Joey Payne, 2nd; Kyle Carpenter, 3rd, and Winner Ben
Seitz
| NEMA Feature - Stafford Sizzler - Sun. 4/30/06 |
| Pos. |
# |
Driver |
Hometown |
Owner |
| 1 |
17 |
Ben Seitz |
Monument
Beach, MA |
Pete Valeri |
| 2* |
45 |
Joey Payne |
Fairlawn, NJ |
Gene Angellilo |
| 3 |
11 |
Kyle Carpenter |
Gloucester, MA |
Don Berrio |
| 4 |
4 |
Nokie Fornoro |
Stroudsburg, PA |
Mike Jarret |
| 5 |
99 |
Mike Ordway Jr. |
Freemont, NH |
Power Point
Racing |
| 6 |
77 |
Mike Lugelle |
Hull, MA |
Mike Lugelle |
| 7 |
36 |
Cory Cleary |
- |
Glen Cabral |
| 8 |
52 |
Kevin Park |
Foxboro, MA |
Kevin Park |
9
DNF |
47 |
Randy Cabral |
Plymouth, MA |
Tim Bertrand |
10
DNF |
7ny |
Adam Cantor |
Dix Hills, NY |
Cantor Racing |
11
DNF |
37g |
Shane Hammond |
E. Bridgewater, MA |
Jack Glockner |
12
DNF |
98s |
Bobby Santos |
Marlboro, MA |
Robert Santos Jr. |
13
DNF |
21 |
Barry Kittredge |
Marlboro, MA |
Barry Kittredge |
14
DNF |
A1 |
Jeff Horn |
Ashland, MA |
Jeff Horn |
15
DNF |
33 |
Shawn Torrey |
Marshfield, MA |
Shawn Torrey |
16
DNF |
35 |
Andy Shlatz |
Enfield, CT |
Glen Cabral |
17
DNF |
55 |
Mike Keeler |
Danbury, CT |
Kevin Keeler |
| DNS |
80 |
Pete Pernesiglio |
Lake Grove, NY |
Peter Pernesiglio |
| DNS |
3 |
Tommy Spada |
Kensington, CT |
Gino Spada |
| DNS |
16 |
Matt O'Brien |
Wilmington, MA |
Jim O'Brien |
| *Cape
Cod Aggregates "Hard Charger"- Joey Payne |
| Heat
Winners: #11 Kyle Carpenter & #17 Ben Seitz |
Seitz Repeats as NEMA
Sizzler Champ |
Stafford Springs, CT:
For the second year in a row, the Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) took part in the
Annual TechNet Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway. And for the second year in a row
it was Ben Seitz of Monument Beach, MA scoring the prestigious victory. It only took the
defending champ two laps to get to the front in Sunday’s main event for the Club.
Once in control, nothing phased Seitz, not even the late race cautions. Seitz cruised to
the victory over Joey Payne of Fairlawn, NJ, Kyle Carpenter of Gloucester, MA, Nokie
Fornoro of Stroudsburg, PA, and Mike Ordway, Jr. of Freemont, NH
“To win the Sizzler is big,” said Seitz after the race. “It is probably the
biggest event of the year for NEMA. We race in front of such a great crowd…and its
the Spring Sizzler at Stafford.”
Another 2005 NEMA winner at Stafford, Jeff Horn led the field to green; however, it was
Kyle Carpenter who led the first lap. Defending race winner Seitz immediately went to work
on Horn and was able to take the position on lap two.
While still on lap two, Seitz was making a run on the leader when the caution flew for a
stalled Mike Keeler. On the ensuing restart, Seitz used the outside grove to perfection to
take over the top spot from Carpenter. Bobby Santos III followed through to take over
second as Carpenter began to fade.
Randy Cabral had moved into the third position and began to close the substantial gap
between himself and second running Santos. Joey Payne was also making his march to the
front from his ninth-place starting spot.
As the race approached halfway, Seitz had stretched out his lead over Santos. The margin
between Santos and third running Cabral had stabilized as did the interval back to Payne.
On lap 16, Santos relinquished the second position heading to pit road with an overheating
problem. This handed the runner-up spot to Cabral. On the same lap, the mount of Shane
Hammond went up in smoke to bring out the event’s second caution. Adam Cantor
experienced problems as well as attrition began to play a major role in the 30-lapper.
While under the caution the #47 of Cabral came to rest on the backstretch. He, too, would
give up the second position for an overheating problem. This set up a battle of the front
row on the restart that pitted Seitz with his rival Payne, who had already taken round one
in 2006.
The restart order with 14 laps remaining was Seitz, Payne, Carpenter, Mike Luggelle, and
Nokie Fornoro inside the top five. Seitz handily resumed his lead after the second attempt
to restart the event.
Payne appeared to falter a bit allowing Carpenter to close in quickly while Fornoro had
moved around Luggelle. The leader meanwhile had worked out to a considerable lead with the
laps winding down. The distance between Payne had Carpenter had stretched out a bit again
as well.
Over the waning laps of the Sizzler, little changed in the top five as Seitz cruised to
the victory over Payne, Carpenter, Fornoro and Mike Ordway, Jr. Payne was named the events
“Hard Charger”.
“At the end of the race the car was starting to get loose,” continued Seitz.
“I’m glad the race ended when it did. There were some really strong cars and
great competitors behind me. This win means a great deal to me and my Cape Cod Aggregates
team.”
The next event for the NEMA Midgets is schedule for May 27th at Seekonk Speedway in
Seekonk, MA. The “Cement Palace” has been the site of many exciting Midget races
over the years and 2006 will be no different. |
Excitement
Abounds for NEMA with Preparation for Stafford's Sizzler |
Manchester, CT: On April 29 & 30,
the Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) will take part in the 35th Annual Tech Net
Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway. To NEMA the Sizzler is more than just the
second race of the 2006 schedule. It is an occasion. The addition of the Sizzler to the
NEMA schedule in 2005 was a huge boost to the Club and continues to be a great source of
pride for the entire organization.
"Stafford is an extra special place for me," said Andy Shlatz driver of the
Rafferty Fine Grading #22, echoing the sentiment of many NEMA competitors. "As a kid
I went to Stafford every Friday night to watch Bugsy Stevens and all the great Modified
drivers race. It was a dream come true when NEMA finally got to race here."
The prestigious event is a perfect fit for an organization that is laden with racing
tradition. The Northeastern Midget Association is thrilled to be able to take part in an
event that holds such a special place for race fans and competitors alike.
Last year the Sizzler victory went to Ben Seitz of Monument Beach, MA. This season there
are several drivers gunning for the defending champion and race winner including his
'nemesis' opening day winner Joey Payne. Other contenders will include Randy Cabral, Nokie
Fornoro, Adam Cantor and Bobby Santos III.
Since the return of the Midgets to Stafford in 2004, there have been no repeat winners. In
2004, Nokie Fornoro scored the win while Seitz and Jeff Horn shared top honors in 2005.
Each one of those drivers would like to change that statistic.
At Stafford; however, you cannot count out the 'dark horse'. Pete Pernesiglio, who was
very disappointed to miss opening day at Waterford, is very hungry and ready to win for
his host of new sponsors. Other drivers poised to return to victory lane include Keith
Botelho, Ryan Dolan and Barry Kittredge. This race could also prove to be the breakout
event for such young drivers as Mike Keeler and Shane Hammond.
In fact, Hammond of Bridgewater, MA, is especially excited to get to the Spring Sizzler.
Hammond heads to Stafford with enthusiasm and a new level of confidence.
'I broke a rocker arm adjuster at Waterford while leading," said Hammond. "But
the car is ready to go for Stafford. As disappointed as I was when it broke, I am also so
excited that the car is capable of running up front."
The anticipation will come to an end on Sunday, April 30th when the mighty midgets roar
into Stafford Motor Speedway for their 30-lap feature event. Qualifying heat races for the
Northeastern Midget Association will be held on Saturday afternoon, April 29 following
time trials for the Whelen Modified Tour. For a complete schedule of the weekend's events
log on to www.staffordmotorspeedway.com.
"Stafford is one of the nicest, well-run places that we run at," said Tim
Bertrand, car owner for Randy Cabral, "couple that with thousands of fans in the
stands and the presence of other great touring series there, the Spring Sizzler is poised
to be one of the better events of 2006." |
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