NEMA - NorthEastern Midget Association

NEMA Midgets Victory Circle - L to R: Mike Seymour, Randy Cabral #47 (2nd), Winning Car Owner Tim Bertrand (Winning Driver Doug Coby was racing in
the Mod feature), John Zych Jr. #9 (3rd), and Bobby Seymour.















*Photos by Norm Marx*

Coby Captures NEMA’s Boston Louie

Seekonk, MA – Doug Coby, in only his third Northeastern Midget Association ride, added the Boston Louie Memorial to his resume Sunday at Seekonk Speedway. The National NASCAR Whelen Modified champion got by Bertrand Racing teammate Randy Cabral with four laps remaining in the 29-lap event.

Starting sixth, Coby chased Cabral, who took the lead on lap four, for 14 circuits before assuming command with an outside pass heading into turn one. The move came three laps after the third and final restart – each featuring an epic battle.

Cabral (Bertrand 47) was second followed by John Zych Jr. (Zych 9), Ian Cumens (Seymour 9) and Todd Bertrand (Bertrand 39). Zych was a definite challenger on the final two restarts.

“The car was really hooked through three and four,” said Coby. “I thought if I could stay on Randy’s right rear I had a chance and I really let it sail into one.” He quickly opened an advantage and won the 16th edition of NEMA’s premier event by five car lengths.

Driving different cars, Cabral and Coby had different problems. “The restarts killed me,” said Cabral, pointing out “my car was good only on short runs.” He went into “survival” mode after the car started to go away eight laps in.

“Actually, we also had trouble with the restarts,” said Coby. “It was skipping and it needed three or four laps to clear out.” That was evident on the second restart with 10 laps remaining. Zych, startling behind Cabal, actually took second briefly. Running on the outside, Coby regained second a lap ahead of the final yellow.

The winning move surprised neither Cabral (“I knew he was coming”) or car owner Tim Bertrand. “It had to come on the outside because Randy was really protecting the bottom.” Coby, Bertrand added, “did an awesome job. He was smooth and patient and gave great feedback all day.”

Zych, who started ninth, was pleased with third “coming from where we did” but in the end “just didn’t have enough for those guys.” Anthony Mavuglio came from 14th to a spot in the top 10, earning the hard charger award.

Pole sitter Jim Miller led the first three laps before Cabral took over. Zych and Cumens were the heat winners.

NEMA returns to action Saturday night for the Rifchin Trophy race at Star Speedway.

Coby could not make the traditional Louie Victory Lane ceremonies because of a ride in the accompanying 75-lap SK feature.
Ted Christopher was the last predominately Modified driver to win a NEMA feature. Coby’s next goal is to tie Gene Bergin on the list. The Late Bergin won twice.
Flagman Steve Grant started the Boston Louie from the track, kicking into gear the memories of several old timers.
There were a total 43 midgets on hand, 23 of them Lites.

NEMA Win ‘Another Good Thing’ for Coby

Brockton, MA - The list of Modified drivers who have won a Northeastern Midget Association feature is very short. Defending NASCAR Whelen Modified champion Doug Coby became the third member of the club Sunday winning NEMA’s premier event – the Boston Louie Memorial at Seekonk Speedway.

Coby, driving a Bertrand Motorsports Autocraft-powered Drinan, passed defending champion and Motorsports teammate Randy Cabral with a daring outside move in turn one late in the race.

“It is what it is,” says Coby. “You can add it to a lot of good things that have happened to me. Hopping into the car and winning shows that I’m a versatile race driver. I think that’s something all drivers want to show people.”

The Modified Tour and an SK-Modified commitment at Stafford Motor Speedway remain his priorities and opportunities to get back in the Midget are limted. Seekonk’s Open Wheel Wednesday July 17 is the next possibility. Still, there’s reason to celebrate.

Now, how about the winning move? “It was the only move,” Coby explains. “I’ve driven enough modified races at Seekonk to know it’s a two-lane place.” So with the lap clicking down Coby went to the outside of Cabral exiting four.

Both cars were loose at the time, but Cabral was “terribly” loose. Third place John Zych Jr., who had challenged Coby on a restart a few laps earlier, was very loose as well. Cabral later said he was in “survival mode” after lap 10.

“You try to figure out where your car is gaining,” Coby continues. “You try to discover when your car is better than the other guy, figure out where they are loose and you’re not.” It was, in this case, in turns one and two and up the track – like half a groove up.

“I wanted to pinch Randy a little bit, take away the cushion” continued Coby. “Once I cleared him he really drove it in and it’s tough to do that with a loose race car.” Coby was away and quickly opened a comfortable edge.

He clearly proved he could drive a Midget, turning laps in the high 10s (the SKs were in the low 12s while the tour cars are in the high 11s.).

There was one more reward. Pointing out there is traditionally little contact between the Modifieds and Midgets at a race track, Coby has “seen what it’s like on the other side. Midget guys are constantly working. They don’t stop.”

Hall of Famer Gene Bergin and present Coby foe Ted Christopher are the Modified drivers with NEMA wins. Another Coby foe, Keith Rocco, has a NEMA Lites win.

Bertrand Celebrates a Successful Louie

Brockton, MA - While some members of the Bertrand family “had their eyes closed,” Tim Bertrand was enjoying the battle for first between his two cars Sunday at the Northeastern Midget Association’s Boston Louie Memorial at Seekonk Speedway. Modified champion Doug Coby (in the 74) and defending NEMA kingpin Randy Cabral (47) were going at it.

“With two guys that good there is no way one takes the other out,” says Bertrand. He is not exactly a stranger watching his cars battle for the lead. Cabral has battled Bertrand teammates Cole Carter and Ryan Newman in the past.

Coby, the reigning NASCAR Whelen Modified king, won with an outside pass of Cabral in the closing laps. Bertrand had three spots in the top five including fifth place Todd Bertrand. All three cars are different right down to the motors.

“If this car is meant to win anywhere, it’s Seekonk,” Bertrand said of the Autocraft-powered Drinan chassis. Indeed, the car and driver were a perfect combo, Bertrand pointing long-time friend Coby “did an awesome job. He was smooth and patient all day and gave great feedback all day.”

Cabral, who drives the Esslinger-powered #47, was quick to point out the 74 “handles a little tighter and that’s exactly what was needed today.”

Coby and Bertrand have been friends since racing quarter midgets at Thompson’s Little-T track.

“I have lots of friend from the quarter midget days and Tim is one of them,” says Coby. “We’ve kept in touch. He told he was putting a car together and I told him I wanted to be on the guest list. I wanted to see what it’s like driving a Midget. That was five years ago.”

They got together last fall. They won Sunday.

NEMA MIDGETS - SEEKONK - 6/2/13

Pos. # Driver Hometown Owner

1 74 Doug Coby Milford, CT Bertrand Motorsports

2 47 Randy Cabral Plymouth, MA Tim Bertrand

3 9 John Zych Jr. Mendon, MA John Zych Sr.

4 29s Ian Cumens Lydell, PA Bobby Seymour

5 39 Todd Bertrand Suffield, CT Bertrand Motorsports

6 26b Greg Stoehr Bridgewater, MA Greg Stoehr

7 38 Anthony Marvuglio E. Bridgewater, MA Tammy Bourbeau

8 44 Joey Payne Fairlawn, NJ Ed Breault

9 45 Russ Stoehr Bridgewater, MA Dumo's Desire Racing

10 5 Bethany Stoehr Bridgewater, MA MCI Racing/
Greg Stoehr

11 30 Paul Scally Raynham, MA Paul Scally

12 3m Jim Miller Weymouth, MA Jim Miller

13 77 Doug Cleveland Sudbury, MA Mike Luggelle

14 21 Jim Chambers Atkinson, NH Mike Chambers

15 13 Ryan Bigelow E. Hampton, CT Randy Bigelow

16 3t Lee Bundy Kennebunkport, ME Trevor Miller

17
DNF 16 Matt O'Brien Wilmington, MA Jim O'Brien & Sons Engineering

18
DNF 99 Jim Santa Maria Burlington, CT Susan Santa Maria

19
DNS 71 Seth Carlson Brimfield, CT Gene Feigel

20
DNS 7ny Lou Cicconi Aston, PA Allan Cantor

NEMA LITES Top Three - L to R: Andy Barrows #81, 2nd;
Winner PJ Stergios #11; and Anthony Nocella #29, 3rd.












				Photos by Norm Marx

Stergios Rules Lites at “Louie”

Seekonk, MA – A daring inside move with three laps left gave P.J. Stergios the victory in the 29-lap Lites feature at the Northeastern Midget Association’s Boston Louie Memorial Sunday at Seekonk Speedway. It also gave the Stergois family a “weekend sweep.”

Driving the same car brother Jake won with on Friday night at Lee USA Speedway, Stergios snuck under Andy Barrows through turns three and four. The move followed the fourth and final restart and ended a journey that began in 12th starting spot.

Barrows (Barrows 81), who had led all but two laps to that point, was second followed by Anthony Nocella (Seymour 29), Ian Cumens (Seymour 9) and Avery Stoehr (Stoehr 15b).

“I kind of needed that last caution to get along side of Andy”, said Stergios, who was fastest throughout practice. It was, however, a cross-over move through one and two that put him inside the leader heading into three.

“Of course I didn’t want to see that caution,” countered Barrows. “It broke my rhythm and cooled the tires.” He was more than aware “P.J. was going to be tough, that he was going to give me a run” and in the end acknowledged “the better car won.”

Stergios pointed to the first caution with only one lap gone as the real key. “It put me on the bottom and that was important because there was a lot of junk and it was loose up top.”

Barrows twice battled back restart challenges from Dan Cugini. Meanwhile Stergios was moving forward. When yellow flew for the third time with 10 laps gone, Stergios was fourth. With Nocella on his tail, he grabbed third when green showed and by lap 21 he was sitting second. It was a drive worthy of hard charger laurels although Barrows was clearly in control before the final yellow showed.

It was also a great drive for Cumens who came from an early spin and, taking full advantage of the last caution, passed five cars over the final three laps.

The Lites will join the full midgets Saturday night at Star Speedway.

NEMA LITES -SEEKONK - 6/2/13

Pos. # Driver Hometown Owner

1 11 PJ Stergios Candia, NH Bill Stergios

2 81 Andy Barrows New Ipswitch, NH Dustin Anderson

3 29 Anthony Nocella Woburn, MA Bobby Seymour

4 9 Ian Cumens Lydell, PA Bobby Seymour

5 15a Avery Stoehr Lakeville, MA MCI Racing/
Russ Stoehr

6 51 Danny Cugini Marshfield, MA D. Cugini

7 35 Randy Cabral Plymouth, MA Glen Cabral

8 27 Kevin Hutchens * E. Waterboro, ME Dan Hutchens

9 50 Carl Medeiros, Jr. Westport, MA Carl Medeiros

10 45 Brandon Igo Wilbraham, MA David Igo

11 44 Christian Briggs Mattapoisett, MA Christian Briggs

12 46 Kenney Johnson Bethany, CT Jeff Johnson

13 25 Richie Morocco * Plainville, MA Richard Morocco

14 52 Kevin Park Foxboro, MA Kevin Park

15 7 Dana Shaw Danielson, CT Gregory Olson

16 33 Scott Bigelow E. Hampton, CT Randy Bigelow

17 31 Paul Bigelow Kensington, CT Randy Bigelow

18 41 Joe Cugini * Marshfield, MA D. Cugini

19
DNF 76 Keith Rocco Wallingford, CT Frank Manafort

20
DNF 18 DJ Moniz Fairhaven, MA David Moniz

21
DNF 4 Jamie Falconi * Southborough, MA Paul Scally

22
DNF 2k Kelly Ferrell * Chaplin, CT John Ferrell

23
DNF 94 Logan Rayvals Brockville, ONT Craig Rayvals

* Rookie

*"BOSTON LOUIE" EVENT PIX*

FULL SIZE POSTER> PDF HERE

NEMA / Grand Marshall Bentley Warren
at Seekonk "Meet and Greet"

The Northeastern Midget Association will conduct a driver "Meet and Greet" autograph session on Sunday at Seekonk Speedway during the "Boston Louie". The session will be held behind the front straightaway bleacher area with NEMA drivers Lou Cicconi and Ian Cumens as well as NEMA Lite standouts Christian Briggs and Carl Medeiros Jr., Star's feature winner.

Supermodified star and Indy 500 veteran Bentley Warren is also scheduled to appear. Warren is the event's Grand Marshal.

Fans are encouraged to bring along hats, t-shirts or other small items they wish to have signed. Taking photos is also welcome.

Gates open at 2 PM - Opening Ceremonies at 3:45 PM including a Flyover - Racing at 4 PM.

Boston Louie Memorial Sponsors

Special Thanks to
Texas Roadhouse
National Speed Sport News
Bentley's Saloon

NEMA Midgets Feature Race Sponsors

Motorcars International
Bridgewater, MA

Seals-it
Ellington, CT

Shea Concrete Products Inc.
Wilmington, MA

NEMA LITES Feature Race Sponsors

Blackwatch Farm
Weathersfield, VT

Five Guys of Seekonk

Power & Antenna Service
Bethany, CT

NEMA Midgets Heat Sponsors

Heat 1
Blackwatch Farm
Weathersfield, VT

Heat 2
Nocella Paving
Woburn, MA

Heat 3
Dave Shore Inc.
Southbury, CT

NEMA LITES Heat Sponsors

Heat 1
East Ontario Hay Sales
Brockville, ON
and
The First Turn Midget Driving Experience
Marlboro, MA

Heat 2
Woody's Auto
Pelham, NH
and
8 Ball Properties
Manchester, NH

Heat 3
UNOH - University of Northwestern Ohio
Lima, OH
and
Blackwatch Farm
Weathersfield, VT

$100.00 Sponsors

Langhorne Motorsports
Langhorne, PA

Station Road Auto Body
Sudbury, MA

Conroy "Pneau" Control
Brunswick, OH

K-Tron Corp
Marlboro, MA

PRO STOCK CHAMPION FREDDY ASTLE TO PILOT NEMA LITE AT THE BOSTON LOUIE

Six time Seekonk Pro Stock Champion “Flying” Freddy Astle of Westport, MA is scheduled to compete in a NEMA Lite at the Boston Louie Memorial Classic this Sunday at the Cement Palace. Astle has been offered the #21 Scrivani Racing entry from Brockton, MA. Astle has expressed excitement at the opportunity to compete at his home track in this prestigious event.

Fred will be joined by another champion the 2010 Whelan All American Series Champion Keith Rocco of Meriden, CT. who drives the #76 Frank Manofort of Springfield, VT entry. Both drivers will have there hands full with a full field of talent looking for the big trophy.

SPORT TRUCKS TO COMPETE WITH NEMST

A special waiver has been granted to two Seekonk Sport Trucks to allow them to compete in the 50 Lap Northeast Mini Stock Tour event. The # 44 of Daryl Church & the # 85 of Barry Shaw, Jr. was granted the waiver after discussions with NEMST promoter Bob Guptil. This waiver is available to these two competitors only after concessions on their part and may serve as a test for future competition.

Gates open at 2 PM - Opening Ceremonies at 3:45 PM including a Flyover - Racing at 4 PM.

NEMA’s Louie, Seekonk
A Perfect Combination

Brockton, MA - The Midgets at Seekonk Speedway is a love affair that’s been going on for almost 70 years. The Northeastern Midget Association’s 16th Boston Louie Memorial Sunday, June 2 in the latest chapter in the on-going tale.

“The Louie,” honoring the memory of Hall of Fame car owner Boston Louie Seymour and featuring 29-lap features for both the full Midgets and the NEMA Lites, is part of a busy afternoon. A 75-lap SK-Modified race along with the Pro 4 Modifieds and the New England Mini Stock Tour are also on the agenda.

Started by the Seymour family, the Louie is NEMA’s premier event. The 29 lap distance recognizes the number Louie Seymour made famous.

Seekonk’s Midget win list starts with Oscar Ridlon, a controversial victor in the facility’s first-ever race on May 30, 1946. Fred Meeker, the winner in NEMA’s inaugural event exactly seven years later, is also on the list. Meeker ran laps in the low 16s. Last year’s fastest feature lap belonged to Seth Miller who turned an 11.162 en route to victory on what is seen as the ultimate momentum track.

The list also includes current competitors Randy Cabral, Russ Stoehr, Lou Cicconi, Greg Stoehr, Joey Payne and Anthony Nocella. Other contenders include Ian Cumens, Anthony Marvuglio and James Santa Maria, all winners in Lites action at the “Cement Palace.”

The winner of the first Louie, Russ Stoehr hopes to join Cabral and Payne on the two-win Louie plateau.

Waterford winner Todd Bertrand, promising Bethany Stoehr, steady John Zych Jr., and veterans Jim Miller and Paul Scally all hope to put a Louie win on their resume.

Doug Coby and Keith Rocco hope to start a new list – winning both a Louie race and a Modified race on the same day. Coby returns to the Bertrand 74X for the Louie while Rocco, driving the Manafort 76, ranks among the favorites in the Lites race. Car owner Tim Bertrand welcomes back NASCAR Modified champ Coby who, in two starts, has proven he can run with the leaders.

Seekonk’s stock car win list starts with Johnny Rogers on Armistice Day of 1948.

Point leader Carl Mederios Jr., a winner two weeks back at Star, heads up an expected large Lites field. Dylan Duhaime and Avery Stoehr, who finished two-three in last year’s championship run, join Mederios in a group of young firebrands that also includes rookies Kevin Hutchins, Richie Morocco, Jamie Falconi and Megan Cugini, all with the exception of Falconi is family equipment. Falconi drives for Scally.

Other hopefuls in what will be the fourth Louie Lites race are the Bigelow boys(Ryan and Paul), P.J Stergois, Andy Barrows, Brandon Igo and Christian Briggs.

BOSTON MARATHON TRIBUTE OPENS
THE BOSTON LOUIE MEMORIAL CLASSIC
at SEEKONK SPEEDWAY

SEEKONK, MA- A tribute to the Boston Marathon with a special opening ceremony at the Boston Louie Memorial Classic will begin this exiting auto racing program on Sunday June 2nd at Massachusetts’s only race track, Seekonk Speedway at 4pm.

Race promoter Gary Sagar of Kraze Korlacki Speed Equipment, Inc. has invited Dick & Rick Hoyt of Team Hoyt, www.teamhoyt.com and will be joined by members of their Boston Marathon Race Team and others who will circle the 1/3 mile oval carrying American Flags during the playing of our National Anthem. "Together - You Can Do Anything!" Team Hoyt PDF HERE

We will also be joined by the Seekonk Fire Department and the Seekonk Police Department Honor Guard with Seekonk Fire and Police Chaplin John Amaral.

Donations to the One Fund-Boston, www.onefundboston.org will be accepted and forwarded with an additional donation from the race promoter.

Making Ready For NEMA’s “Louie”

Brockton, MA – If absence makes the heart grow fonder, expect a banner field for the 16th running of the Northeastern Midget Association’s Boston Louie Memorial Sunday, June 2 at Seekonk Speedway.

A victim of weather last year, “the Louie,” which includes 29 lap features for both NEMA and the NEMA Lites, is part of an “open wheel” extravaganza that includes a 75-lap SK-Modified feature along with appearances by the Pro Four Modifieds and the New England Mini Stock Tour.

Doug Coby, who’ll drive the Bertrand #39 in the NEMA event, and Keith Rocco, slated to steer the Manafort 76 in the Lites race, will be doing double duty. Both have SKs rides as well.

Honoring one of New England’s racing Legends, car owner “Boston Louie” Seymour, “the Louie” has become the biggest plum on the NEMA schedule. Another legend, Bentley Warren, is grand marshal.

The route to Seekonk’s victory lane is hardly a secret for NEMA competitors, two-time defending champion Randy Cabral coming into the race with seven ‘Konk’ checkereds including two Louies. Cabral, whose win list started with the 2000 Louie, has brought the Bertrand #47 home second in the last two.

Lou Cicconi, who’ll be in the Cantor 7ny , has four Seekonk wins while the Stoehr brothers Russ (Dumo’s Desire 45)and Greg (Stoehr 26b ) have eight between them, one of Russ’ five the 1997 Louie. Joey Payne, back in the Breault 44, is also a two-time Louie winner.

Young Ian Cumens (Seymour 29) will be in charge of the Seymour family fortunes. The Seymours have won the last three Louie races with Jeff Abold. Cumens has won in a Lites car at Seekonk.

Seth Carlson’s 11.152 posted NEMA’s fastest Seekonk lap last year en route to a victory. Expectations are it will take at least that to prevail at the Louie. Carlson (Feigel 71), Waterford winner Todd Bertrand (Bertrand 39), Anthony Marvuglio (Bourbeau 38), Bethany Stoehr (Stoehr 5b), Jim Miller (Miller 3m), James Santa Maria (Santa Maria 99) and John Zych Jr. (Zych 9) are all contenders.

There is, however, plenty of historical precedent for a surprise – Cabral’s 2000 win in a family car older than he was is a classic example.

A bumper crop of Lites is expected with Anthony Nocella, who owns 5 Seekonk wins, a possibility in the Seymour car. A pair of determined youngsters – Carl Medeiros Jr. and Dylan Duhaime – are on a contender list that also includes Ryan Bigelow, Jake Stergios and James Santa Maria, the latter three all seeking a return to Seekonk’s Victory Lane.

Popular Matt Buckler To Call
Seekonk Special Event In June

Seekonk, MA. -- Long-time Connecticut race announcer and well-known sportswriter, Matt Buckler Jr., has been added to the broadcast team at next month’s special open-wheel event at Seekonk Speedway, Seekonk, MA.

The Four-in-one program, on Sunday afternoon, June 2, will feature a special race for SK type modifieds, NEMA Midgets, Northeast Mini Stock Tour and the Pro-4 Modifieds. Buckler will join track announcer Kevin Boucher for the special modified race.

Race producer Gary Sagar wanted Buckler to be a part of the first ever event at Seekonk from the get go. “Matt works with the SK-type modifieds at Waterford, Stafford, and Thompson and has the most knowledge of their drivers and cars. His uncanny wit and professional demeanor made him the ideal choice.”

Buckler visited Seekonk for the first time recently. “I was impressed with the facility. It’s an easy commute from Connecticut. I am excited to be part of this special race event.”

The midget portion of the race card will feature the annual “Boston Louie Memorial Classic” in honor of the late ‘Boston’ Louie Seymour, a local icon who fielded winning race cars throughout the country.

For additional information contact Gary Sagar at Kraze Korlacki’s Speed Equipment - www.krazespeedequipment.com - (800)-252-6830.

MODS, MIDGETS, & MINSTOCKS at
The BOSTON LOUIE MEMORIAL CLASSIC

SEEKONK, MA. - Kraze Korlacki Speed Equipment, Inc announces an exciting race event on Sunday, June 2, 2013, at the historic “Cement Palace” Seekonk Speedway. Mods, Midgets, & Ministocks take the Green Flag as part of THE BOSTON LOUIE MEMORIAL CLASSIC in honor of this local racing great. “My dad would be honored by the cars & stars assembled to race in this prestigious event” said Boston Louie’s son Bobby from his race shop in Marlboro, MA.

The Northeast Midget Association will be well represented by the NEMA regulars and NEMA Lites competing for 29 Laps each; this is the biggest NEMA event of the season honoring “Boston” Louie Seymour. Open Wheel racing legend Bentley Warren will serve as Grand Marshall.

Joining NEMA is a 25 Lap Race by the Pro4 Modifieds of New England and the ever growing Texas Roadhouse Northeast Mini Stock Tour will campaign for 50 Laps.

Last but certainly not least is a 75 Lap SK & SK Light Type Modified Race where the winner will take home a $5,000 pay day. SK Type Mods have not raced at the Cement Palace since 1983 when Ed St. Angelo was Track Champion. Ed will join us, dropping the Green Flag in celebration of this 30 year anniversary.

Expected competitors include the 2012 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Champion Doug Coby, the 2012 Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Tour Champion & 2012 Seekonk Speedway Open Wheel Wednesday Race Winner Matt Hirschman, 2012 Stafford Track Champion Ted Christopher, 2012 Thompson Track Champion Ryan Preece & 2012 Waterford Track Champion Tyler Chadwick, to name a few.

Rules and additional information will be available after April 1, 2013.

Please visit www.krazespeedequipment.com for the latest information.