AUGUSTA – Auto racing’s off-season can be a long, difficult time for avid fans. Yet, after the holidays are over, fans can focus their attention on the coming season with the opening of the 18th Annual Northeast Motorsports Expo & Trade Show.

The three-day showcase is set to open this Friday, Jan. 6, at 5 p.m., and will run through Sunday at the Augusta Civic Center. Show hours are 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. until 3 p.m on Sunday. Admission is $7.50 for adults and $4.50 for senior citizens. Children under the age of 10 will be admitted free with a paying adult.

Some of the exhibitors for this year’s show include the NASCAR Busch North Series, PASS Pro Stock tour, Pro Four Modifieds and ACT Late Models, along with displays from all the fine short tracks in the region. Oxford Plains Speedway, Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Unity Raceway, Speedway 95, Wiscasset Raceway, Oxford Dragway and Winterport Dragway will be on hand to distribute 2006 schedules and talk with fans.

Special guests include Andy Santerre, of Cherryfield, and Ryan Moore of Scarborough. Santerre captured a record fourth consecutive NASCAR Busch North Series championship in 2005. Santerre’s appearance is courtesy of D.N.K. Select Used Cars of Farmingdale, and he will greet fans and sign autographs at D.N.K.’s display area from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m., Saturday.

Moore posted two wins on the Busch North Series last year and is busy preparing for a move to the NASCAR Busch Series in 2006 driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. Moore will greet fans and sign autographs from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Moore’s appearance is made possible by Get-Etched.com.

Other special appearances scheduled include Wally the Green Monster, the official mascot of the Boston Red Sox. Wally will greet fans and sign autographs on Saturday, Jan. 7, from 1 p.m until 3 p.m. The first 100 people in line will receive a free photo of Wally to have signed. On Friday evening, Slugger, the official mascot of the Portland Sea Dogs, will meet fans from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Fans are urged to bring their cameras so they can pose for photos with these famous mascots.

The 18th Annual Northeast Motorsports Expo and Trade Show is made possible by D.N.K. Select Used Cars of Farmingdale, Maine; E. J. Prescott, Inc., The Pipeline Specialists, headquartered in Gardiner, Maine; New England Racing Fuels, located in Burlington, Conn.; NAPA Auto Parts of Maine and Get-Etched.com. For more information, log on to www.northeastmotorsports.net.