NEMA - Northeastern Midget Association

Join NEMA Text Alerts on RainedOut
Rainout notices sent to your
email or cell phone.

www.NemaHistory.com
HALL OF FAME PAGES:
Gene Angelillo Marvin Rifchin
Carl Kibbe Wen Kelley
Butch Walsh John McCarthy
.

NEMA 2016 Membership Form HERE

LITES 2016 Membership Form HERE

Driver/Team Info Form HERE

NEMA Parental Consent Form

2016 Medical Release Form

2016 NEMA RULEBOOK

NEMA Open
FB Group

NEMA
Legends

NEMA
Fan Page

Nick, crew of #47 - $165.00

2016 Race Results & Photos

Results for 2002 to 2015 HERE

-
Race 8 - Star Speedway - 8-20-16

NEMA Race - Thompson SMP - 8-9-16

Race 7 - Wings & Wheels - 8-6-16

Race 6 - Speedway 51 - 7-30-16

LITES Race - NL-W Speedbowl - 7-2-16

Race 5 - Boston Louie - Seekonk - 6-29-16

Race 4 - Monadnock Speedway - 6-18-16

LITES Race - Thompson SMP - 6-15-16

Race 3 - Wiscasset Speedway - 6-11-16

NEMA Race - NL-W Speedbowl - 6-4-16

Race 2 - Riverhead Raceway - 5-28-16-

Race 1 - Star Speedway - 5-21-16

Lites Race - Thompson Speedway - 4-9-16

TUNE IN ALERT, 2015 Boston Louie Seymour Memorial:
Take a ride with Northeastern Midget Association NEMA Lite driver Dan Cugini during the the A-Main. Remember to tune in tomorrow night as Suzuki presents SPEED SPORT showcases the 19th annual Boston Louie Seymour Memorial from the "Cement Palace" the historical Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk Massachusetts.
FACEBOOK CLIP HERE

From NASCAR to Formula 1, World of Outlaws to Midgets, MotoGP to Supercross, SPEED SPORT is the only publication that covers it ALL! With one of the best editorial teams in the business, and carrying on a legacy over 75 years in the making, SPEED SPORT is the ONE magazine any serious race fan needs to have.
SUBSCRIBE HERE

NEMA Merchandise:
Cyndy Scrivani
508-584-7748
cyndyann10361@yahoo.com

NEMA TRACK
HISTORIES
with 2013 updates
PDF HERE

NEMA
STATS
with 2013 updates
PDF HERE

NEMA CHAMPIONS
PDF HERE

LITES
STATS
with 2013 updates
PDF HERE

NEMA DRIVER WINS AT TRACKS
PDF HERE

Members of the NEMA
Dick Gallagher Memorial
Hall of Fame
PDF HERE

Custom Apparel, Screen Printing, Embroidery, & Promotional Items
-
Custom, Racing Crew Pit Shirts, Jackets and Caps
-
Custom Racing T Shirts
Low Minimums
-
(24/7 Live Answered)
508-485-5511
888-485-5510

www.stellarapparel.com

VINTAGE MIDGET RACING
www.vintagemidgetracing.com

In 2006, Dave Shore from Southbury, CT. started VMR to help keep vintage midget racing alive. Anyone who has a caged vintage car, and would like to run with us, please contact:
Dave Shore at 203-509-2835.
2016 VMR Dates at the VMR website.

FULL IMPORT & DOMESTIC
REPAIRS AND SERVICE
Jeff Horn
182 Pond St.
Ashland, MA 01721
508-881-4540
Hitch & Trailer Specialists
www.a-1automotiveservice.com

SALES • SERVICE
PERFORMANCE and SUSPENSION UPGRADES

Specializing in Finer Imports
AUDI • BMW • JAGUAR • MERCEDES
LANDROVERS • PORSCHE • SAAB
VOLVO • VW

(508) 697-5921
1460 Pleasant St. (Route 104)
Bridgewater, MA 02234
www.motorcarsint.com

NEMA Releases Vintage
Slide Show on DVD

The Northeastern Midget Association announces the release of NEMA Vintage photo's on DVD. The presentation is from the collection of one of the most respected journalist, historians and statisticians in New England, Pete Zanardi.

The range of drivers, owners, tracks and race cars depicted in the collection are the who's who in Northeastern midget racing. The forefathers that laid the foundation for present day racing are illustrated in color and black and white photo's complete with captions. Bill Randall, Ray Roberts, Ronnie Evans and Jerry Russo just to name a few drivers from NEMA's infancy.

The early cage days drivers are represented by Bill Roth, Lee Smith, Hank Stevens and Len Thrall for example. And to finish out the last couple of decades are the Fornoros, Stoehrs, Scrivanis, Seymours and many many more. The cars are as big as the drivers on this DVD that range from the Badgers to the uprights, cage and cageless, even some Offy's.

The DVD is 332 pictures strong and is a must for any early day racing enthusiast.

The cost is $20 each with all proceeds going directly to NEMA to help carry on the rich traditions these early pioneers built.

Payment can be made through PayPal HERE
to rewindles@sbcglobal.net or by sending a check or money order (payable to NEMA) as well as your name and address to Bill Van Slyke,
23 Horsestable Cir., Shelton, Ct. 06484.

NEMA LITES T-Shirts are available for purchase. The LITES shirts are available in 3 colors - white, gray and royal blue. They come with either the NEMA LITES logo only on the front or with 2 logos - NEMA LITES on the front and regular NEMA logo on the back. The white shirts are $10. The gray or blue are $12. The new LITES t-shirts can be at The Race Depot/ Seymour Enterprises in Marlboro Mass or are available from Cyndy Scrivani.

2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008

2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002

2014
2013
2012

2011
2010
2009

NEMA Open
FB Group

NEMA
Fan Page

safetysolutions.com

NEMA Discount Available HERE

"Tires Designed for Champions"
hoosiertire.com

Brockton, MA - 508-580-5844
Supplier of Mazda Midget engines &
Independently Making Brand X Better

RI's most respected name in Collision Repairs
crowncollision.com

RacingAgainstCancer.com

www.rwjm.com

NEMA Open
FB Group

NEMA
Fan Page

Gene Angelillo Memorial Page

NEMA and Hoosier Tire
Ink Exclusive 3 Year Deal

Brockton, MA - NEMA President, Mike Scrivani, announced today that the Northeastern Midget Association and Hoosier Tire East have inked an exclusive, three year deal. Under the deal, NEMA will have exclusive rights in the Northeast to the current plated compounds (RR 7, 7.3, RF 5, LR, 5 and LF, 4, 5) and will be the only series in the Northeast running these particular tires.

Hoosier will also continue to be a major contributor to the NEMA point fund, and in addition have offered fixed pricing for the racer over the next three years.
“NEMA has enjoyed a long history with Hoosier. This sport is about supporting those who take care of you, and supporting each other. We feel that we have the best product in Hoosier and look forward to a long relationship with them,” said NEMA President, Mike Scrivani. “We have an exciting schedule brewing for 2015 and expect great car counts,” said Scrivani.

As part of the arrangement, Hoosier tire has selected long time NEMA supporter Seymour Enterprises to be the exclusive dealer and service provider to the Northeastern Midget Association.

CHECK THE MEMBERS ALERTS PAGE FOR THE LATEST HANDICAPS, COMPETITION ADDENDA, RACE PROCEDURES, & NEMA FORMS

Rulebook Revision 7-15-16 - PDF HERE

WORLD SERIES EVENT PAGE
-
WORLD SERIES 2016 SCHEDULE PDF
-
CAMPING FAQ - WORLD SERIES 2016 PDF

Saturday, September 10th, 2016

AMES TRUE VALUE NEMA NIGHT
PLUS GROUP 1

ZYCH - BERTRAND - CABRAL





			Photos by Norm Marx

NEMA MIDGETS - WISCASSET - 9/10/16

Pos.	#	Driver	Hometown	Owner
1	74	Todd Bertrand	Danielson, CT	Tim Bertrand
2	9	*John Zych Jr.*	*Mendon, MA*	*John Zych Sr.*
3	47	*Randy Cabral*	*Plymouth, MA*	*Tim Bertrand*
4	7	Alan Chambers	Atkinson, NH	Mike Chambers
5	*15a*	*Avery Stoehr*	*Lakeville, MA*	*Russ Stoehr*
6	71	*Seth Carlson*	*Brimfield, CT*	*Gene Feigel*
7 DNF	99	*Jim Santa Maria*	*Burlington, CT*	*Joe Santa Maria*
8 DNF	30	*Paul Scally*	*Raynham, MA*	*Paul Scally*
9 DNS	77	*Doug Cleveland*	*Sudbury, MA*	*Mike Luggelle*

CUGINI - STERGIOS - CHAMBERS












		Photos by Norm Marx

NEMA LITES - WISCASSET - 9/10/16

Pos.	#	Driver	Hometown	Owner
1	57	PJ Stergios	Candia, NH	Bill Stergios
2	51	*Danny Cugini*	*Marshfield, MA*	*D. Cugini*
3	12	Jim Chambers	Atkinson, NH	Jim Chambers
4	38	Ryan Locke	*Raymond, NH*	*Ken Locke*
5	35	Randy Cabral	Plymouth, MA	Glen Cabral
6	21	*Anthony Payne*	*Fairlawn, NJ*	*Mike Scrivani*
7	20	Jeremy Decourcy	Rochester, NH	Jeremy Decourcy
8	9	Ben Mikitarian	Northborough, MA	*John Mikitarian*
9	27	Kevin Iannarelli	Maynard, MA	*Kevin Iannarelli*
10	30	*Paul Scally*	*Raynham, MA*	*Paul Scally*
11	16	Dennis O"Brien	Deerfield, NH	Chris O'Brien
12	3	Chris Vose	Gloversville, NY	Chris Vose
13	52	Kevin Park	Foxboro, MA	*Kevin Park*
14 DNF	*15a*	*Bethany Stoehr*	*Lakeville, MA*	*Russ Stoehr*
15 DNF	7	Jim Cataldo	Sterling, MA	Jim Cataldo
16 DNF	17	Alan Chambers	Atkinson, NH	Mike Chambers

MEET & GREET



			Photos by Norm Marx

Bertrand, Stergios Take Down
AMES True Value Night Wins
at Wiscasset Speedway

Todd Bertrand beat back two time champion John Zych Jr. on a restart with six laps to go to take down an impressive victory at Wiscasset Speedway this past Saturday night. In the Lites division, PJ Stergios romped through the field, and lapped all the way up to right outside of the top five, taking down an impressive NEMA Lites victory.

The evening started with time trials for the NEMA midgets. Randy Cabral set a blistering pace with a 13.050 second lap, one 100th off of John Zych Jr's track record of 13.040 set earlier this season. Zych was second, followed by Avery Stoehr. An 8 car invert would start the three at the top of the points standings toward the rear of the field. Coming into the event, Zych had a mere 13 point lead over five time Champion, Cabral.

Paul Scally in the Earth Movers #30 and Todd Bertrand in the K&N Engineering #74 brought the field to the green flag. Bertrand quickly jumped out into the lead. He quickly stretched out his lead to ten carlengths, but further back, John Zych Jr. was slicing through the field from his sixth starting spot, taking over the second position on the fourth lap from Alan Chambers. Zych quickly went to work, and started to narrow Bertrand's lead to six carlengths at the halfway point, and at this point, five time champion, Randy Cabral, had worked his way to third.

Zych got to within four carlengths of Bertrand, who appeared to be getting loose, when they approached the #99 of Jim Santa Maria. Santa Maria broke as the leaders went to lap him, and was avoided by only inches. The caution would fly, setting up a side by side restart for the finish.

After two failed restart attempts, Bertrand timed the last start perfectly, taking off and setting sail for the victory, never being seriously challenged over the final laps. Zych finished second, followed by Cabral, A. Chambers, Stoehr, Seth Carlson, Jim Santa Maria, Paul Scally, Doug Cleveland and Jim Chambers.

"I can't thank my brother Tim (Bertrand) enough for the opportunity to drive his race car tonight. We decided to only bring two cars up to the event due to the travel expense, and I think we made the right call on this 74 car tonight. Aside from a right front tire that was going flat in the time trials, we never touched a bolt on this car all evening," said Bertrand. "I knew John or Randy would likely be coming. We were really good, but I also know that you need to conserve tires here. I started backing up my corners with ten to go, in case there was a restart. I think it was the right call," he concluded.

In the NEMA Lites race, a disastrous wreck involving Bethany Stoehr, Jim Cataldo and Kevin Park occurred very early in the feature event. Stoehr's tail tank was thrown over thirty feet from the scene of the wreck, and Cataldo's car into the fence, destroyed. A red flag period saw a shaken Stoehr head to the ambulance to be checked out and was later released, with bruises, but was OK.

When the race resumed, PJ Stergios, who had charged from deep in the pack, took over the lead. Danny Cugini, also made an impressive run through the pack on the outside to get to the second spot.

Once in the lead, Stergios put on a clinic, lapping up to the sixth place car in the feature event, running times in the high 13 second range. He would never be seriously challenged enroute to victory. Cugini finished second, and Jim Chambers rallied through the field for third.

Stergios took down the victory over, Cugini, points leader Jim Chambers, Ryan Locke, Randy Cabral, Anthony Payne, Jeremy Decourcey, Ben Mikitarian, Kevin Iannarelli, and Paul Scally

NEMA concludes its final two events of the season at the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park for the World Series of Racing and at the New London Waterford Speedbowl Finale.

Saturday, September 3rd, 2016

NEMA LITES ONLY

CABRAL - PAYNE - HAMILTON








		Photos by Norm Marx






Spirit of Jim O'Brien Awards, Sponsored by Seymour Performance Products Outstanding Innovator presented to Bill Stergios. (For a mechanic of the race who displays talent and innovation, with the results evident on the racetrack) Outstanding Competitor presented to Kyle Hamilton. (For a driver who showed great and memorable skill moving through the field, putting on the best show for the fans) Outstanding Racer presented to Jim Cataldo. (For a driver or owner who shows the most dedication, ability, sportsmanship, and passion)
	*Photos by Norm Marx*





	*Photos by Tiffany Payne*

NEMA LITES - NL-WS - 9/3/16

Pos.	#	Driver	Hometown	Owner
1	21	*Anthony Payne*	*Fairlawn, NJ*	*Mike Scrivani*
2	35	Randy Cabral	Plymouth, MA	Glen Cabral
3	76	Kyle Hamilton	Speedway, IN	Frank Manafort
4	30	*Paul Scally*	*Raynham, MA*	*Paul Scally*
5	12	Jim Chambers	Atkinson, NH	Jim Chambers
6	57	PJ Stergios	Candia, NH	Bill Stergios
7	51	*Danny Cugini*	*Marshfield, MA*	*D. Cugini*
8	84	Joey Ciprianno III	-	Joey Ciprianno III
9	32	Ryan Bigelow	East Hampton, CT	Scot Bigelow
10	9	Ben Mikitarian	Northborough, MA	*John Mikitarian*
11	39	RJ Tufano	West Haven, CT	RJ Tufano
12	46x	Matt O'Brien	Wilmington, MA	Andy Barrows
13	38	Ryan Locke	*Raymond, NH*	*Ken Locke*
14	20	Jeremy Decourcy	Rochester, NH	Jeremy Decourcy
15	17	Alan Chambers	Atkinson, NH	Mike Chambers
16	2	Jim Cataldo	Sterling, MA	Jim Cataldo
17	3	Chris Vose	Gloversville, NY	Chris Vose
18 DNF	*15a*	*Bethany Stoehr*	*Lakeville, MA*	*Russ Stoehr*
19 DNF	16	Dennis O"Brien	Deerfield, NH	Chris O'Brien
20 DNF	42	Juris Kupris	Brooklyn, NY	Christian Briggs
21 DNF	36	Myles Devits	-	Glen Cabral
22 DNS	44	Christian Briggs	Mattapoisett, MA	Christian Briggs
23 DNS	13	Scott Bigelow	E. Hampton, CT	Randy Bigelow

Anthony Payne Victorious
in O’Brien Memorial

New London, CT - Anthony Payne beat back a late race charge from multi time NEMA champion, Randy Cabral, to take down a coveted win at the Jim O'Brien Memorial this past Saturday evening at the New-London Waterford Speedbowl. A full field of 21 NEMA Lites were on hand for the event to celebrate the O'Brien Memorial.

O'Brien's time in NEMA crossed a span of four decades, which personified the best of NEMA. At a very young age, he was introduced to the Midgets by his father and in 1970, joined the NEMA family as a car owner. He earned feature wins with Johnny Evans, driving his Falcon powered Kurtis, and Doug Cleveland who powered to victory in his home built "Pink Panther" laydown chassis. In 1975 he won the Coca-Cola dirt track championship with Hank Stevens at the wheel.

Jim was an innovative fabricator and engine builder and with his sons by his side, he always built his own cars and motors.

For years he served as a NEMA contest board member, once a vice-president, and for 13 consecutive years as the treasurer. His life-long dedication to the club was truly outstanding and in 2003, he was inducted into the NEMA Hall of Fame.

On Saturday evening, at the drop of the green, Paul Scally led the 21 car field to the green as Cabral, Payne and Ben Mikitarian followed. Cabral rocketed into the lead, only to have it called back on lap 3 as Bethany Stoehr came to a stop on the back straight.

On the restart, Cabral jumped out into the lead over Scally, Jim Chambers, Mikitarian, and Ryan Locke. Just two laps later, a yellow and then red flag flew for Juris Kupris, who was into the turn three wall, hard with heavy damage. Kupris was taken in the ambulance, but escaped with minor leg injuries.

When the action picked back up, Payne shot into the lead, followed by Cabral, Scally, Mikitarian and Danny Cugini from his 7th starting spot. The top five ran under a blanket, as further back PJ Stergios and visitor, Kyle Hamilton were slicing their way through the field.

By lap 10, Payne and Cabral were still puling away while Stergios and Hamilton broke the top 6 passing high and low.

Even though the top 10 were strung out by the 15th lap, the fast closing Stergios and Hamiliton finally broke the top 5. Mikitarian and 5th place starter Matt O'Brien were starting to fade back in the field.

Over the final laps, the leaders were now encountering heavy lapped traffic, but Denis O'Brien brought out the yellow, stalled on the back straight.

On the single file restart, Cabral turned up the pressure on leader Payne, but Payne was able to keep the lead. Hamilton put pressure on Stergios and got by in the closing laps for third. At the checkers Payne pulled away followed by Cabral, Hamilton, Scally and Jim Chambers who hung in the top five all day. Stergios, Danny Cugini, Joey Cipriano, Ryan Bigelow and Ben Mikitarian rounded out the top ten.

"It means a lot to win the Jim O'Brien memorial. He did so much for the club, and was very instrumental in the success of the club for many years," said Payne. "I'm excited for our team and can't thank the Scrivani family enough, Mike and Lu Jarrett, Jim Susi and the whole crew," he said.

Third place Kyle Hamilton enjoyed his second trip and second podium with the Lites this year as well. "The biggest adjustment I had to make when running a wing car was the corner entry speed. You have to drive in so much deeper to get the car to set. Once I figured that out, I was able to pass a lot more cars. With the way that NEMA does large inverts we've had to fight from deep in the pack and that has been a fun challenge. Last night the first 5 laps were hectic getting into position. Once we got in line I worked some passes. Waterford is awesome because you can sail the car down into the corner on the flat part and make some exciting passes. My final pass on Stergios was really fun because both of our tires were wearing down and we had to really fight. That's what I love about coming to run on the east coast. Clean hard racing!," he concluded.

NEMA Celebrates O’Brien Memorial at
New London Waterford Speedbowl

Saturday night 9/3, when the NEMA Lites series rolls into the New London-Waterford Speedbowl, it will be to celebrate legendary car owner and club supporter, Jim O'Brien.

Brothers Matt and Dennis O'Brien will both be competing - Dennis in a car owned by brother, Chris O'Brien and Matt in an Andy Barrows owned BEAST Chassis. An O'Brien Memorial win will be a coveted one, on the minds of many Lites racers. One of those is NEMA Champion and Lites competitor, Randy Cabral.

"Jim was such a good guy, and always thought about the little guy. Maybe we aren't considered the little guys anymore, but for many years when we were showing up with a 1979 Edmunds on a snow mobile trailer, Jim was always there to greet us with a smile. It would be such an honor to win this race," said five time champion, Randy Cabral. "He did so much for the club, I'd like all of the younger generation to understand who he was, and the impact he had on what we have today," Cabral went on to say.

"Jim O'Brien was a staple in the foundation of NEMA," said NEMA President Russ Stoehr. "He was one of the pioneers who helped pave the way for pavement midget racing in the Northeast, as we see it today," he said.

O'Brien's time in NEMA crossed a span of four decades, which personified the best of NEMA. At a very young age, he was introduced to the Midgets by his father and in 1970, joined the NEMA family as a car owner. He earned feature wins with Johnny Evans, driving his Falcon powered Kurtis, and Doug Cleveland who powered to victory in his home built "Pink Panther" laydown chassis. In 1975 he won the Coca-Cola dirt track championship with Hank Stevens at the wheel.

Jim was an innovative fabricator and engine builder and with his sons by his side, he always built his own cars and motors.

For years he served as a NEMA contest board member, once a vice-president, and for 13 consecutive years as the treasurer. His life-long dedication to the club was truly outstanding and in 2003, he was inducted into the NEMA Hall of Fame.

However, most notably Jim was always one that stood up and fought for fair competition and defended the "little guy" - racers who ran with small budgets.

In the same spirit of Jim O'Brien, the NEMA Lites were created with two principals - cost effectiveness and fair competition. While the NEMA midgets are considered the fastest midgets in the world, the NEMA Lites boast to be "lite" on the wallet, making them the perfect fit to highlight the Jim O'Brien memorial race.

The O'Brien family would like to thank the race sponsors, they are as follows:

Title Sponsors:
R.E. Dinneen Architects
United Consultants
Motor Cars International

Spirit of Jim O' Brien Awards Presented by:
Seymour Performance Products

Bronze Sponsors:
The Richmond Group, Inc.
Mike & Lu Jarrett
Daniel O'Brien
Eileen Engels
Chris O'Brien
The Oullette Family
Mike Scrivani
Liz Greenberg

NEAR Hall Tabs Trio of Veterans
Fred Meeker winner of 1st NEMA race

The New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame's veterans' committee covered a half century in selecting the Stanley Brothers, John Burgess and Fred Meeker. All deceased, they will be inducted at the NEAR Hall of Fame Banquet Sunday, Nov. 13 at Maneeley's Banquet Hall in South Windsor, CT.

Maine natives Francis and Freelan Stanley not only produced one of the country's most famous automobiles, the Stanley Steamer, they built some of its first race cars. Boston-bred and educated, Burgess' prowess as a builder, businessman and promoter sent New England off in a new direction in the 1930s. Norwalk, CT's Meeker was an accomplished Midget driver in the post-World II era, twice winning national NASCAR championships.

They join broadcaster Jack Arute and championship drivers Ken Bouchard, Ricky Craven, Nokie Fornoro, the late George "Moose" Hewitt, Dwight Jarvis, Randy LaJoie and Jerry Marquis in the NEAR's Class of 2016.

Ticket information and order forms are on the NEAR website (www.near1.org).

Burgess moved from driving in Outlaw, AAA and IMCA action in the 1920s to building and marketing race cars and parts in the 1930s. He promoted races as well and is credited with being a key to bringing the Midgets to central New England. Trained as a naval architect, he was a noted racing artist as well.

The 1955 and '56 NASCAR titles capped off Meeker's career which started at drivers' schools at Candlelight Stadium (Bridgeport, CT) and West Springfield, MA after World War II. He was a definite force in the busy Midget wars driving for Fred Kernan. Among his laurels, he won the first-ever Northeastern Midget Association race in 1953.

Francis and Freelan Stanley's "Stanley Rocket" set the racing world ablaze more than a century ago - 1906 to exact - when he hit 127.66 mph on the Ormond Beach, FL sand. It was the highpoint of their brief but accomplished venture taking on all comers in automotive competition. The cars were built in Newton, MA.

Still to be announced is the winner of the Mitchell/Ratta media award.

Nokie Fornoro NEAR Hall of Famer

Nick "Nokie" Fornoro Jr., the 1981 champion and the holder of fifth place on the Northeastern Midget Association's all-time win list, is one of eight elected to the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Fornoro, who won 45 NEMA sanctioned features, will join his father Nick and brother Drew in the NEAR Hall.

Broadcaster Jack Arute and drivers Ken Bouchard, Ricky Craven, the late George "Moose" Hewitt, Dwight Jarvis, Randy LaJoie and Jerry Marquis join Fornoro in the NEAR Hall's Class of 2016. They will be inducted on Sunday, Nov. 13 at Maneeley's Banquet Hall in South Windsor, CT.

Ticket information and order forms will be on the NEAR website (www.near1.org).

Fornoro won the last Midget race he drove at Thompson Speedway's World Series in 2009 in the Jaret #4. It was his 110th Midget victory, a startling statistic rivaled only by his 11 championships including six in ARDC. The win total includes his first NEMA checkered driving for Mike Scrivani Sr. at Hudson Speedway in 1980 and two Night Before The 500 wins with Jim Reider at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Born in Danbury, CT, Fornoro shares NEMA's consecutive win record, grabbing six in a row during the championship year when he and Scrivani won ten of 21 races. Fellow Hall of Fame Joe Csiki also had six straight NEMA wins.

Fornoro, equally proficient on dirt and asphalt, was a winner in TQ Midgets, Mini-Modifieds, Supermodifieds and Sprint Cars. Another startling stat - he has won on 57 different tracks including a dozen in NEMA.

NEAR's Class of '16 includes hundreds of wins and dozens of championships including two Busch titles for LaJoie and a national Modified crown for Marquis. Craven and Bouchard were both Winston Cups Rookies of the year, Craven wining on the Busch and truck circuits as well. Jarvis and Hewitt, 23 titles between them, were short track masters.

Others in the NEAR Hall with NEMA connections are Gene Angelillo, Chuck Arnold, Burt Brooks, Ray Brown, Joe Csiki, Bill Eldridge, Frank Ferrara, Drew Fornoro, Dave Humphrey, Johnny Kay, Wen Kelly, Rollie Lindblad, John McCarthy, George Monsen, Al Pillion, Billy Randall, Marvin Rifchin, Mike Scrivani Sr., Louie Seymour, Hank Stevens, Ed Stone and Bentley Warren.

NEMA's 1000th Race - Star Speedway - 8/23/14

CARLSON - CABRAL - ZYCH

Recognizing Some
NEMA Milestones

The Northeastern Midget Association will open the season at Star Speedway on May 21. It will be the 1018th point-paying race in the club's 63-year history.

Passing unheralded was the club's 1,000th race at Star Speedway on August 23, 2014. Randy Cabral was the winner, besting John Zych Jr. and Seth Carlson.

New England's oldest and most enduring touring division, NEMA was formed in the late spring of 1953 at the Thompson clubhouse. Fred Meeker was the first NEMA winner at Seekonk Speedway on May 30, 1953. New England Auto Racing Hall of Famer Bill Eldridge won the next afternoon at Waterford.

The NEMA Lites open at Thompson Speedway's Icebreaker on April 9. There have been 106 races for a division that started with an exhibition run at New London-Waterford in 2008. The 100th Lites race was won by Danny Cugini at Lee on July 17 of last year.

With two victories last year, Randy Cabral is now tied with Nokie Fornoro in fourth place on NEMA's all-time win list with 47. He has 16 seasons with a least one victory tying him with Bobby Seymour on that list. They have come consecutively, equaling a NEMA standard set by National Midget Hall of Famer Dave Humphrey. Most of Cabral's wins have come in Tim Bertrand's No. 47 but it all started when an upstart Cabral captured the 2000 Boston Louie in a family car.

Star Speedway, with 103 races going back to 1968, is the leader among tracks hosting NEMA events. Randy Cabral tops active NEMA competitors with four Star wins including three of the last four. John Zych Jr. has also won at Star.

NEMA is clearly one of the most competitive open cockpit divisions in the country. Over the past six years, there have been 23 different NEMA winners and in all but one of those seasons, at least one "first-timer" appeared. Over that span John Zych Jr., Todd Bertrand, Avery Stoehr and Seth Carlson have become top contenders. Danny Cugini and Jim Chambers were first time winners in 2015. Bertrand, Stoehr and Cugini are all products of the NEMA Lites. The Lites have had 20-different winners in the past three seasons, champion Anthony Payne and Megan Cugini among the 2015 first timers. Designed with competiveness in the forefront nine years ago, the Lites are a true success story.

Nominations are now being accepted for the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame. The nomination form and procedure are available on the New England Antique Racers' website - www.near1.org. Please disregard the posted deadlines.

Those with NEMA connections already enshrined are Gene Angelillo, Chuck Arnold, Burt Brooks, Ray Brown,Joe Csiki, Bill Eldridge, Frank Ferrara, Drew Fornoro, Dave Humphrey, Johnny Kay, Wen Kelly, Rollie Lindblad, John McCarthy, George Monsen, Al Pillion, Billy Randall, Marvin Rifchin, Mike Scrivani Sr., Louie Seymour, Hank Stevens, Ed Stone and Bentley Warren.

Previous Events - Photos & Results - HERE

Previous NEMA NEWS HERE

NEMA AWARDS HISTORY