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Wednesday,
July 28th
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Showdown of Champions - Seekonk - Weds. 7/28 |
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Pos. |
# |
Driver |
Owner |
|
1 |
9 |
Joey Payne |
John Mikitarian |
|
2 |
12 |
Chris Perley |
Eddie LeClerc Sr. |
|
3 |
29 |
Lou Cicconi |
Matt Seymour |
|
4 |
23 |
Freddy Astle |
Gary Sherman |
|
5 |
4 |
Vinnie
Annarummo |
Paul Scally |
|
6 |
48 |
Mike Stefanik |
Tim Bertrand |
|
7 |
45 |
Teddy Christiopher |
Frank Mucciacciaro |
| 8 |
51 |
Russ Wood |
Russ Wood |
| 9 |
50 |
Rick Martin |
Carl Medeiros |
|
Joey Payne Jr. Wins
NEMA’s
Showdown of Champions |
Seekonk, MA – Pulling
away from a mid-race restart, Joe Payne Jr. won the
20-lap Northeastern Midget Association Showdown of
Champions at Seekonk Speedway’s Open Wheel Wednesday.
Beating back a brief challenge from Chris
Perley, Payne scored a convincing win in the Mikitarian
#9. Perley (LeClerc #12) held on for second followed by
Lou Cicconi (Seymour #29).
John Astle Jr. (Sherman #23) and Vin Annarummo
(Scally #4) held up Seekonk’s honor completing the top
five. The battle was waged in NEMA Lite cars.
Mike Stefanik (Bertrand #48), Ted Christopher
(Mucciacciaro #45), Russ Wood Sr. (Wood #51) and Rick
Martin (Medeiros #50) followed.
“I really wanted this bad,” said Payne who took
home the Coastal 181 Trophy and dedicated the victory to
the late Gene Angelillo.
Payne drew the pole and then traded starting
spots with Annarummo, “a move that worked in my favor.”
Coming from eight, he was immediately in a four-way
(sometimes four wide), lead-swapping battle that also
included Cicconi, Perley and Astle.
.
 |
“We were not going to push it and put on a show for
the fans,” said Perley, who won the Rich Vogler
Award. “At the drop of the hat that went out the
window.”
On the outside, Payne
pulled away from Astle on the restart with Perley
moving from fourth to second. They moved through one
and two nose-to-tail, Perley looking low.
“I saw him,” Payne
said of long-time rival Perley. “He was going to
have to drive his tail off to get by.” Payne “kept
the car down in the groove. I didn’t want him
[Perley] under me.”
Payne, who replaced
Bentley Warren in the field, could put the car
“anywhere I wanted,” the result of much work with
the Mikitarian crew a week ago (before the rain) and
again before the race. “We got the car to be really
good,” he added.
“The first half
of the race really showed a trust between drivers,”
said TV personality Jackie Arute, the event’s
producer. “It was like a throwback, something you
don’t see a lot of these days.”
Bobby Seymour, the originator of the event, was
especially pleased with the finish involving three
of the most accomplished open cockpit drivers in the
East. Cicconi went on to win the regular NEMA
feature for Seymour as well.
”Any race involving the name Rich Volger, the best driver
I ever saw, is one you want to win,” said Payne who
welcomed the opportunity to honor Angelillo, “the
best car owner I ever had.”
The
transponder on Payne’s car was not working. Cicconi
did turn an 11.881 lap. Perley’s best was 11.902.
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Wednesday,
July 28th
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NEMA Feature - Seekonk - Weds. July 28th |
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Pos. |
# |
Driver |
Hometown |
Owner |
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1 |
4 |
Lou Ciconni |
Aston, PA |
Bobby Seymour |
|
2 |
47 |
Randy Cabral |
Plymouth, MA |
Tim Bertrand |
|
3 |
93x |
Mike Horn |
Ashland, MA |
Jeff Horn |
|
4 |
7ny |
Adam Cantor |
Dix Hills, NY |
Cantor Racing |
|
5 |
45 |
Russ Stoehr |
Bridgewater, MA |
Dumo's Desire
Racing |
|
6 |
26b |
Greg Stoehr |
Bridgewater, MA |
Greg Stoehr |
|
7 |
29 |
Jeff Abold |
Pennellville,
NY |
Bobby Seymour |
|
8 |
A1 |
Jeff Horn |
Ashland, MA |
Jeff Horn |
|
9 |
3m |
Jim Miller |
Weymouth, MA |
Jim Miller |
|
10 |
35 |
Anthony Marvuglio
|
E. Bridgewater, MA |
Glen Cabral |
|
11 |
44 |
Erica Santos |
Franklin, MA |
Ed Breault |
|
12 |
51 |
Russ Wood
Jr. |
Pelham,
NH |
Russ
Wood |
|
13 |
9 |
Joey Payne |
Fairlawn, NJ |
John Mikitarian |
|
14 |
2 |
Lee Bundy |
Kennebunkport,
ME |
Lee Bundy |
|
15 |
30 |
Paul Scally |
Raynham, MA |
Paul Scally |
|
16 |
12 |
Eddie LeClerc
Jr. |
Taunton, MA |
Eddie LeClerc Sr. |
|
17 |
16 |
Matt O'Brien |
Wilmington, MA |
Jim O'Brien |
|
18 |
78 |
Brian Cleveland |
Billerica, MA |
Linda Cleveland |
19
DNF |
75 |
Chris deRitis |
Philadelphia, PA |
Ciconni/deRitis |
20
DNF |
29x |
Anthony Nocella |
Woburn,
MA |
Matt Seymour |
21
DNF |
48 |
Todd
Bertrand |
Suffield, CT |
Tim Bertrand |
22
DNS |
55 |
Aaron Wall |
Shrewsbury, MA |
Wall Motorsports |
|
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Cicconi Rules NEMA Seekonk
Feature |
Seekonk, MA - Lou Cicconi Jr. “knew right
from the start” he had the winning car. “You want to pass when
it’s the least punishing to the race car,” he explained.
Starting
seventh, “Liquid Lou” drove the Seymour #4 under Randy Cabral
(Bertrand #47) in traffic on lap 11 and won the Northeastern
Midget Association’s 25-lap feature at Seekonk Speedway’s Open
Wheel Wednesday.
Running
consistent 11.3s, Cicconi dominated the final laps, finishing a
quarter lap ahead of point leader Cabral. Early leader Mike Horn
(Horn #93x) was third with Adam Cantor (Cantor #7ny) and Russ
Stoehr (Dumo’s Desire #45) following.”
Cicconi took
second from Horn in the backstretch on lap six. He quickly
closed on Cabral who had taken the lead from Horn with four
gone.
“I didn’t pass Randy right away,” said
Cicconi who was “waiting for the traffic.”
“I wanted to go
inside the lapped car,” said Cabral, “put it down low. I went
outside but the car came up and trapped me. Lou slipped under
me.” Pointing out “my car got better at the end but I let him
get too far out in front,” Cabral was not totally unhappy with
the second spot.
Horn, who
settled into a steady run in third place, continues to “pay my
dues.” He enjoyed a battle with Chris deRitis, the latter
dropping out with mechanical woes. “I guess it’s one spot at a
time,” said the second generation racer.
Despite a brief yellow on lap 13, Cicconi
needed only 7 minutes and 36 seconds to cover the 25 laps. His
best lap was a 11.303.
Cicconi
had an “awesome” car on a track
“I really love.”
It was Cicconi’s fourth Seekonk win and his seventh overall NEMA
triumph. |
|
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"All Jacked Up"
Auto racing and college
football broadcaster Jack Arute Jr. is excited to be helping out
in the presentation of the "Showdown of Champions."
Jack will
participate at the drivers' meeting, the introduction of the
drivers to the fans, and in the Victory Circle celebration. A
veteran of ABC an ESPN sports broadcasting for more than 25
years, Jack is now the IZOD
IndyCar Pit Analyst for Versus’ IndyCar series telecasts. |
|
SPONSORED BY
The only
university in the country where you can get a two or four year degree in
High Performance Motorsports. A complete university with College and
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consists of High Performance Automotive, Diesel, Heating, Ventilation,
Air Conditioning, and Alternative Fuels.
Plus a new curriculum
this year - The Sports Management Program.
Motorsports College Web
&
Ramada Seekonk/Providence
Area
940 Fall River Avenue - Seekonk, MA 02771
Hotel Web Page HERE |
RAIN ON
7/21
|
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| NEMA Heads Back To Seekonk on
7/28 |
Brockton, MA - The Showdown
of Champions and a budding point battle share center stage
Wednesday, July 28th, as the Northeastern Midget Association
returns to Seekonk Speedway’s Open Wheel Wednesday. Rain washed
out the race a week ago.
NEMA shares the busy agenda with a 100-lap open Modified event.
Less than 30 points separate defending two-time champion Randy
Cabral (Bertrand 47) and Russ Stoehr (Dumo’s Desire 45) atop the
points. Stoehr comes to Seekonk off a victory in the Hammond
Memorial at Waterford last Saturday.
The
Challenge puts a collection of stars including trio of Seekonk
stalwarts – Vinny Annarummo, Fred Astle Jr. and Rick Martin –
into a 25-lap battle in NEMA Lite cars. The field also includes
NASCAR Modified Champions Mike Stefanik and Ted Christopher and
a quartet of open wheel giants – Russ Wood Sr., Chris Perley,
Joey Payne Jr. and Lou Cicconi Jr.
Practice speeds (flirting with 11 seconds) before the rain a
week ago gave every indication a classic Showdown battle looms.
“You can expect some excitement in this one,” says NEMA
President Mike Scrivani Jr. “Those boys were going at it pretty
good. Every one of them is an old hand when it comes to getting
around Seekonk.”
One
of NEMA’s “Coming Home” venues, close racing and tight finishes
are commonplace for Midget at the “Cement Palace. Both Cabral,
who has six Seekonk wins, and Stoehr, five, are more than
familiar with one of area’s premier momentum tracks.
Greg Stoehr, Chris deRitis,
Jeff and Mike Horn, Erica Santos, Adam Cantor and Jim Miller are
also among the contenders. |
|
Raindate July 28th
- 7 PM
NEMA MIDGETS,
$10,000 TO WIN 100 LAP
OPEN MODIFIED RACE,
PRO-4 MODS,
&
the
Vinny
Annarummo - Fred Astle Jr.
Ted Christopher - Lou Cicconi
Jr.
John
Heydenreich - Rick Martin
Joey Payne Jr. -
Chris Perley
Mike Stefanik - Russ Wood |
in NEMA LITES
 |
Annarummo, Martin, and Astle
Ready to Repel Cement Palace
Invaders
at the Showdown of Champions |
Seekonk, MA - Hometown heroes
Vinnie Annarummo, Rick Martin and Fred Astle, Jr. are ready,
willing and able to defend their turf in the Showdown of
Champions at Seekonk Speedway during Open Wheel Wednesday on
July 21. From 1973 to 2009, the trio won an astounding 16 track
championships and nobody knows how to get around Seekonk
Speedway quicker than they do.
Yet none of the Seekonk
champs have much Midget experience. Annarummo recently raced in
a single NEMA Lite event, Astle recalls a lone effort in a Hop
Harrington owned Midget at Seekonk in the last century and
Martin has only been in a NEMA Lite Midget to have the seat
fitted.
The talented trio will compete against an array
of other champions, including Modified mavens Ted Christopher
and Mike Stefanik; Supermodified superstars Chris Perley and
Russ Wood; open cockpit switch-hitters “Liquid” Lou Cicconi and
Joe Payne, Jr.; and Midget master Jon Heydenreich. Every
champion will be in an identically prepared NEMA Lite and each
wants to walk away as first among equals.
“It’s an honor
just to race with these guys,” says six-time track champion
Annarummo. “They’re the best of the best. Sure, I have a lot of
laps around Seekonk in Pro Stocks and Modifieds, but this is
something completely different. I’m a rookie when it comes to
open cockpit racing in cars with wings. I can’t wait, because if
you can beat the best of the best, there’s nothing like it.”
Four-time track champion Martin is looking forward to his
first time racing with a wing. “I know they give the cars lots
of down force and I’ve heard that at some places, the guys can
flatfoot all the way around, using just a little bit of brake in
the corners. I’m going to try it wide open and see what happens.
I know the cars are radically different than what I’m used to,
but they still have four tires and a steering wheel.”
Astle, who has four Seekonk championships and one at Thompson,
is expecting to have a great time. “We’ll be running against
some very talented people and it’s humbling to be asked to
defend the honor of Seekonk. I know Ted Christopher well enough
to know that he plans on going right to the front, so it should
be a very interesting race. I’ve always wanted another chance in
a really competitive Midget and I guess my time has finally
come,” Astle said.
Open Wheel Wednesday features a full
card of NEMA Midget racing and is headlined by a 100 lap Open
Competition Modified race. |
|
Perley Looks Ahead to the
Showdown of Champions |
Seekonk, MA – Seekonk Speedway,
many claim, is “the ultimate momentum track.” Five-time ISMA
champion Chris Perley couldn’t agree more.
“When you are
in a good car,” says Perley, “it is the place you want to be. It
is one of my favorite tracks.”
Perley joins a host of
open-cockpit experts competing in the 25-lap Northeastern Midget
Association Showdown of Champions event at Seekonk Open Wheel
Wednesday, July 21.
The “Rowley Rocket” is no stranger to
the Midgets. He was a winner at the prestigious Oswego Classic
back in 2005.
A stellar field that also includes six-time
ISMA king Russ Wood Sr. will be in NEMA Lite cars. Jon
Heydenreich is ready to race along with Lou Cicconi and
Joey Payne Jr. who are recent additions.
NASCAR Modified
kings Mike Stefanik and Ted Christopher and Seekonk regulars
Vinnie Annarummo, Fred Astle, Jr. and Rick Martin have rides as
well.
“Everybody is interested in seeing what they can
do,” says Perley, a two-time Seekonk ISMA winner. “Looking at
the field, there’s some bragging rights up for grabs.”
It
is an accomplished field. Payne and Cicconi have won in TQs,
Midgets and Supers. Christopher’s’ resume includes TQ, Midget
and Super wins. Stefanik added a TQ success to his list last
winter. Heydenreich, the 1990 Chili Bowl winner, is also
accomplished in Sprints and Silver Crown cars.
When
Perley calls Seekonk “a superspeedway for the midgets,” he knows
of what he speaks. Back in 2005 he had a third at Seekonk, part
of a limited NEMA schedule driving for Don Berrio.
Wood
is no stranger to the Midgets either. His son Russ Jr. is a
regular competitor in the Lites division.
A 25-lap NEMA
feature and a 100-lap Modified event are also on the Open Wheel
Wednesday agenda. For more,
visit
www.seekonkspeedway.com |
|
Ted Christopher and Mike Stefanik in
"Showdown of Champions" at
Seekonk |
SEEKONK,MA - NASCAR Whelen Modified
Tour Champions Ted Christopher and Mike Stefanik will be among a
select group of champions competing in the Showdown of
Champions, a special NEMA Lites race at Seekonk Speedway on
Wednesday, July 21.
Christopher, who won the Whelen Modified
Tour championship in 2008, has multiple track championships at
Thompson International Speedway, Stafford Motor Speedway and the
Waterford Speedbowl. His varied resume includes wins in a NEMA
Midget and in a TQ Midget. Last month, he won the first dirt
Modified race ever held on a road course.
Stefanik holds
the all time NASCAR record for series championships, with seven
in the Whelen Modified Series and two in what is now the K&N Pro
Series East. He won his first track championship at Stafford
Motor Speedway in 1979 and went on to earn two more, in addition
to the pair he won at Riverside Park Speedway.
In the
NEMA Lites Showdown of Champions, Christopher and Stefanik will
be competing against a jaw dropping field of fellow champions:
Midget Champions Jon Heydenreich; Supermodified Champions Chris Perley
and Russ Wood; and Seekonk Speedway Champions Vinnie Annarummo,
Fred Astle, Jr. and Rick Martin.
The Showdown of
Champions and a full NEMA Midget card will all be part of
Seekonk Speedway’s Open Wheel Wednesday, which will be capped
off with a 100 lap Open Modified race.
For more details,
visit
www.seekonkspeedway.com |
|
John
Heydenreich in
"Showdown of Champions" |
Seekonk, MA - Midget racing will be
well represented in the NEMA Showdown of Champions event at
Seekonk Speedway’s Open Wheel Wednesday, July 21. John Heydenreich brings
a dazzling resumeto the
event.
Heydenreich will take on supermodified stalwarts
Chris Perley, Russ Wood and Bentley Warren; modified aces Mike
Stefanik and Ted Christopher and Seekonk kingpins Vinnie
Annarummo, Fred Astle, Jr.,
and Rick Martin in NEMA Lite cars.
Considering the place and the field, everybody will be
taking this seriously on what is called “the ultimate momentum track.”
Heydenreich was the winner of the prestigious Chili Bowl in
1990. A Sprint and Silver Crown veteran as well,
Heydenreich’s "throw caution to the winds style" has
resulted in impressive victories on both the ARDC and USAC
circuits, not the least of them the 1987 Hut 100. He welcomes a shot at
the historic Seekonk third mile.
A 25 lap NEMA Midgets
feature is part of Open Wheel Wednesday as well.
For
more details, visit
www.seekonkspeedway.com |
|
 |
NEMA Announces July 21st
“Showdown Of Champions”
at Seekonk Speedway
|
(Brockton, MA) On
Wednesday July 21, Seekonk Speedway hosts the Northeastern
Midget Association’s “Showdown of Champions” a star-studded
25-lap event featuring some of the most-heralded racing talent
ever assembled in New England.
Announced during a NEMA press conference held at the recent
Racer's Expo Trade Show in Marlborough, MA., the race will be
part of Seekonk’s “Open Wheel Wednesday” event which also
features a full slate of action for the NEMA full-Midgets.
Organizers drew from a vast talent pool for the “Showdown”
coming up with a cast of championship-caliber competitors
representing several different segments of the sport.
Competing in equally-prepared NEMA Lites Series entries in a
25-lap dash will be John Heydenreich, Chris Perley, Russ Wood,
Ted Christopher, Mike Stefanik, Lou Cicconi Jr., Joey Payne Jr., Vinny
Annarummo, Fred Astle, and Rick Martin. The group represents literally
hundreds of victories and multiple championships in everything
from Indy Cars, Midgets and Sprint Cars, to Modifieds, Super
Modifieds, and Pro Stocks. There remains the possibility of more
“notable” racers being added to the roster.
“We worked diligently at getting some of the best drivers from
all facets of the sport to participate, and the response was
overwhelmingly positive,” stated NEMA Lites'
Steve Grant. “We aimed for an absolute “All-Star” cast competing
on a completely-level playing ground. In the months-ahead, we’ll
be working even-further to assure that the Lites Series cars
we’ll be utilizing for the event are truly-equal in performance
for these guys. It’s an opportunity for fans to see the “Cream
of the Crop” all in one event. There will be no advantages –
this one will go to the best driver. With all the talent in this
group, “bragging-rights” are sure to be a top priority,” he
says.
Started with only a handful of entries in 2008, the Lites Series
has served as both an economic starting-point for new drivers to
get involved in what remains one of the countries “purest” forms
of open-wheel competition, and also as a venue for some of the
most-seasoned of NEMA competitors. Utilized in the division are
economical “sealed” engines. Only a few other subtle differences
separate the Lites cars from their “full” Midget counterparts.
The competition is both thrilling and equal, setting the stage
for a great deal of “side-by-side” racing. |
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| Field Set For NEMA Challenge |
Seekonk, MA – The field is set for
Northeastern Midget Association 25-lap Showdown of Champions at
Seekonk Open Wheel Wednesday. The 10 drivers, who will compete
in NEMA Lites cars, fit comfortably into three categories.
The Challenge is part of busy agenda that includes a 100-lap
Modified feature and a full NEMA program.
Seekonk
regulars Vinnie Annarummo, Fred Astle, Jr.
and Rick Martin will defend the home turf. The trio has a
combined 14 track titles.
The invasion includes two of
the premier Modified drivers in the country – nine-time National
NASCAR champion Mike Stefanik and
the incredibly versatile Ted Christopher.
A heralded quintet will represent the open-cockpit
fraternity – multipule ISMA champions Russ
Wood Sr. and Chris Perley,
1990 Chili Bowl winner John Heydenreich,
three-time ARDC king Lou Cicconi Jr.
and 2003 NEMA champ Joey Payne Jr.
All come with experience on the demanding third-mile.
“You always look forward to coming to Seekonk,” says Payne.
Little is not represented in a field that combined lays
claim to dozens of championships and hundreds of victories.
“Looking at the names, there’s some bragging rights up for
grabs,” says Perley, no stranger to the Midgets. Likewise Wood,
whose son Russ Jr. is a regular Lites competitor, has Midget
experience.
The categories, in fact, overlap.
Christopher, owner of multipule track and national Modified
championships, is also at home in open cockpit cars having won
in Go Karts, Supermodifieds, Midgers and TQs. His “go-to-the
front” style could be a major factor in the race.”
Stefanik thinks a Showdown win will go well beside the TQ
success he scored last winter in nearby Providence, RI.
Long time foes, veterans Payne and Cicconi have major wins in
TQ, Midget and Supermodified action. They have a combined eight
Seekonk NEMA wins. A Hut 100 winner, Heydenreich’s resume also
includes success in Sprint Silver Crown cars. |
|
Fred Meeker, left, with car owner
Fred Kernan at Seekonk. |
|
NEMA Looks Back at Seekonk Speedway
|
Steeped in Midget history, Seekonk
Speedway hosted the first Northeastern Midget Association event
on May 30, 1953. Fred Meeker, in Fred Kernan’s #17, won over Al
Pillion.
A “Ford Club,” NEMA shared the agenda with the
established and Offenhauer dominated ARDC. Meeker also won the
ARDC feature in the same car, establishing an independent role
that NEMA continues to hold.
The NEMA-Seekonk relationship,
of course, remains strong. The ‘Cement Palace” has hosted over
75 races since that inaugural visit.
Meeker and Kernan
were a powerful force in the 1950s, winning in ARDC, MARC and
NASCAR as well as NEMA. |
|
Cabral Takes NEMA Lead to Seekonk |
Brockton, MA – Randy Cabral and
owner Tim Bertrand come to Seekonk Speedway’s Open Wheel
Wednesday with the respective Northeastern Midget Association
point leads. They’ll be looking for a third straight victory in
the 25-lap feature.
Second place Russ Stoehr, who trails
by 46 points, heads up the group aiming at stopping the
streaking Cabral. The two have 11 Seekonk wins between them.
Stoehr, who drives the Dumo Desire #45, is joined by Chris
deRitis, Adam Cantor, Russ Stoehr, Jim Miller and Jeff and Mike
Horn, all showing strength on occasion this season. Last year’s
rookie of the year, deRitis, currently sits third in points
after five races.
A 100-lap Modified feature and the NEMA
Challenge of Champions are on the busy Seekonk docket as well.
Young Jeff Abold, with two NEMA wins at Seekonk over the
past two seasons, and veteran Lou Cicconi Jr. are also
contenders. Cicconi, a three-time Seekonk winner, will drive the
Seymour car Abold rode to victory in last year’s Boston Louie.
Abold now drives a Gaerte-powered family-owned car that is
maintained by the Seymours .
Defending two-time champion
Cabral has won four of the last seven NEMA races at Seekonk
(Abold, Cantor have the others). He comes to the “cement palace”
off wins at Thompson and Stafford Speedways. Both were hard
fought and crowd pleasing victories and he and Bertrand expect
another battle.
No one, in fact, knows better that no
track rivals Seekonk when it comes to hard fought Midget
battles. A win away from moving into sixth place on the all-time
win list, Cabral won his first NEMA feature in the family car at
Seekonk on July 22, 2001. |
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