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J.J. SMITH TO MAKE BOOK SIGNING APPEARANCE AT LUXEMBURG RACING SHOW FEB. 3
Posted on: Monday January 15, 2024
J.J. Smith
ATTENTION SPORTS/MOTORSPORTS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APPLETON RACING LEGEND J.J. SMITH TO APPEAR AT LUXEMBURG RACING SHOW BOOK SIGNING FEB. 3
(Smith will accompany motorsports author Joe Verdegan to sign copies of ‘The Bird & The Bear’)
(Luxemburg, WI) – J.J. Smith, one of the most popular stock car drivers to emerge from Appleton, Wisconsin, will appear at a book signing Saturday, February 3 at the Luxemburg Racing Show at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds.
Smith will be joined by motorsports author Joe Verdegan. The Green Bay native and best-selling author has published seven books, including one that featured Smith and his long-time archrival Roger “The Bear” Regeth titled ‘The Bird & The Bear’ which was released in 2017 and was published by Pedal Down Promotions in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
J.J. Smith wheeled this Dodge Charger in 1971. (Vercauteren family photo)
The 81-year-old Smith was a competitor on the USAC stock car series in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Smith was a dominant force during the powerful late model revolution in the early to mid-1970’s which took place at the trio of half-mile, fairgrounds racetracks located in De Pere, Shawano and Seymour, Wisconsin, respectively. Smith racked up multiple feature wins and track championships at the three fairground tracks and was also a frequent frontrunner on Tuesday nights at the long defunct Leo’s Speedway in Oshkosh. Smith also earned the late model track championship at Wisconsin International Raceway on the pavement in Kaukauna, Wisconsin in 1990.
J.J. Smith’s 1975 Gene Wheeler-owned ride. (Vercauteren family photo)
Smith earned numerous nicknames by track announcers and p.r. types over the years, including “Mr. Magic”, “The Iceman” and perhaps the most famous one “Tweety Bird” because of the bright yellow, Boyce Trackburner chassis he wheeled for car owner Gene Wheeler in 1976. During his several decades-long career Smith estimates he won more than 500 feature races.
The Appleton Ace raced super late models on pavement at WIR up until 2014 when he hung up his helmet.
This book is available for purchase at this website. Simply click on the “books” tab on the upper left corner.
The show runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The show will take place at Kewaunee County Fairgrounds Exposition Building in Luxemburg, Wisconsin. To learn more about Joe Verdegan’s books you can check out his website joeverdegan.com.