PORTLAND, Maine -- Honoring the short track racing history of Maine and Northern New England has always been an important part of the annual Racin’ Preview 2011 show in Portland, Maine. Visitors to this year’s 18th edition of the popular pre-season stock car racing celebration, set for Friday and Saturday, February 25-26, will find Vintage Row displays bigger and better than ever.

The Maine Vintage Race Car Association plans a bigger, more extensive display at the Portland Expo than has ever been assembled indoors in the history of the organization. Several historic racecars will anchor the display, with many former racers and car owners expected to stop by and socialize with show patrons throughout the event. In addition to the full-size restored racecars, dozens of scale models of historic racecars built by Portland Firefighter Steve Pellerin will have longtime local race fans reminiscing in high gear. Late Hall of famers Phil and Bob Libby will be saluted in this year’s MVRCA display, with four of their former racecars expected to be on display.

Along with the cars and stars of yesterday, Racin’ Preview 2011 features the cars and stars of tomorrow’s local racing scene, with local short track racers from a dozen top-notch Northern New England racetracks, including local NASCAR-sanctioned showplace Beech Ridge Motor Speedway and the venerable Oxford Plains Speedway displaying their cars and meeting the fans they hope will be watching them in action throughout the summer months.

Regional racing tours will also be well-represented at Racin’ Preview 2011, with the Pro All Stars Series (PASS), and Valenti Modified Racing Series joined by other traveling racers at The Expo.

Doors open at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 25, with the show open until 10:00 p.m. Saturday Racin’ Preview 2011 hours run from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. The Portland Expo is located at 239 Park Avenue (U.S. Route 1) in Portland, Maine. For more information please call 603-447-4251.