Pearson among luminaries at Philly-area race show

NASCAR Hall of Fame driver David Pearson and 15-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force head the list of racing celebrities scheduled to appear at the 26th Motorsports Race Car and Trade Show, running Friday through Sunday at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks.

The annual event gives area race fans a chance to get up close to some of the sport's biggest names.

Pearson, known as the "Silver Fox," won three titles and 105 races - second only to Richard Petty's 200 in NASCAR's top series - over a career that spanned 27 seasons.

Force, the fast-driving, fast-talking star of the dragstrip and reality TV, won the 2010 Funny Car title.

Among the notable racing personalities scheduled to appear are former NASCAR champion driver Rusty Wallace; Rusty's son, Steven Wallace, - who drives his father's car in NASCAR's Nationwide Series - and Rusty's brother, Kenny Wallace, who splits his time between jobs as a TV analyst on Speed TV and racing in the Nationwide Series.

Hall of Fame sprint racing stars Rick Ferkel and Shane Carson and several local and regional racing stars also will be on hand.

More than 200 motor sports vehicles of all types will be on display.

For more information, including ticket prices and celebrity appearance dates and times, call 609-888-3618 or go to www.aarn.com.

Pocono Raceway. Track president Brandon Igdalsky is excited about the decision to move NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying to Saturday for both race weekends at Pocono Raceway in 2011.

"The move to Saturday qualifying, traditionally held on Friday, will allow more race fans to enjoy the competition" to set the lineup for the Sunday races, Igdalsky said in a release.

The change will go into effect the weekend leading up to the Pocono 500 on June 12. On-track activity on June 10 will feature five hours of practice for Sprint Cup Series and the ARCA Racing Series teams, along with ARCA qualifying. Sprint Cup qualifying on June 11 will be followed by the Pocono 200 ARCA race.

NASCAR will return to the Poconos two months later for the Pennsylvania 500 Sprint Cup race on Aug. 7.

The track is offering a number of ticket deals for both race weekends and can be purchased at 1-800-722-3929 or online at www.poconoraceway.com.

Atlantic City. The Gambler's Classic indoor three-quarter midget racing returns to Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on Thursday through Jan. 29.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at 800-736-1420, www.ticketmaster.com, at the Boardwalk Hall box office and at the Area Auto Racing News office in Trenton.

Dover International Speedway. Track officials' initiative to make the Monster Mile more family-friendly and affordable includes reduced ticket prices for children 14 and under for their Friday and Saturday NASCAR events in 2011. The new $8 ticket applies to both general admission and reserved seating sections.

Friday events include NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice and qualifying and Nationwide Series practice for both weekends, along with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on May 13 and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race on Sept. 30.

Each of the two Saturdays, May 14 and Oct. 1, will include two Sprint Cup practices along with a qualifying session and a race featuring the Nationwide Series drivers.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 800-441-7223 or visit www.DoverSpeedway.com.