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Photo: Pete McDonald
Oaks, PA (Saturday, Jan. 24) – Eight exhibitors lauded “best in show” laurels in various categories Saturday during the final day of a successful Pioneer Pole Buildings Race Car & Trade Show presented by Can-Am inside the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center.
Winners included DKM Fabrication (Commercial Booth), Keystone Quarter Midget Club (Small Car Display), Ray McCabe (Vintage Open Cockpit), Geoff Bodine (Vintage Stock Car), Harry Burd (Small Car), Troy Betts (Open Cockpit Car), Lane No. 24 (Stock Car) and Crazy 48 (Drag Car). Haley Gesullo, crowned Ms. Motorsports 2026 the night before, presented the awards.
NASCAR Truck Series champion Mike Skinner was “in the house” Saturday to sign autographs and share how he went from racing in California to driving a Black No. 3 for Richard Childress in front of a packed Motorsports Show Stage Hall. NASCAR and Northeastern Modified legend Geoff Bodine and Dirt Modified Hall of Famer Kenny Brightbill also returned to interact with fans and industry people.
“This show is always a good time,” Brightbill said. “A lot of people come up and talk to me about the old days of Reading. It never gets old sharing those stories.”
It was autographs galore for fans on Saturday as more than 20 racing personalities signed at various booths throughout the day. Among those who participated were Sprint Car legend Fred Rahmer, his sons Freddie and Brandon, Dirt Modified stars Billy Pauch Jr. and Mike Mahaney, who were joined by Pauch Jr’s son Billy III, and Dirt Modified young guns Logan Watt and Tanner VanDoren.
The shows seminars, including “Women in Racing,” “Dirt Modified 101,” and “Shocks with Dave Reedy,” received a positive reception from attendees.
Drivers from the long-shuttered Reading Fairgrounds Speedway came together to mingle with fans and share memories. Butch Green, Bob Lis, Bob Johnson, Darrell Herman, Tommy Long, Junior Mikoskz, Glenn Fitzcharles, Bobby Braxton, George Lewis, and Bill Gensler attended the reunion. The track opened in 1924 and closed in 1979.
Tyler Wagner and Brandon Shipley split $500 for winning the speedy Dirt Modified Tire Changing Contest sponsored by American Racer Tire and Vahlco Wheels. Mark Mohr and Dylan Swinehart were second followed by Briggs Danner and Joey Vacaro. Each pair also received a free American Racer tire and Vahlco wheel.
Little Miss and Tiny Miss Motorsports were crowned toward the end of the show, with Jolene Singleton earning the title of Little Miss (ages nine to 11) and Maci Holderman being named Tiny Miss (ages five to eight).
The Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports Racecar & Trade Show Presented by Can-Am will tentatively return to the Greater Philadelphia Expo center on January 22 and 23, 2027.
For more information visit www.motorsportstradeshow.com.
