Aug. 12—POTTSVILLE — The smile on Craig Radzwich's face could not be missed as he waited for Tom Wopat, who played Luke Duke on "The Dukes of Hazzard" TV series, to sign a photograph and his car.

Wopat, 71, who lives in New York and New Jersey, asked Radzwich how he was.

"I'm good. I'm a huge fan," the 48-year old Conyngham, Luzerne County, man said at The Great Pottsville Car Show. The event was organized by the Humane Fire Company.

Judging from his autograph, Wopat liked what he saw while sitting in Radzwich's 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.

"Craig, What a beautiful car!! All the best, Tom Wopat, Pottsville '23" he signed on the dashboard.

Wopat's first visit to Pottsville is thanks to an invitation from Minersville police Sergeant Jeff Bowers, who owns a replica of the General Lee car used in the show.

The two met in Luray, Virginia, at a museum dedicated to the character Cooter's garage.

From noon to shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday, Wopat greeted visitors, signed myriad items and took pictures outside the fire company building.

Organizers said the line to see Wopat stretched around the building and, at one point, was 100 to 200 people long.

Laurel Boulevard was lined with cars, and attendees could buy food and drinks.

"Car shows are always a pretty good time," Wopat said.

In all, 127 vehicles participated, and approximately 1,000 people attended, said Rob Lynn, co-chair.

Wopat may return to Pottsville, despite his short stay.

"I really appreciate everybody who came by and said hi, and I plan to come back sometime," he said.

Along with the Dodge Challenger, Wopat admired the two replica General Lee vehicles. The first, Bowers' vehicle, was where attendees had their photo taken in front of it. The vehicle was built in 2015 by two brothers from North Carolina.

"It takes a lot of effort and dedication to make a car look that good," Wopat said.

The other is owned by Tom Rightler, 43, of Franklinville, New Jersey. Wopat signed the vehicle's trunk.

Rightler, who has possessed the car for 23 years, said the signature was worth the 45-minute wait in line. However, his first time meeting Wopat was in 2005 at a car cruise event in Ocean City, Maryland, where Wopat signed a spare car part.

The organizers also awarded Brad Stevenson, 44, of Mohrsville, Berks County, Best in Show for his 1966 Chevy II Nova, a car he's had for about 3 1/2 years.

The metallic, atomic orange car has about 50,000 miles; it's the third one he's owned.