NEMA - NorthEastern Midget Association

www.HelpingHandsOfAmerica.org

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH - 7:00 PM



		Photos by John Dadalt

NEMA Feature - Lee USA - Fri. Sept. 18th
*Pos.*	#	*Driver*	*Hometown*	*Owner*
1	A1	Jeff Horn	Ashland, MA	Jeff Horn
2	45	Russ Stoehr	Bridgewater, MA	Gene Angelillo
3	7ny	Adam Cantor	Dix Hills, NY	Cantor Racing
4	4	Nokie Fornoro	Stroudsburg, PA	Mike Jarret
5	47	Randy Cabral	Plymouth, MA	Tim Bertrand
6	99	Chris DeRitis	Philadelphia, PA	Power Point Race Cars
7	44	Erica Santos	Franklin, MA	Ed Breault
8	21	Abby Martino	Norfolk, MA	Joan Martino
9	3m	Jim Miller	Weymouth, MA	Jim Miller
10	9	John Zych Jr.	Mendon, MA	John Zych
11	8	Barry Kittredge	Marlboro, MA	Barry Kittredge
12	P30	Mike Horn	Ashland, MA	Mike Horn
13	16	Matt O'Brien	Wilmington, MA	Jim O'Brien
14	2	Lee Bundy	Kennebunkport, ME	Lee Bundy
15	55L	Doug Cleveland	Sudbury, MA	Mike Luggelle
16 DNF	29	Jeff Abold	Pennellville, NY	Bobby Seymour
17 DQ	26b	Greg Stoehr	Bridgewater, MA	Greg Stoehr
18 DQ	22	Chris Leonard	Pelham, NH	David Leonard
19 DNF	30	Paul Scally	Raynham, MA	Paul Scally
20 DNF	74	Mike Ordway Jr.	Freemont, NH	Tim Bertrand
21 DNS	28	Doug Cleveland	Sudbury, MA	Paul Luggelle



		Photos by John Dadalt

Lites Feature - Lee USA - Fri. Sept. 18th
*Pos.*	#	*Driver*	*Hometown*	*Owner*
1	28	Paul Luggelle	Holbrook, MA	Paul Luggelle
2	11b	Jake Stergios	Candia, NH	Bill Stergios
3	51	Russ Wood Jr.	Pelham, NH	Russ Wood
4	26	Shaun Gosselin	Oswego, NY	Gosselin Racing
5	29	Anthony Nocella	Woburn, MA	Matt Seymour
6	12	Edward LeClerc Jr.	Taunton, MA	Edward LeClerc Sr.
7	48	Mike Ordway Jr.	Freemont, NH	Time Bertrand
8	35	Anthony Marvuglio	E. Bridgewater, MA	Glen Cabral
9	11w	David Rose Jr.	Keene, NH	David Rose Sr.
10	66l	Joe Spinzola	Scituate, MA	Mike Luggelle
11 DNF	52	Kevin Park	Foxboro, MA	Kevin Park
12 DNF	36	Eric Cabral	Manchester, NH	Glen Cabral
13 DNS	00	Josh Woollam	Buzzards Bay, MA	Paul Luggelle
14 DNS	93	Jake Smith	Stroudsburg, PA	Ted Smith
15 DNS	33	Shawn Torrey	Marshfield, MA	Shawn Torrey

Jeff Horn NEMA’s
Seventh Winner

Lee, NH – Jeff Horn became the Northeastern Association’s seventh winner Friday night at Lee USA Speedway. Horn had the lead by lap five, lost it briefly to Jeff Abold and then got it back when the latter broke.

“I’m glad to have won,” said the 64-year old Horn following his 20th career NEMA victory. “It is satisfying especially when you are so damn old.”

Paul Luggelle led from start to finish and recorded his first-ever win in the 20-lap NEMA Lites feature.

Starting third, Horn took the lead from Abby Martino (Martino #21) on a restart. He lost it to Abold on a lap 13 restart. Three laps later, on the final restart Abold slowed in the backstretch, the victim of a broken rocker arm.

Russ Stoehr (Angelillo #45), whose crew changed motors following a practice session, finished second followed by Adam Cantor (Cantor #7ny), Nokie Fornoro (Jarret #4) and current point leader Randy Cabral (Bertrand #7).

“Abold was a rocket ship,” said Horn, “and I had nothing for him. “When he went by I said to myself ‘the best I can do is second unless something happens to his car (Seymour 29).’ Then I see him slowing and I said ‘holy cow.”

Following the final restart, Horn battled Russ Stoehr briefly before going on to a four-car length win. “I drove the best race I could,” he said. “Look, if somebody was faster, well, what are you going to do?”

Horn followed pole sitter Martino before the first restart. Grabbing the lead through one and two, he left behind a Cantor-Martino battle that was soon joined by Abold, the latter coming from 10th. Abold took second, chased down and passed Horn.

Abold’s 13.521 seconds effort on 15 was the race’s fastest. “I think we had everybody covered” understated owner Bobby Seymour.

After a first-lap yellow, Luggelle took the immediate lead in the Lites race and raced to the checker without incident. Jake Stergios came from mid pack to pass Eddie LeClerc Jr. for second on lap seven and held that to the end.

Russ Wood Jr. took the final podium spot in turn two on the last lap. He was followed by Shaun Gooselin and Anthony Nocella. LeClerc was sixth.

NEMA and the Lites are now idle until Sunday, Oct. 4 at Twin State Speedway.

Abby Martino won the second heat becoming only the second female (following Erica Santos) to do that. She won praise from Randy Cabral who chased her home and from Jeff Horn who finished third.

Russ Stoehr won the first heat, just making it after changing an engine. “It was a heroic effort,” said car owner Gene Angelillo of the effort that took just over an hour and a half.

Horn acknowledged he became aware of the 20th win late in the race “because so much has been written about it.” It was the second win at Lee for Horn whose first NEMA checker came at Star on May 30, 1987.

Steve Grant continues to play the proud father “tough love” role with the Lites and the division continues to respond positively.

NEMA RETURNS TO LEE USA SPEEDWAY

Brockton, MA – Owner Tim Bertrand and driver Randy Cabral don’t want to talk about point. “This season were coming to the races with the intent of winning the feature,” says Bertrand.

Cabral says he would prefer it if points were not compiled until the send of the season.

Nonetheless, the respective defending champions hold the point leads as the Northeastern Midget Association returns to Lee USA Speedway Friday night. They will, in fact, be looking to make it two straight at the New Hampshire oval.

The NEMA Lites will be part of the Lee agenda as well.

With a first and second two weekends ago, Bertrand has edged back atop the owner standings with a 26-point edge on Mike Jarret.
Veteran Nokie Fornoro would like nothing better than to put Jarret back in front.

There have been six winners in 10 races. Cabral has four and Fornoro two while Adam Cantor, Jeff Abold, Russ Stoehr and Greg Stoehr have one apiece.

Drew Fornoro is NEMA’s all-time win leader at Lee with six. Among active drivers, Jeff Horn has three, Russ Stoehr and Nokie Fornoro two and Randy Cabral one

Mike Ordway Jr. will be in the Bertrand Lites car at Lee.

Randy Cabral has moved past Bobby Seymour on the all-time win list. Cabral’s 25 victories puts him seventh behind Drew Fornoro, Dave Humphrey, Nokie Fornoro, Billy Eldridge and Johnny Mann.

NEMA’s top two sibling combinations - Drew and Nokie Fornoro and Russ and Greg Stoehr – were big parts of the Marilyn’s Passion Race. Bobby and Mike Seymour – they rank third – were also on hand. Other sibling combos on the all-time NEMA list include Bobby III and Erica Santos, Bob and Lou Cicconi and Joey and Johnny Coy Jr.

The Stergois brothers – Jake and P.J. each own two NEMA Lites wins this year. Anthony Nocella, who drives a Seymour car, is the win leader with three. Anthony Marvuglio and William Wall have also won.

Marvuglio is in excellent company. He took the Bertrand 74 out at Twin State and joined a group that includes Jeff Horn, Cole Carter and Ted Christopher who have driven the car this season.

Since 1999, Cabral is “Mr. October” with six wins in the tenth month including four of the last six. NEMA has October shows at Twin State, Seekonk, Thompson and Lee.

Lee USA Season Championships,
NEMA Midgets, Highlight Lee Card

Lee, N.H. (9/14/2009) - The 2009 season championships and the high-flying Northeastern Midget Association will top the race card Friday night, September 18th, the final weekly event at Lee USA Speedway. The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series will conclude its 2009 campaign with all five divisions in competition. The seacoast oval will re-open October 23rd thru 25th for its annual Oktoberfest weekend.

Dracut, MA., Veteran Wayne Helliwell JR, enjoys a 93 point lead over Bryan Kruczak, Newmarket, NH., in the E-Keys 4 Cars Late Model division. Teamed with Pelham, NH., car owner Bruce Bernhardt, Helliwell looks to secure his second consecutive track title. Last year he captured the Late Model Sportsman crown with Bernhardt.

Dan Bowes, Byfield, MA., has a 30 point lead over defending champion Eddie Witkum JR, Westford, MA., in the PB Chopper Shop and Rods Small Block Supermodifieds.

Exeter, NH's Grant Aither, solid since opening day, has a 68 point margin over Bobby Melvin, of Groton, MA. in the Prime Storage Late Model Sportsman division.

Lebanon, ME., veteran Jim Shorey has a 41 point lead over defending Hobby Stock champ Jimmy Russell, Brentwood, NH.

The David's Race Cars and Components sponsored Roadrunner division has the best battle for the championship with Hooksett, NH, competitor Nick Manyati holding a 1-point lead over Jim Piaseczny, Merrimack, NH.

29 points separate Tom Harton, Barrington, NH., and Crystal Brown, Epping, NH in the American Auto Parts Ironman division.

Owner Tim Bertrand and driver Randy Cabral don't want to talk about points. "This season were coming to the races with the intent of winning the feature," says Bertrand.

Nonetheless, the respective defending champions hold the point leads as the Northeastern Midget Association returns to Lee. They will, in fact, be looking to make it two straight at the New Hampshire oval.

The NEMA Lites will be part of the Lee agenda as well. Former small block supermodified track champion Mike Ordway Jr. will be in the Bertrand Lites car.

Drew Fornoro is NEMA's all-time win leader at Lee with six. Among active drivers, Jeff Horn has three, Russ Stoehr and Nokie Fornoro two and Randy Cabral one.

The special program will carry a $15 admittance for adults. Fans holding tickets from last Friday nights cancelled program because of rain, can apply their ticket toward this weeks admission.

For additional information call the office at 978-462-4252 or log on to
www.leeusaspeedway.com and click on the weekly schedule of event for times and prices.

NEMA Veteran Horn
Remains a Contender

Brockton, MA – Jeff Horn, 64, will be on hand when the Northeastern Midget Association continues its ’09 season Friday night, Sept. 18 at Lee USA Speedway. Son Mike will be driving as well.

“What’s wrong with that,” Horn snaps at the mention of his age. “Actually, I feel I’m just three-quarters through my racing career.” He comes to Lee off a strong fifth at the Marilyn’s Passion Race at Monadnock, pointing out “I was as competitive as anybody.”

While he may fondly recall the days when “skill, finesse and knowledge were enough to produce victory,” he still relishes being both 64 and “relevant.” He refuses, however, to “throw money around.”

Horn, a Vietnam veteran, will be looking for NEMA career win No. 20 in his Drinan/Esslinger #A1. “I wouldn’t be out there if I didn’t believe that can happen,” he continues. He won at Lee back in 1994 driving for Joan and Bay Hayes.

A Vermont native (he began racing at Catamount Stadium in 1965), Horn, who calls Ashland, MA home, left the stock cars for open cockpit racecars (Midgets, Supermodifeds) in the early 1970s. His first Midget test was actually a ride in Ray Kelly’s #33 at Star in 1969. “It was without a roll cage,” says Horn who counts a picture from that day among his prized racing memoirs.

The first NEMA win came May 30, 1987 at Star. The last at Stafford in 2005. It is, however, the first of 52 podium finishes that Horn loves talking about. He was second in Dave Humphrey’s last NEMA win Oct. 12, 1986 at Seekonk. It was, in fact, Dave Humphrey Day.

“I led nine/tenths of the race,” Horn recalls. “On the last lap, turn four, I come on a lapped car. I went to the outside and Humphrey, driving the Kibbe car, snuck under me. It was so close, neither of us knew who won. It remains one of the greatest moments of my career.”

Ironically, Humphrey was 64 years old.

Although the Hayes/Horn team ran a complete season (1993)) only once (Horn was also driving Supers), it was a contender for a decade. “We developed a great rivalry with the Drew Fornoro/Angelillo team,” says Horn. “We were like oil and water. We went at it pretty hard.”

The association with Hayes (“We never had an angry word”) ended when Bay and Joan moved to Arizona. Horn won twice for Babe Shaw in early in 2000-01 before a strong run at Stafford in 2005.

Horn’s first ride was a flathead Ford 1932 five-window coupe. He ran it against the “overheads” when his father-in-law, Vermont dirt-track legend Clarence Rock, didn’t show up. He soon bought the car, starting a run that continues today.

He has “shaken down” cars for Tim Bertrand that were later driven by Ryan Newman and Cole Carter, actually coming from last to fifth at Stafford. “I have such respect for the Bertrand family,” he says. “It does so much for the club.”