The Westchester County Center at Little Theater in White Plains will be the place to be on July 24 at 6 PM. Not only will there be 23 classes of amateurs on the stage, but also two current pros and one sure-to-be have signed on to guest pose. Jason Artnz, P.J. Braun and Craig Richardson are all scheduled to appear.

Here is the classes: Men’s Open (6 classes), Women’s Open Bodybuilding (3 classes), Novice Men (3 classes), Masters Men 35+ (2 classes), Masters Men 45+, Teen (2 classes), Fitness, Figure (2 classes), Masters Figure 35+, Bikini, Bikini Masters.

In addition to the regular awards, there will also be a presentation for the Steve Stone Best Poser Award.

MuscleSport Mag is a proud sponsor for the second consecutive year for the NPC Empire States.

LOCATION:

Westchester County Center at Little Theater

198 Central Avenue

White Plains, NY

Check In/ Weigh In: 10 AM sharp

Pre-Judging: 12 noon

Finals: 6 PM

TICKETS:

Pre-Judging: $17.50

Finals: $27.50 (assigned seating), $37.50 (VIP seating)

For more information, please visit www.npcempirestates.com.

P.J. initially started out in powerlifting and was successful, but decided that his ultimate goal was standing in the winner’s circle on the bodybuilding stage. At 22, he entered his first competition and placed fifth as a novice light heavyweight at the 2003 Atlantic States.

“I was the youngest in the class,” Braun wrote on his official website, www.pjbraun.com. “Success. This felt amazing and I was now addicted to the sport for life.”

Two top-three finishes in a row gave Braun the confidence that he needed to make the commitment to take it to the next step. He took off nearly two years to add some size to his frame and came back at 220 pounds for the 2006 Junior USA, where he finished what he described as a “controversial” fourth. A week later, Braun won the New England Bodybuilding Championships with a heavy heart. “Two days prior to the show, John Stavidris, one of my best friends, had passed away,” wrote Braun. “That winning moment was so surreal. It will live with me forever.”

Since then, Braun has finished 11th at the 2007 IFBB North American Championships and 9th at the same show a year later. He then was victorious at the 2008 NPC Atlantic City Amateur as the super-heavyweight and overall champion.

Braun is also one third of the famous Brat Pack along with Evan Centopani and Guy Cisternino. P.J. is the last one without a pro card, so he is keeping good company and on his way to joining his mates before too long.

This is part of an exclusive series by MuscleSport Mag on the 2009 NPC Empire States for which we are one of the show’s official sponsors. The show will take place on Saturday, July 18 in Suffern, New York.

Other sponsors include Gaspari Nutrition, Axis Labs, Optimum Nutrition, Labrada Nutrition, American Body Building, Species Nutrition, Rx Muscle, ALR Industries, GNC, Body Well Nutrition, ProTan, USA Bodybuilding, Absolute Cycle, Epic and more. 

The contest will be held one week prior to the NPC USA Championships and include a new Best Poser award named after the late Steve Stone.

Expected to appear are Kevin English, PJ Braun and Jason Arntz.

Be sure to visit their site for more information - www.NPCEmpireStates.com .