Feature Stories 2-2003

Angelillo Picks Joe Payne
To Continue NEMA Streak

Car owner Gene Angelillo has surrounded himself with "newness." He has a new driver (Joey Payne Jr.), a new sponsor (Painters Edge of Waterbury, CT) and a new chassis (Beast). He seeks, however, to extend an "established" result.

Angelillo will be after a sixth straight Northeastern Midget Association Owners championship. "There is nothing to distract us," said Angelillo, who has 12 overall NEMA titles. "We have everything in place."

NEMA opens its 19-race schedule April 5-6 at Thompson Speedway's Icebreaker. NEMA will appear at nine different tracks, making five visits to Star Speedway and four at Waterford Speedbowl. The club is part of the Speedbowl's Budweiser Nationals April 12-13.

Angelillo calls Payne, who replaces Russ Stoehr in the seat, "the best guy available. When we realized he could make the entire schedule, there was no question." Payne, a veteran open-cockpit driver, has driven Angelillo equipment before. His victory in the 2000 Thompson World Series was Angelillo's 100th victory.

Stoehr, who won three straight driving titles with Angelillo, has decided to "pick and choose" his races in 2003. Angelillo and Stoehr won nine races bringing Angelillo's total to 105.

A PPG distributor, Jerry D'Amico's Painters Edge is an established business in Western Connecticut. "He's a long-time friend and we're proud to have him aboard," Angelillo said.

The team will stick with Gaerte power in pursuit of what Angelillo expects to be "a hard-fought" championship battle. "Over the last five years, the number of winners in NEMA has just exploded," he said. "There are a dozen teams, maybe more, that can win every time out."

Led by Drew Fornoro (three wins), in the Campanale Brothers car, there were 10 different winners in 2003. All - Howard Bumpus, Stoehr, Tim Bertrand, Randy Cabral, Kyle Carpenter, Ryan Dolan, Pete Pernesiglio, Bobby Santos III and Bobby Seymour, will be back. Other contenders returning include Ed Breault, Mike Roselli, Mark Buonomo, Nokie Fornoro and Ben Seitz.

Payne, who lists the 2000 World Series as one of his biggest wins, has an impressive open-cockpit resume. He was very successful in the TQs (starting in his dad's car), Payne was a winner in both Midgets and Supers with owner Jeff Miller through the 1990s.

Angelillo has been winning NEMA features since 1981 and championships since 1983.

NEMA will make its second visit to Adirondack Speedway (May 31) and return to Lee USA (July 18), Beech Ridge (July 26), Oxford Plains (Aug. 16) and Seekonk (Oct. 11-12) Speedways.