Eastern Motorsport Press Association
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Picture

Leonard J. Sammons, Jr.

           The founder, first editor and first publisher of Area Auto Racing News, accountant Leonard J. Sammons Jr. (1927-1991) was a racing fan who felt that the local short tracks needed better and more in-depth coverage.  So, in 1963, he began publishing a four-page tabloid in Trenton, New Jersey, that was the first regional racing paper in the country.

      From that humble beginning, AARN eventually expanded itself to become one of North America’s most respected auto racing trade weeklies and the paper now averages 64 pages over a 50-week season with a high of 116 pages for special editions.
AARN includes top-notch color photography, excellent race-reporting and the columns and feature writings of some of the most knowledgeable journalists in motorsports as it covers a wide variety of local, regional and national auto racing events.

            But in addition to bring AARN to life, Sammons also got involved with other aspects of motorsports.  And when his son Lenny conceived the idea of having a major three-day mid-winter racing trade show Leonard supported the idea fully with advice and financial backing and its first edition – “Motorsports ’86 – A Len Sammons Production!” – was held at the Valley Forge Convention & Exhibition Center in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
Today, “Len Sammons Productions Motorsports Race Car & Trade Show” is now held at the 275,000-square-foot Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania, and it is the largest show of its kind in the Northeast.

            After Leonard’s passing in May 1991, the operation of AARN remained in good hands as Lenny had already been serving as the paper’s editor and publisher. Leonard’s wife Maude has continued to be a valuable source of advice and consultation on any variety of matters that concern the family business.


            The success of all of the things that Leonard either started or helped develop has now been added to by the third generation of the Sammons family.


Grandsons Danny and Davey are not only part of the AARN operation but they also have a great deal to do with the administration of Motorsports and the popular series of winter indoor Three-Quarter Midget Races that Lenny added to the Len Sammons Productions menu of events.

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  • Home
  • History of the EMPA
    • History of the EMPA-The 1970's
    • History of the EMPA- 80's
    • History of the EMPA- The 1990's
    • History of the EMPA- The 2000's
    • History of the EMPA- The 2010's
    • History of the EMPA- The 2020's
  • EMPA Application
  • EMPA Hall of Fame A thru L
  • EMPA Hall of Fame M thru Z
  • Convention Sponsors
  • Convention Hotel Info & Room Reservations
  • Convention Photos
    • Convention Photos 2016
    • Convention Photos 2017
    • Convention Photos 2018
    • Convention Photos 2019
    • Convention Photos 2021
    • Convention Photos 2022
    • Video acceptance speeches from Jan 2022 convention
  • Convention Contest Rules
    • Pocono Raceway/EMPA Writer's Contest
    • Brice's Auto Parts Inc./NAPA Auto Parts EMPA Photographer's Contest
    • Dirt Track Digest.com./EMPA Video and Broadcast Contest Rules
  • Award Winners
    • EMPA National Driver of the Year
    • Junie Donlavey Spirit of the Sport award
    • Richie Evans North East Driver of the Year
    • Ace Lane Photographer of the Year
    • Jim Hunter Writer of the Year
    • Newsmaker of the Year award
    • John Blewett lll Young Gun award presented by New England Fuels
    • Jerry Reigel Outstanding Contribution to Sprint Car Racing award
    • Promotional Effort of the Year
    • Ernie & Marilyn Saxton Service Award
    • Pocono Raceway Writer's Contest Judges Comments by Year
    • Honda Video Contest Winners by Year
  • Newsletter Archives