NEMA - NorthEastern Midget Association

"Tires Designed for
Champions"
hoosiertire.com

SATURDAY, JULY 13th, 2024

SeekonkSpeedway.com

www.oceanstateoil.com

L to R: Todd Bertrand #48, 2nd; Winner Chase Locke #1;
and Jake Trainor #29, 3rd.








*HEATS >>*


		*Photos by John Dadalt*

NEMA LITES - SEEKONK - 7/13/24

Pos.	#	Driver	Hometown	Owner
1	1	*Chase Locke*	*Chester, NH*	Matt Seymour
2	48	Todd Bertrand	Danielson, CT	Todd Bertrand
3	4s	Jake Trainor	Medway, MA	*Bobby Seymour*
4	88	*PJ Stergios*	*Nottingham, NH*	Matt Seymour
5	30	Paul Scally	Raynham, MA	Paul Scally
6	17	Kyle Valeri	Monument Beach, MA	Peter Valeri
7	47	Randy Cabral	Kingston, MA	*Randy Cabral*
8	9	Ben Mikitarian	Northborough, MA	*Ben Mikitarian*
9	53	Dylan Coutu	Griswold, CT	*Ron Coutu*
10	2	*Joe Bailey*	*Monroe, NJ*	Nick Poe
11	9m	Ryan Mcartney	Pawling, NY	*Ben Mikitarian*
12	29	Ken Schrader	Concord, NC	*Matt Seymour*
13	8	Ethan Dion	Oakdale, CT	*Stephen, Dion*
14	4w	Sammy Swindell	Germantown, TN	Bertrand Motorsports
15	59	Brayden Egan	Ashford, CT	*Eric Egan*
16	94	Tiana Kibbe	Mcungle, PA	*Curt Kibbe*
17	99	Kyle Ferrucci	Woodburry, CT	*Robert Ferrucci*
18	35	DJ Moniz	Fairhaven, MA	*Glen Cabral*
19	28	*Mike Pernesiglio*	*Ronkonkoma, NY*	*Pete Penesiglio Sr.*
20	88	Tyson Adamik	Salem, CT	Tom Adamik
21	3	Christopher Vose	Gloversville, NY	*Christopher Vose*
22	44	Trent Goodrow	Carver, MA	*William Keller*
Heat 1 - 4w, 48, 53, 47, 29, 35
*Heat 2 - 9, 30, 3, 8, 59, 99, 88*
*Heat 3 - 1, 4s, 17, 88j, 94, 9m, 44, 28*

L to R: John Zych Jr. #9, 3rd; Winner Avery Stoehr #39;
and Paul Scally #30, 2nd.





			*Photos by* *John DaDalt*
*HEATS >>*

			- - - - -

*NEMA MIDGETS - SEEKONK - 7/13/24*
Pos.	#	Driver	Hometown	Owner
1	39	*Avery Stoehr*	*Assonet, MA*	Bertrand Motorsports
2	30	Paul Scally	Raynham, MA	Paul Scally
3	9	John Zych Jr.	Mendon, MA	John Zych Sr.
4	74	Randy Cabral	Kingston, MA	Bertrand Motorsports
5	16	Matt O'Brien	Wilmington, MA	Matt O'Brien
6	93	Mike Horn	Ashland, MA	Mike Horn
7	49	*Dylan Rock*	*Enfield, NH*	Dan Rock
8	87	*Doug Cleveland*	*Sudbury, MA*	Doug Cleveland
9	A1	Jeff Horn	Ashland, MA	Mike Horn
10	77	*Jake Dumas*	*Brockton, MA*	Mike Luggelle
11	94	Richie Coy	Haskell, NJ	Dave Shore
12	6	Seth Carson	Stafford, CT	Skip Matczek
Heat 1 - 9, *93, 74, 87, A1, 94*
*Heat 2 - 30, 16, 39, 6, 49, 77*

Locke and Stoehr Take the
Coveted Boston Louie Victories

For the past 28 years, the race held in honor of the Massachusetts based car owner - "Boston Louie" Seymour, who campaigned his winning midgets, sprints and Silver Crown cars across America - has brought together the very best in open wheel Midget racing. Saturday, July 13th at Seekonk Speedway was no different, as Chase Locke won and led the entire 50 lap LITES race while Avery Stoehr fought off the NEMA field in the Boston Louie Memorial victory for the third year in a row.

Alongside NEMA's Announcer, Pete Falconi, NEMA welcomed Alan Bestwick and Jack Arute to the announcers booth to commentate the evenings races. While on the track, in the NEMA LITES, Ken Schrader, former NASCAR Cup Series regular, climbed into Matt Seymour Racing's, The Spirit of Boston #29 as well as Sammy Swindell, 3x WoO Champion and 5x Chili Bowl winner, climbed into the Bertrand Motorsports 4W. The Legacy of Boston Louie lives on through the continued support and sponsorships of Bently's Saloon, Hoosier Tire, Sunoco, South Metro Sports, Falconi Energy, Seaman Mechanical Services, Eight Ball Properties, Michael Libin Landscaping and Construction, and among many others.

After a morning full of rain showers, the sun shined through the clouds just as teams began to unload and take the track for practice. In practice PJ Stergios in the NEMA LITES, and Avery Stoehr in NEMA Midgets were awarded for setting quick time. While the heat race winners, Sammy Swindell, Ben Mikitarian, and Chase Locke in the NEMA in the NEMA LITES, as well as John Zych Jr. and Paul Scally in the NEMA Midgets were awarded an additional $150.

The stars and cars of the NEMA in the NEMA LITES, division were introduced and lined up to salute their fans for the famous four-wide parade lap.

In a strong field of 22 cars, the drivers realigned in their starting positions, as Chase Locke in the Matt Seymour Racing #1 alongside Todd Berterand in the Todd Bertrand Racing #48 led the field to the green flag for 50 fast and continuous laps around the action track of the east!

Going into turn one, Locke rocketed to the lead followed by Bertrand and PJ Stergios in the Matt Seymour Racing #88.

Over the next several laps, as the drivers began to settle into position, Locke held nearly a six car length lead over Bertrand followed by Stergios, Ben Mikitarian in the #9 worked his way into fourth followed by Paul Scally in the #30. While on the move, starting from his 9th place starting position, Jake Trainor in the Seymour Racing #4s was now on the back bumper of Scally, looking to break into the top 5 where the two battled for position and closed the gap between them and Mikitarian.

On lap 8, going into turn three, Scally was able to take the low line from Mikitarian to take over fourth. But the battle was not over yet, as Scally, Mikitarian, and Trainor remained in a tight pack and continued to race for position over the next several laps.

While the leaders started to encounter lapped traffic, Chase continued to hold a two second lead over Bertrand and Stergios. After tracking down Stergios for a number of laps, Scally was able to create some distance between him and fifth place, Mikitarian. On lap 17, Scally, now on the back bumper of Stergios, took the low line going into turn three from Stergios to take over third. Just as a battle for fourth through sixth now occurred between Stergios, Mikitarian, and Trainor.

While on lap 21, going into turn one, Trainor took the low line from Mikitarian to take over fifth and now set his eyes on fourth place, Stergios.

As the cross flags were flown for race leader Locke followed by Bertrand, and Scally, Stergios and Trainor were now on the back bumper of Scally. On lap 27, going into turn one, Stergios took the high groove to take back third. While on the same lap, going down the back stretch, Trainor was able to take the low line from Scally to take fourth.

As the drivers diced their way through lapped traffic and Locke continued to lead the field, Bertrand was able to capitalize and close some distance. But once Locke navigated through the traffic and once again had clean air, he was able to regain a 1.7 second lead.

On lap 38, while going down the back stretch, Trainor drove up alongside Stergios to take the low line and take over third going into turn three.

With 10 laps remaining, Locke had grown his lead over Bertrand by more than a straightaway.

On lap 50, the checkered flag waved for Locke who led all 50 laps followed by Bertrand and Trainor to round out the podium.

In victory lane, Chase commented on his win, "This car was off the rails all night, I just want to thank everyone for everything that they do and for getting me out here and getting this win tonight. We are going to savor this win."

To round out the top 10 were strong finishes by: Chase Locke #1, Todd Bertrand #48, Jake Trainor #4s, PJ Stergios #88, Paul Scally #30, Kyle Valeri #17, Randy Cabral #47, Ben Mikitarian #9, Dylan Coutu #53, and Joe Bailey #2.

The NEMA Midgets took the track a few races later, as Paul Scally in the #30 alongside Mike Horn in the #93 led the field to the green flag. As Scally took the lead going into turn one followed by Avery Stoehr in the Bertrand Motorsports #39 and Randy Cabral in the Bertrand Motorsports #74. Stoehr worked the outside of Scally going into turn three but Scally was able to hold him off and lead lap one. Coming out of turn two on the following lap, Stoehr drove up alongside Scally as the two raced side by side coming into turn three and down the front stretch.

As Stoehr took over to lead lap 2, he began to drive away from Scally and Cabral. Over the next several laps, with nearly a 3 second gap between the leaders, a battle began for fourth place between Horn and John Zych Jr. in the #9 occurred. As Zych Jr., on the back bumper of Horn, attempted to take the high line, Horn was able to keep his run going on the low line.

While the leaders began to encounter lapped traffic, Scally was able to capitalize and close the gap between him and Stoehr and drive up to Stoehr's back bumper. Once Stoehr navigated through traffic however, he was able to get a good drive coming out of the turns to increase his lead over Scally by half a straightaway.

As the cross flags were flown, we once again saw a tight battle for fourth between Horn and Zych Jr. But going down the backstretch and into turn three, Zych was able to get a good run going and drove up along Horn to take over fourth on lap 16.

Unfortunately, on lap 23, the caution flag was flown on the track. As the drivers reracked for a double file restart, Stoehr, alongside Scally led the field back to the green flag. Stoehr jumped the lead going into turn one followed by Scally. While Zych Jr. was able to get a good run going and drive up alongside Cabral coming out of turn two to take over third.

With just 5 laps remaining, as Stoehr continued to drive away from the field, Zych Jr. now on the back bumper of Scally. Zych Jr worked the highline coming over three, but Scally was able to continue his run and drive away from Zych Jr.

When the checkered flag flew for Stoehr, he held nearly a straightaway lead over Scally and Zych Jr to round out the podium.

In victory lane, Avery commented on his win, "I love coming to this race every year, this track has been good to me these past few years. Thank you Seekonk Speedway for having us and for all the fans that came out. One of my earliest memories is coming here as a kid, my dad won here with this engine that we won here with today. It is a really big part of my life coming here and glad I could hold the checkered flag here a few times."

With Avery Stoehr's win, this marks not only his third Boston Louie Memorial win in a row but also marks a total of 107 team wins for Bertrand Motorsports. This now ties with the famed Gene Angelillo for most car owner wins in NEMA history. Adding to the NEMA history, Russ Stoehr, Avery's father, won Gene Angelillo his 107th win.

To round out the top 10 were strong finishes by: Avery Stoehr #39, Paul Scally #30, John Zych Jr. #9, Randy Cabral #74, Matt O'Brien #16, Mike Horn #93, Dylan Rock #49, Doug Cleveland #87, Jeff Horn #A1, Jack Dumas #77.

NEMA would also like to extend a thank you to Freddy Cleveland who awarded an additional $100 to both 8th place finisher in the NEMA LITES, Ben Mikitarian in the #9, and 7th place finisher in NEMA, Dylan Rock in the #49 in memory of Brian Cleveland who drove the famed #87.

Bobby Seymour remarked on this year's Boston Louie, "Thank you Seekonk Speedway for an incredible venue and allowing us to do this every year. The racing was unbelievable with 50 green flag laps and 22 incredible drivers in the LITES race and a nearly green to checkered race in the NEMA feature. Each year we have such devoted sponsors that help this race succeed. We are looking forward to next year for the big 29th Annual Boston Louie Memorial."

Both NEMA Midgets and LITES are back in action next weekend, Saturday, July 20th at Monadnock Speedway for the Iron Mike Memorial Race.