N.J.) Raceway, Lebanon Valley Dragway, Monadnock Speedway plus many others. In addition their fuel rigs can be found at NHRA events as well as servicing Trans Am and Toyota-Atlantic races at Montreal, Toronto and Cleveland.
Kelly continued, “I couldn’t be more enthused about our association with Lenny and the Motorsports 2006 Show. Over the years we’ve watched the show outgrow the Valley Forge Convention Center and become one of the premiere motorsports events in the Northeast. Much like the show, VP Racing Fuels has continued to grow year after year, outgrowing our old Chester, PA facility and now running the Delaware (Newark) facility at full throttle. We appreciate all the support we have received over the years and are looking forward to seeing everyone at the show.”
VP Racing Fuels offers both leaded and unleaded racing fuels in bulk and drums as well as Methanol and Nitromenthane. The highly respected company has their own fleet of trailer and tanker trucks to handle deliveries to dealers and distributors as well as provide race services to various national and regional series.
The company, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is owned by Steve Burns and Fred Morrison.
Motorsports 2006 Presented by VP Racing Fuels will again offer a variety of FREE Seminars for show attendees and again one of the highlights of the show will be the U.S.Tobacco Ms. Motorsports Pageant.
Information on exhibit space, which is disappearing at a very fast pace, can be had by telephoning Joe Pratt at 609.888.3618.

Lodging reservations at some of the areas best hotels at very reasonable show rates are available by telephoning Marilyn Saxton at 215.752.2392 or Plaza Travel at 215.322.6888.
Marketing and sponsorship information is available from Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc. at 215.752.7797.
The show site, the Fort Washington, PA Expo Center is located just a short distance from Exit 339 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

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MEDIA NOTE: We are kicking off our second 20 years of the Motorsports show. Please be in touch if there is anything we can do to help you with your show coverage. And it is not too early to start thinking about applying for media credentials for the show. Thank you. ERNIE SAXTON

NEWS FROM MOTORSPORTS SPONSORSHIP
MARKETING NEWS
Media Contact: Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.
Ernie or Marilyn Saxton
215.752.7797 or 215.752.2392
Email: esaxton144@aol.com
Cell phone: 267-934-7286
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE WITH OUR THANKS
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TIME TO BE SEEKING SPONSORSHIP FOR 2006, SPONSORSHIP KIT AVAILABLE
15% OF EACH PURCHASE GOES TO SALVATION ARMY HURRICANE FUND

LANGHORNE, PA September 30, 2005 . . . For those wanting to be successful in their efforts to secure marketing partners for their auto racing efforts, Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc., publisher of the monthly newsletter on sponsorship marketing titled Motorsports Sponsorship Marketing News, has come up with a special offer for one of their most popular sponsorship marketing kits.
“This is a package that can help a racer secure sponsorship. Racers should be working on securing serious sponsorship support for 2006 by now,” said Ernie Saxton. “And those who purchase the kit now will see 15% of their purchase go to the Salvation Army Hurricane Relief Fund.”
The kit includes a video of a sponsorship seminar that Ernie Saxton presented recently. The two hour video covers much of the information that racers need to know in order to be successful in securing sponsorship/marketing partners. In the video Saxton is also found answering many questions from seminar attendees.
There is also a generic proposal that has been created by Saxton to give sponsorship seekers some idea of what a potential sponsor is looking for when a proposal is presented. It is loaded with ideas that will help get the attention of potential sponsors.
WINNING SPONSORSHIPS, a great book on sponsorship marketing, written by Andrew Waite is also part of the kit as is a one year subscription to Saxton’s Motorsports Sponsorship Marketing News. The monthly newsletter, now approaching its 22nd year of publication, has helped many with their sponsorship efforts and continues to provide tips, helps, contacts, latest sponsorship news and much more.
If purchased separately the package would cost close to $350. For a short time, at a time when race teams have completed their seasons and should anxious to get started on the 2006 season and are looking to secure sponsorship support, the package is being offered at a very special price of $199.95 plus $12.00 for postage and handling.
Those taking advantage of this special offer will have 15% of the purchase price donated to the Salvation Army Hurricane Relief Fund.
“This is our way of trying to help those in need, the Hurricane victims, and help racers secure sponsorship,” said Saxton.
More information may be found at WWW.SAXTONSPONSORMARKET.COM.
The Ultimate Sponsorship Kit, a more in-depth package of sponsorship marketing materials along with telephone consultation, is also available and is described at the website.
An ESC, Inc. brochure of services and self help materials is available upon request.
The sponsorship marketing kit may be ordered by telephoning Saxton at 215.752.7797 or 215.752.2392. Email Esaxton144@aol.com. All major credit cards are accepted.
Saxton is also available to present a sponsorship seminar for your speedway, organization or race team that can be used as a fund raiser.
Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc., located in Langhorne, PA, offers more than 35 years of motorsports marketing experience. His firm offers a variety of marketing services for racer teams and event organizers seeking sponsorship and media relations. Saxton also offers his expertise as a consultant to businesses looking to benefit from marketing through motorsports.
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(First of a series)
Recent telephone calls from racers have me concerned about what is going on in regards to sponsorship marketing. As most know the major teams have agencies representing them or have staff members working on their sponsorship opportunities. When it comes to local and regional racers it is pretty much something that is being done on their own.
What is disappointing is that even with all the information that is out there on sponsorship, many racers are doing nothing and many others are handling sponsorship search efforts very poorly. With that being said we felt it would be a great time to do a get back to basics type of column…..maybe two.
Finding sponsorship for local and regional racers is not easy and, actually, it is getting tougher. However those who present an intelligent package of benefits for the sponsor showing how their involvement will impact their business are finding success.
If racers are not willing to spend the money to hire someone to represent their sponsorship opportunities then they have to learn to do it on their own or keeping paying for their racing out of their own pockets.
We are offering about two dozen ideas on what a racer should be doing to attract sponsorship and keep sponsors happy so that they will continue their involvement.

SET A REALISTIC FIGURE. In most cases there is no television involved in local and regional racing so that keeps the sponsorship value down. If you are racing in events that have no TV, little or no fan support and no media support, you can not expect to find a big dollar sponsorship. Be realistic in what you ask for. We have a formula for figuring what to ask for (actually we suggest that you offer a few different packages) and we are happy to share it with you. However we need to know about your racing efforts in order to come up with that figure. Give us a call at 215.752.7797 or email us at Esaxton144@aol.com.
Don’t expect the sponsor to pay for everything. They don’t want to get into the racing business. They will just want to use you and your team as a marketing tool.
With all that said, we also want to warn you not to sell too cheap. Too often we see racers selling exposure on their race car at a price that is much lower than it should be. If you don’t feel that the marketing opportunities are worth much, the sponsor will share the same feeling. We suggest asking for more than you expect to receive so that you have “wiggle room” and can negotiate.
And realistically a sponsor will pay only what they feel the opportunity is worth to them.

BUSINESS SENSE SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR RACING EFFORTS. Run your race team as you would a business. Those means set budgets and live within those budgets. Present a professional image for your team with team stationary and business cards. Be prepared to show a potential sponsor your business plan. And this may surprise a lot of racers but potential sponsors will check out your credit status and reputation. Get a copy of your credit report and clear up any problems.
NO MATTER WHAT, DO NOT BEG!! Never tell a potential sponsor that would you will not be able to race unless you get their sponsorship support. That is not sponsorship marketing that is BEGGING FOR DOLLARS. Our opinion is that a racer should be ready to race, have his equipment in place, even without sponsorship support. A sponsor does not like to get involved with a race team that is going to be created with their money.

MOST SERIOUS SPONSORS DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR RACING. Fortunately for a lot of racers there are business owners who get ego gratification out of seeing their business name on the side of a race car. They don’t care about the marketing returns. They get to charge off their involvement on their taxes for something they enjoy being part of………at least until their first IRS audit.
Business people are often looking for ways to market their business. Most of them do not care about racing. You can offer them a unique opportunity. They will be able to market their business in a sport that accepts commercialism much more readily than any other sport. You have to show them how it can be done and how it will be done by you on their behalf. And the rewards will be GREAT.

MOST SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES ARE BACKWARD. The biggest share of sponsorship proposals that we have the opportunity to review are done backward. Too often we see that 75% of the package is about the racer, the race team and racing. Actually 75% of the package should be filled with information on how the racer will market the sponsor as part of the race team.
And you do have to offer a package that includes a variety of things such as the name on the race car and on the hauler. Names/logos on the team uniforms. Include them on the team website (if you don’t have one you should). Hospitality and entertainment. Media involvement. Signage at events. Sponsorship of an event. Track magazine advertising and the list goes on.
The racer needs to have some of the sponsorship dollars set aside to market the sponsor. And the sponsor must be made aware that they have to spend some of their own money to activate the sponsorship. Most of the failed sponsorships we have come across have failed because the sponsor was not made aware what they have to do to make it all work. It is a team (racer and sponsor) effort that makes sponsorship work.

We will continue our list of two dozen or so basic sponsorship marketing suggestions next issue.
Please feel free to give us a call at 215.752.7797 or email us at Esaxton144@aol.com to ask questions. We are happy to take your existing proposal and review it for you for a small fee.

OUR SPECIAL OFFER FOR THIS MONTH includes a big discount on our monthly MOTORSPORTS SPONSORSHIP MARKETING NEWS. This is for readers of this column and for new subscribers only. The price for a one year subscription will be $59.95 and that is for a one full year plus we toss in a two or three of the most recent editions. We can tell you that the newsletter has helped many be more successful with their sponsorship efforts. Telephone us at 215.752.7797 and have your credit card ready. Please take a few minutes to visit our website at www.saxtonsponsormarket.com as it is constantly updated with new information that we feel will be of interest and useful.
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NEWS FROM MOTORSPORTS 2006 - January 13-15, 2006
THE MID-WINTER MOTORSPORTS HAPPENING
Event Organizer: Len Sammons @ 609.888.3618
Media Contact: Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.
Ernie or Marilyn Saxton
215.752.7797 or 215.752.2392
Fax: 215.752.1518
Cell phone: 267.934.7286
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE WITH OUR THANKS
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BEST MOTORSPORTS 2006 SHOW LOCATIONS GO TO THOSE WHO ACT QUICKLY

FORT WASHINGTON, PA June 1, 2005 . . . Procrastinators beware! The very best show locations for Motorsports 2006, the mid-winter motorsports extravaganza set for the Fort Washington, PA Expo Center Jauary 13th through 15th, 2006, are going quickly.

“More than 35% of the show space has already been booked and we are still more than seven months from the show dates,” said show manager Joe Pratt. “We just hope that those planning to participate in the 2006 show do not procrastinate too long. There are good locations available right now.”
Pit Pal Products of Zion, Illinois was one of the very first to sign up for the 2006 show. They actually ran low on some inventory at the 2005 show and they plan to be back in 2006 well stocked for the show.
Atlantic Coast Trailer Sales in Charton, MA had one of their best shows in 2005 and have booked their space for 2006 and are already gearing up for the show. The business, operated by Dave Posocco, is very active in the industry.
Brad Creighton has also booked his same location for the 2006 show. This will be the ninth year for Creighton’s A-1 Racing Products in Warminster, PA.

And Tommy Gale and his Gale Trailers (Elizabeth, PA) has become a fixture at the show and even get involved as an associate sponsor of the show.

“The list of companies signing up for the show is a who’s who of the industry,” commented show producer Len Sammons. “We are coming off the hugely successful 20th anniversary show and we are anxious to keep the excitement and enthusiasm going as we start our second 20 years.”

More than 600 exhibit spaces are expected to be filled with everything imaginable in the motorsports industry. The show covers close to 300,000 square feet of the Fort Washington, PA Expo Center.

Exhibit space is filling quickly. 2005 exhibitors were given first opportunity to renew their locations and now the remaining space is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those wishing to obtain a show brochure or make arrangements for exhibit space should be in touch with Joe Pratt at 609.888.3618 or email him at motorsportsinfo@aarn.com .

The 21st annual show offers a wide variety of promotional opportunities and that means there are great marketing opportunities for businesses wishing to reap the rewards of being involved with the successful show and the more than 40,000 people who will attend during the three days. Sponsorship and marketing opportunities are available by contacting Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc. at 215.752.7797 or email Esaxton144@aol.com . There are marketing and sponsorship programs available for just about every budget.

Now is also a good time to be making lodging reservations for the show. Marilyn Saxton can offer special prices at several area hotels for the show. Telephone Marilyn at 215.752.2392.

Motorsports 2006 will take place at the Fort Washington, PA Expo Center and opens at 1 p.m. on January 13th continuing through 5 p.m. on Sunday, January 15th. For show information telephone 609.888.3618 or visit www.aarn.com .
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LANGHORNE, PA MAY 25, 2005….. In an effort to avoid conflicting with other events the Eastern Motorsport Press Association has announced that their annual convention will be moved to the last week of January (January 27-29,2006).
“Years back we moved our convention from the early part of January to help another organization. And we have used the same weekend in January for several years but now we seem to have run into more conflicts,” said EMPA president Ernie Saxton. “We are moving to the final weekend of January and hopefully this will be the last time we have to move. At present it looks like this is what we call a clean weekend. We don’t seem to be conflicting with anyone. Hopefully it will stay that way.”
The three day convention annually attracts key figures in the sport with many sanctioning organizations and speedways taking part in press conferences and other functions during the weekend.
Over the years the Eastern Motorsport Press Association convention has been supported by NASCAR, the Indy Racing League, Sunoco, Valvoline, Performance Racing Industry Magazine, NHRA, Pocono Raceway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, DIRT, SPEED Channel and others.
The three day convention includes a series of press conferences, seminar sessions, workshops, along with the annual EMPA/NASCAR Hall of Fame Awards Dinner. Each year EMPA members, all media professionals covering the sport, select a National Driver of the Year and a Northeast Driver of the Year.
“The EMPA Convention is the only event of its type for professional media covering motorsports on a regular basis,” said Saxton. “It gives the media members attending an opportunity generate some news articles, attend some educational seminars and network with others in the industry in an effort to improve the sport and the relationship of the media with promoters, sponsors and racers.”
Local, regional and national speedways and organizations along with race teams are invited to participate in the three day convention.
“Like everyone else we are looking for sponsorship support of our convention,” said Saxton. “We welcome those in the industry who have interest in supporting our media organization. There are considerable benefits included with the sponsorship.
Information on the Eastern Motorsport Press Association, founded in 1969, is available by telephoning Saxton at 215.752.7797 or email him at Esaxton144@aol.com. A brochure of information and membership application is available upon request.
The Eastern Motorsport Press Association has more than 200 members who are professional media covering motorsports on a regular basis. Associate and corporate memberships are also available.
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TOMS RIVER, NJ February 8, 2005 . . . "We sell parts for machines that top out at 5 m.p.h. We want to get involved with something that goes a little faster," said Mickey Dana, vice president of Industrial Tractor Parts, as they announced their primary sponsorship of veteran racer Art Seeger.
After being away from the sport for a few years, spending his time establishing a new business (SR Industries, Toms River, NJ), Seeger will be driving the Industrial Tractor Parts sponsored 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo owned by Wayne Peterson of Pulaski, TN. The first race on the schedule for the new team will be the ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 12th.
The last time Seeger was in an ARCA stock car was back in the year 2000 when he took part in an ARCA testing session at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. His last actual racing effort was during the running of an ARCA event at Flemington, NJ Fairgrounds Speedway in August, 1999.
Seeger’s record in ARCA competition goes back to 1990 when he qualified for his first event at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He was running fifth in the race when a cut tire forced him to the pits and a 12th place finish after having started the race in 28th spot.
The Toms River, NJ race driver earned a great deal of recognition for his racing achievements at the paved New Egypt, NJ Speedway where he won the very first race he competed in. Seeger was able to come up with more than 20 sponsors on his Late Model Street Stock and was featured in the nationally circulation Stock Car Racing Magazine.
"Racing at Daytona will be the pinnacle of my racing career. I have dreamed of racing there since I was eight years old," said Seeger. "I think that we can make everyone aware that we are there and come away with a strong showing."
Industrial Tractor Parts offers heavy equipment undercarriage parts and is headquartered in Long Island City, NY with 12 other locations around the United States.
"The reason we are doing this is not just because we are race fans. Most of our customers support motorsports," said Dana. "We are planning to entertain a large number of guests from our Jacksonville, Florida office at the race."
Seeger is also looking at the possibility of running the ARCA sanctioned races at Michigan, Pocono and Kentucky during the 2005 season.
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