A HISTORICAL LOOK OF
NEMA AT THOMPSON

Johnny Mann, a two-time champion, remains the all-time Northeastern Midget Association winner at Thompson Speedway with six, the last coming back in 1978. Mann has a two win edge on Johnny Coy Sr., Armond Holley and Drew Fornoro, the latter the leader among active drivers.

En Route to the championship, Mann captured the 1974 Thompson Classic (in the Cali 1) after qualifying second with a 21.766 run. Dave Humphrey set fast time with a 21.428 which is about three seconds slower than competitive time at Thompson today.

The Manns (Johnny and son Billy) and the Fornoros (brothers Nokie and Drew) claim NEMA "family" honors at Thompson with a combined seven wins. The Coys are just one behind, sons Johnny Jr. and Joey, each with a win apiece, joining their dad Johnny Sr.    

By the time NEMA got to Thompson in 1960, the famed five-eights oval already had a long Midget history. It actually goes back to 1940 and all new Midget winners at Thompson go on a list started by Wes Saegesser, a one-armed Midwesterner. Thompson hosted 100-lap "Classics" for a number of seasons and hosted the top open-cockpit drivers in the business.

The legendary Dutch Schaefer won the first NEMA sanctioned event at Thompson in 1960, the first of 31 winners.

NEMA WINNERS AT THOMPSON

Last Update 1/18/06