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It is with deep
sorrow that we report the passing of Nick Fornoro,
a former champion, long time flagman and the father of NEMA champions
Nokie and Drew Fornoro.
In recent years, armed with a host of racing stories, Nick was always
welcome at NEMA events.
A member of the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame, the New Jersey
native won an ARDC (1950) and a NASCAR (1953) championship over a
10-year career that ended in 1956. He went on to become one of the
sport’s premier flagman, advancing to Chief Starter for the Championship
Auto Racing Teams Indy Car Series from 1979-1992. He was the honorary
starter for the 1993 Indianapolis 500.
In addition to Nokie and Drew, he is survived by his wife of 59 years
Elizabeth (Bette), daughter Cindee Bertling, sisters Celeste Weisgerber
and Constance Abdalla, brother Billy Fornaro and seven grandchildren:
Jessica Fornoro, Nofri, Lanson and Jarett Fornoro, Tara and J.J.
Bertling and Marie Fornoro, and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the
Checkered Flag Fan Club Injured Drivers’ Fund; P.O. Box 79; Kutztown, PA
19530 or the Joey Bella Memorial Fund, Inc. (15 Myers Ave., Denville, NJ
07834) that provides direct assistance to families in need during
catastrophic illness.
Cards may go to
Nokie Fornoro, RR3 - 3578,
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
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Marilyn Angelillo was,
officially, the Northeastern Midget Association’s secretary for many
years. Unofficially, she was the club’s social director, points keeper,
publicity agent, organizer, sounding board, problem solver and, most
importantly, its conscience
Marilyn passed away in 2007 after a brave bout with cancer.
“Her contributions to our club over the years are many, far too many to
count,” said NEMA President Mike Scrivani. “Saying she will be missed
seems trite at this point, but Marilyn touched so many of us in positive
ways. Whatever the problem, she was there for us. It is a sad time.”
She came to NEMA with her husband Gene in 1980. It was Marilyn who named
the team “Dumo’s Desire” in memory of Gene’s father.
Working with Gene, she helped engineer a NEMA surge in the 1990s. She
fought fiercely for those competitors loyal to the club. Perfect
attendance trophies, she believed, were to be valued as much as
championships.
She had a number of awards including the coveted Johnny Thomson
Memorial.
In addition to her husband, Marilyn is survived by her daughter and
son-in-law Laura and Curt Kibbe, granddaughters Tiana and Brooke and
brother and sister-in-law James and Catherine Zukauskas. NEMA extends
its condolences to all her family and friends.
Calling hours are Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 at Chase Parkway
Memorial, 430 Chase Parkway in Waterbury. The funeral will be at St.
Michaels Roman Catholic Church in Waterbury on Friday at 10 AM.
Rooms are available at the Hampton Inn in Waterbury 203-753-1777.
Mention NEMA membership.
The family requests contributions be made in Marilyn’s memory to the
Harold Leever Cancer Center, 1075 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT (www.leevercancercenter.org)
or to NEMA.
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John Blewett, III
1973-2007
NEMA
sends our thoughts and prayers to the
Blewett family, race team, friends and fans.
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Bill Balser photo - from left: Black LaMacchia, Mike Scrivani,
starter Frank Ferrara, Dave Humphrey (in car), Mike Scrivani Jr.
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NEMA Pres
Recalls Hall of Famer Dad
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Asking Mike Scrivani Jr. to come up
with a No. 1 memory of his dad is both unfair and impossible. The
Northeastern Midget Association president has a host of fond memories of
the bigger-than-life character remembered as “Iron Mike.”
It is fair to say there are hundreds of stories about the late Mike
Scrivani who will be inducted into the New England Antique Racers (NEAR)
Hall of Fame Sunday, January 27th at the LaRenaissance Banquet Hall in
East Windsor, CT.
A charter member of NEMA (Jerry Russo drove his car in the club’s
first-ever race at Seekonk on May 30, 1953), Scrivani's auto racing
connections went back to the Sprint Cars of the late 1930s. Although he
was also successful in Modified racing, “his heart was always with the
Midgets and Sprints,” reports Mike Jr.
Based at the legendary “Mike’s Truck Stop” in Wrentham, MA, Scrivani,
who passed away on Feb. 28, 1983, wrote a ton of New England racing,
adding particularly to NEMA’s story. Butch Walsh and Nokie Fornoro won
championships in Scrivani cars. The Scrivani-Fornoro combination remains
one of the most potent combinations in both NEMA and ARDC history.
NEMA has had co-champions just once – 1970 – and the Scrivani operation
played a major role. “The old man didn’t have a steady driver,” Mike Jr.
recalls, and despite sitting in second place in the driver points, Dave
Humphrey (“the old man called him ‘kid’”) didn’t have a ride for the
final event at Thompson Speedway.
Humphrey, Mike Jr. points out, was actually three-for-three in the car,
the former Johnny Thomson-driven MacLeod Curtis Craft/Offy. “They worked
it out and Humphrey showed up at Thompson,” continues Mike Jr. “Back
then,” he continues, “you asked Dave ‘How is it?’ and all he said was
‘OK.’ He would sit on the race car, smoke a cigar and then go out and
race.”
He went out and “stuffed” the car into the sandbank that then bordered
the turns at Thompson. “They pulled him out, started him last and we win
the main,” says Mike Jr. He finished in a tie with Lou Fray for the
championship.
A year earlier at Thompson Gene Bergin drove the car to a memorable win.
“It was co-sanctioned with ARDC,” Mike restarts. “Johnny Coy and Ken
Brenn and all the big guns were there.” Bergin, he says, “haunted my
father, ‘give me a ride in the midget’” and it actually made a
difference. “My father said ‘you want a ride in my car, you have to
speak up.’”
Just out of the hospital (an auto accident), long-time Scrivani
associate, Blackie LaMacchia showed up. “Blackie sees the car,” says
Mike Jr. “I’m there, Gene’s there and he asks ‘how’s the car?’ ‘It feels
good’ Gene said but Blackie says ‘do this, do that’ and we changed it a
little.”
Starting behind the ARDC cars, Bergin won the race, passing Johnny Coy
Sr. with five left heading into one. “What a race that was,” says Mike
Jr., still enjoying it.
Al Herman, Burt Brooks, Ray Burke, Al Pillion, Bill Eldridge, Hank
Williams and Leigh Earnshaw and Coy Sr. also won in the car. Coy’s win
is one of the most memorable in both NEMA and Scrivani family history.
There were two family cars, the upright wrenched by Mike Jr. and a
Badger under the care of long-time family confidant Hop Harrington. It
amounted to a car in each of two warring camps. They came to Stafford,
stockcar ace Geoff Bodine in the Badger and Coy in the upright. Coy
passed Bodine on the last lap to win.
“Hop came unglued,” says Mike Jr. “’You beat the hometown favorite’ he
said and the place would have gone nuts if Bodine had won.” Coy,
however, wanted none of it and Mike Jr. was in the owner’s championship
battle (which he won).
At first, he says, “the old man didn’t care. It was a good race.” Then,
rethinking it, he offers, “he always was an upright guy. He loved the
uprights. He used to call the badgers door wedges. He liked what
happened.”
Drivers Dave Alkas, Dave Darveau, Dick Batchelder and
The late Howie Brown, Fred Luchesi, George Lombardo and Johnny Gammell,
car owner Joe Brady, the multi-talented Dr. Dick Berggren and writer
Pete Zanardi will also be inducted.
Ticket forms for the 11th annual NEAR Hall of Fame banquet will be
available on the New England Antique Racers website
www.near1.com in the near future.
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Fourth NEMA Crown
Best Yet For Seitz |
A student of history, Ben
Seitz rates the 2007 Northeastern Midget Association Drivers
Championship, his fourth straight, as the best. “Well,” he
explains, “nobody has ever done it before.”
The 27-year old admits, four straight “was looming around in the
back of my mind” most of the season. Seitz and car owner Pete
Valeri, powered by an Esslinger/Beast combo, didn’t lay claim to
the championships until the checkered fell on the final event of
the season at Thompson Speedway’s World Series.
They nosed out Joey Payne Jr. and Gene Angelillo in a situation
almost identical to the 2005 battle that went to final checkered
at Waterford Speedbowl. It is the sixth NEMA season for the
Seitz-Valeri team that actually started in Legend Cars.
Valeri, a one-time Legend driver as well, was a major force in
Seitz, a New Jersey native, winning the 2001 New England
championship.
This year’s World Series appearance capped off a sensational
15-race NEMA season. There were eight winners – Randy Cabral (3
wins), Lou Cicconi Jr. (3), Payne (2), rookie Jeremy Frankoski,
Erica Santos, Nokie Fornoro, and Greg Stoehr in addition to Seitz (3).
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High car counts and
an extraordinary rookie class were also factors in what
many believe was among the best year in the club’s
55-year history. “It is one of, if not the toughest open
wheel divisions in the country,” says Seitz. “Check out
the lap times. The last two or three races of the season
there were honestly 12 cars that could win.”
But, most were watching
point leader Payne and Seitz, separated by six points
and starting 12th and 11h at Thompson. After two or
three laps, Payne began to pull away. “There was no
emotion,” says Seitz. “I knew right away my car was not
right (brake problems). I had to slow down.” |
And, there was no emotion
when he went by the broken Payne (“I saw the water blowing out”)
in the backstretch on lap 16. Finishing sixth, more than enough
to secure the championship, “there was a sigh of relief but not
excitement because Joey had had such a bad race. It was only
after five or ten minutes that I stated to absorb what
happened.”
It is not the hardest title he’s won – the 2005 trophy earns
that honor. He won the final race that year, beating Payne on
the track and in the standings. “Joey Payne Jr.,” Seitz insists,
“is the toughest competitor I’ve ever raced against anywhere.”
This one is “the most difficult” because of all the
“off-track stuff. There were a lot more distractions.” An
on-track incident with Nokie Fornoro at Waterford Speedbowl’s
Finale followed by some action of which he is not proud was
troublesome. The statistics are impressive – 11 top fives
including three wins. Over the championships run, he’s won 13
features.
Seitz, who holds an Associates Degree from New Jersey’s Raritan
Community College, says the addition of long-time open cockpit
wrench Dickie Bean was a vital ingredient this year, joining
Valeri, Bucky Gilbert and Jimmy Miraggio on the crew. Mom and
dad (“major influences”), cousin Laurie and girl friend Lauren
are also contributors.
“I’m grateful,” said Seitz, who says “working well with Valeri”
is the cornerstone of the team’s success. “The equipment, a good
team, a great sponsor (Cape Cod Aggregates ) - I am fortunate to
be around that. I know there are a lot of guys that could sit in
the seat I do and come away with the same results. I am indeed
fortunate.”
“In no way” does he put himself in the same group with Dave
Humphrey and Russ Stoehr, the other two
drivers who have won three straight titles. “Russ was champion
my first year in a Midget,” he explains. “Looking back, he was
just an unbelievable racecar driver, so smart, so smooth.”
Valeri and Seitz, the latter moving to Massachusetts’ Cape Cod
in 2001, joined NEMA in ’02, picking Midgets over Modifieds
“because the Midgets ran harder but cleaner. You didn’t have to
rebuilt a car each week.” They came with a Volkswagon-powered
Hawk chassis purchased from the Seymour family.
“Just being around Bobby and Mike definitely shaped me as a
driver,” says Seitz. “I just heard so many stories; picked up so
many tips.”
Switching to a Beast chassis and Gaerte power, Seitz and Valeri
tasted victory at the 2004 opener at Waterford. “That gave us
all confidence that we belonged in the series; that we could
compete every week. We started 12th and came to the front. It
was a career changing win.”
They have, of course, continued. “Peter gets mad at me but
within five minutes of a win I’m looking toward the next race,”
Seitz says. |
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NEMA Banquet for 2007 Season 11-10 HERE
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Thursday December
27, 2007
Royal Plaza Hotel -
Marlboro,
MA
The initial NEMA
Lite Division meet and greet took place in Marlboro, MA on Dec. 27th,
and all parties involved came away excited about the newest NEMA
development. “We had a phenomenal turnout, even on a snowy night!” said
NEMA President Mike Scrivani Jr.
“We’ve had the word
on the series out for only three weeks and it looks like we have
somewhere in the neighborhood of twenty cars already lined up. The
promoters are extremely excited about the prospect of bringing between
forty to fifty winged midgets on any given night to their track. It
could be one of the best things to happen to New
England
midget racing in years,” said long time NEMA supporter and board member
Bobby Seymour. “I get calls daily on the series from folks who were
considering other directions until this came about.”
A lively series of
discussions focused on series goals, infrastructure, basic rules, race
dates, and procedures took place. Series partners Helping Hands of
America and The Race Depot pledged
their support to the car owners who attended this informative first
meeting.
“The
goal of the NEMA Lite division is to provide a competitive yet
affordable midget series that allows racers, both young & old, to
compete at the same short tracks that NEMA has competed at for 54
years,” said series Vice President Tim Bertrand. “The NEMA Lite
division will represent an ideal ‘feeder’ division for NEMA, utilizing
many if not all of the same technical rules, assisting NEMA in retaining
its position as the top midget touring series in the Country. Every
promoter that we have talked to has been ecstatic about the new addition
to the NEMA family,” stated Bertrand.
Stay tuned for
continuing updates on this exciting new winged Midget division powered
by Ford Focus and Oldsmobile Quad 4 engines.
>> See the
Classifieds for
a Lite for Sale |
NEMA
Establishes New “Lite” Series
Coming off a sensational 2007 season, the Northeastern Midget
Association has decided to “invest in the future” with the “NEMA Lite
Series.” The series, approved by the NEMA Contest Board, is gaining
momentum.
Called a “feeder class” by NEMA Vice President Tim Bertrand, the series
is designed to introduce new competitors to winged midgets “in very low
cost, less powerful cars.” Competitors can use any chassis that
currently meets NEMA specifications but engines will be limited to Ford
Focus and Oldsmobile Quad4. All the cars will have starters.
Plans are for the “Lites” to run in conjunction with regular short track
NEMA events. Bertrand said, “NEMA is putting in place incentives for
tracks to run the Lite Series cars. We are aware of the time factors and
economics involved. We have to make it attractive for them. We believe
we have done that.”
Bertrand says as many 20 teams have expressed intentions to compete.
“Most are Focus and Quad4 owners who can’t afford Esslinger and Gaerte
motors and are looking for a way to go,” he says. “We are talking about
$8-to $10,000 cars in this series. The equipment is definitely available
out there.”
The plan allows for competitors, when they are ready, to “move up” to
the fulltime NEMA status with more powerful (and more expensive) motors.
Bertrand admits “a lot of sportsman type divisions are popping up all
over the country” claiming potential NEMA competitors. “Other divisions
were the only thing they could afford,” he says. “This is an effective
plan to keep them in winged Midgets.”
A number of “established” Midget regulars including Steve Grant and
former champions Bobby Seymour and Butch Walsh will be consultants for
the new series. |
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Frankoski Leads
Strong NEMA Rookie Group
by Pete Zanardi
Growing up, Jeremy
Frankoski’s dad insisted he play different sports. He played baseball,
some hockey and actually captained his high school hockey team.
“All I wanted to do was race,” says Frankoski, the Northeastern Midget
Association’s leading rookie heading into Seekonk Speedways DAV
Memorial. “My father was worried as I grew up my passion would change so
I played other sports.”
Still, the “worst part of each year was putting up the car. I dreaded
it. I hated it. Hockey was a way to pass the winter,” says Frankoski, a
defenseman who had his share of penalty minutes. There is no longer any
doubt about his passion.
Part of an impressive group of Rookies, the 21-year old Frankoski has
been racing since age nine, moving through NYSMA Microds, Tobias
Slingshots and Mini Sprints. Some years, he says, the season was only 10
or 15 races, making his 40-plus wins and two championships even more
impressive.
In addition to Frankoski, who drives the Marine Engine-sponsored Power
Point Race Cars #99, the rookie list includes Chris Leonard in the
family owned Hawk Autocraft #22, John Zych Jr. in the
family owned Hawk #9; Aaron Wall in the
Seymour
#29 and 17-year old Bobby Kuiken, the latter in the family-owned
Stealth-Fontana.
Leonard at 16 is the youngest of the rookes and holds several karting
championships.
Zych, 24, has won two of his last three heats. He’s on asphalt for the
first time. Kuiken comes from eight years in go karts. His best was a
sixth at Epping,
NH. Wall, a Focus product, was fourth at
Waterford.
“An outstanding rookie class,”
understates NEMA President Mike Scrivani.
The Rookie prize would top a Frankoski resume that includes “an awesome”
victory at Beech Ridge earlier this year. Starting on the pole, he
recalls working hard to “keep calm.” Only two other rookies have won a
feature in NEMA’s long history.
Frankoski finished second in the All-American Driver Challenge in
February – a program that whittled down 75 drivers to 10 and then to a
single winner. “There was lots of exposure, lots of encouragement and it
helped me land the deal with Power Point Racing,” he says of racing in
front of evaluators like John Andretti, Bob East and Rick Benjamin.
On the asphalt for the first time in a decade, it’s been a major
transition. “It’s been more than I expected,” says Frankoski, who holds
an associate degree from Brome Tech in
New York. “You say, ‘yeah, I can run with these
guys’ then you get into it and you find out what it takes to run out
front consistently; what it take to win.”
Everybody agrees NEMA is “one of the toughest clubs out there.” But,
says Frankoski “there is a huge amount of help available. I came here
like a huge sponge. I tired to learn as much as I could. I’m out of my
league and I’m there to listen.”
Everybody, he says, is ready to talk, “especially the veterans-Joey
Payne, Nokie Fornoro, the Bertrand drivers, Lou Cicconi Jr. and Randy
Cabral. Any problems you have you can go to these guys and that has been
a huge part of the success we’ve had this year.”
Frankoski comes to Seekonk off a hard earned 13th. Losing a motor in
practice at Waterford’s Finale, they
packed up and headed for Circle Performance in
Massachusetts
where John Andruk had just completed the team’s second motor. “John gave
us the key to the shop and we were there till 9:30 at night,” Frankoski
says. “It was 11:30 when we got back to the track that we had something
to eat.”
Without the heat, he started the feature in 29th. “I can't complain a lot
about that,” Frankoski summed up. |
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Driver Spotlight Page
by Todd Baptista
now featuring
NEMA
ACE RANDY CABRAL
"Hard-charging Plymouth, MA
native Randy Cabral is unquestionably one of the most exciting
and popular drivers in New England’s open wheel ranks today,
having emerged as a threat to win each time he takes to the
track in the Bertrand Motorsports #47 Northeastern Midget
Association ride. At 28, the second-generation star can boast
five years of top three finishes in the NEMA championship
standings. Those who know and respect Randy, however, know that
boasting isn’t a part of his makeup. A sense of pride in his
accomplishments, a dedication to his craft and team, and a
sincere appreciation for his backers, family, crew members, and
supporters are key elements to Cabral’s composition, and have a
lot to do with the degree of success and respect he’s earned.
Randy’s uncle, Alan Cabral was the first member of the clan to
compete, running a VW at Norwood Arena. His dad, Glen, served as
a crew member on Bob Cadarette’s Mini-Modified Volkswagen in the
early 1970s and eventually decided to try his luck in Norwood’s
Hobby class in 1972. After Norwood closed its doors, Glen built
a 1965 Mustang Late Model which he rode to a second place points
finish at Lakeville Speedway."
Full Page HERE |
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Jon Seaman Moving
Ahead to NEMA Midgets
Jon Seaman, after a brief and successful career in the USAC Ford Focus
Midget Series, Jon Seaman Jr. has decided to move his career on to the
next stage.
“The NEMA car is almost ready, reported Seaman. “It’s time to move on to
another challenge. We’d like to make the race at Waterford, but we’re
not going to bring the car out until it’s ready so we may wait until the
end of the month.”
The decision was not easy to make, according to the engineering student.
“The Ford Focus series is a great way to start racing open wheelers, we
just decided it was time to take on a new challenge.
“I’m excited to run in the NEMA series,” he adds. “I’m looking forward
to having double the horsepower and learning to run with a wing.”
Seaman’s most recent race, Saturday at Waterford Speedbowl was a
challenge for the driver and his team. “This was the weekend that showed
how good our team is,” he commented. Following a crash in practice, the
team had to replace a broken shock absorber, the front axle and ensure
that the car was aligned properly, all in only twenty minutes, so that
Seaman could make the heat race to earn a starting berth in the feature.
“It was good. Everyone in the team was on it,” he added, praising the
team.
“By the feature, the car was one of the fastest cars out there. We
started seventh in the feature and made it up to fourth,” he reported,
adding that he just couldn’t get a good run on the third-place car, in
spite of having a quicker car.
Seaman is being helped in his career by training from Future Stars in
Racing Academy. The Academy helps prepare young drivers for success
outside the car in public speaking; sponsor presentations; working with
the media and behavior on and off the track. Future Stars in Racing is
the exclusive driver development partner with the ASA Late Model Series.
Marketing partners include Safety-Kleen, Awesome Racewear and Sunbelt
Web Solutions. |
NEMA To Celebrate Two
of Its Finest at Seekonk This Sat. 5/19 on
National Midget “Driver of the Year” Night;
Abby Martino on the Mend
Manchester, CT (May 14, 2007): The long-awaited second event of the 2007
season for the Northeastern Midget Association has finally arrived. This
weekend, the NEMA Midgets head to the Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, MA,
with added zeal. On Saturday, May 19, the
25-lap NEMA feature event will honor two of NEMA’s finest, Stu Murray of
Wirtgen America and Mike Jarret of Helping Hands of America. The two men
spearhead the companies that proudly serve as the Northeastern Midget
Association’s title sponsors.
“An exciting race at Seekonk Speedway is the best way for us to show how
much we appreciate their support and friendship,” said NEMA President
Mike Scrivani.
With a rich history that includes exciting finishes and fierce
competition, the Seekonk Speedway is the ideal venue for such an
important race for the NEMA competitors and fans.
Stu Murray and Mike Jarret have been instrumental in the recent and
ongoing success of the Northeastern Midget Association. Both have
provided financial support of the Club, to individual teams, and to
individual races. Purse increases, additional activities and events,
enhanced promotional opportunities and added exposure over the last
several years can be attributed to their contributions.
With encouragement of these two very active sponsors, NEMA has
experienced an influx of talented young drivers, embraced new technology
and witnessed increased levels of competition while maintaining the
dynamics of a competitor-driven governing body. The result is more
marketability and additional exposure.
Their Series sponsorship tells only half the story. Mike Jarret and Stu
Murray share a genuine interest in the well being of the Club and its
members.
With his hands on approach, Jarret is a fixture at each and every race.
As a cheerleader, motivator, administrator or salesman, Jarrett is a
driving force with the every day, behind- the-scenes running of the
Northeastern Midget Association.
Stu Murray has played integral role in attracting up and coming
drivers to midget racing, most notably the NEMA Midgets. The support of
Stu Murray and Wirtgen America adds credence to NEMA. As a long-time
supporter of “big time” racing he has become known for his uncanny
ability to recognize talent. By association with Wirtgen America, the
racing community and the media pay attention to the quality of the
drivers and the competition at NEMA.
“Without people like Mike (Jarret) and Stu (Murray) -- NEMA would
simply not be what it is today,” said car owner Tim Bertrand. “Their
investment in our series has led to more professional competitors and a
more professional series on the whole. The tracks take notice, the fans
take notice, and NEMA appreciates their assistance in an extraordinary
way.”
Wirtgen America, the world leader in asphalt recycling and base
stabilization equipment, has served as the Series sponsor since 2003.
The company’s marketing strategy has utilized motorsports successfully
for nearly 20 years traditionally in the open-wheel ranks including
associations with Mark Kinser and Danny Lasoski in the World of Outlaws.
Wirtgen America, Inc., headquartered in Nashville, TN, is the world’s
largest manufacturer of pavement milling machines; offering a full line
of asphalt and concrete milling machines/profilers, hot and cold
recyclers, and mixers for the pavement recycling and reconstruction
industries. Wirtgen America products are available through a network of
representatives and dealers throughout North America.
The Helping Hands of America Foundation is a private corporation that
solicits tangible goods (autos, trucks, boats, etc.) for donation with
portions of all liquidation proceeds directly benefiting the associated
charities including the Lupus Foundation of Massachusetts, Sacred Heart
Community Missions, the Association of Blind Citizens and the
Massachusetts Chapter of the A.L.S. Association.
Helping Hands of America, through a personal investment by founding
partner Mike Jarret of Bellingham, MA, began their support during the
2004 season.
As always, Jarret will be on hand for the celebration while Stu and
Connie Murray will travel from his home in Tennessee to be part of the
festivities.
“NEMA would not be where it is without (Stu) and (Mike) and I am very
thankful that they have come and stayed aboard with us throughout the
years,” said driver Shane Hammond. “What better place than Seekonk to
dedicate a race to two great sponsors. It would be a great honor to take
down a victory at this race.”
All of the drivers share the sentiment
of fellow competitor Hammond but none more than Nokie Fornoro and Aaron
Wall. Fornoro, the winning-most driver at Seekonk and a two-time winner
in 2006, will pilot the beautifully prepared #4 owned by Jarret. Rookie
Aaron Wall will be behind the wheel of the Wirtgen-sponsored #29 for
Bobby Seymour. After his strong performance in his NEMA debut at
Waterford and with many laps under his belt at Seekonk in a Focus
Midget, a top finish is not out of the question for the Wirtgen America
driver.
Saturday night’s race at Seekonk is also one of five National Midget
“Driver of the Year” promotional nights to be held at various tracks
around the country. The awards group will be adding a minimum of $300
cash along with product certificates to the purse.
NEMA Rookie Abby Martino will be missing
from the field as she continues to mend after her devastating wreck in
the season opener at Waterford.
“The doctor told me that at this point if everything is still healing
well I may go to using only one crutch,” said Martino. “So it looks as
if I have at least another 5-6 weeks using the crutches and then
probably a few weeks walking with the brace after that but we will have
to see!”
The racing community eagerly awaits this young ladies return to NEMA
competition. |
Seekonk
Speedway Announces NEMA Open Wheel Action
by Todd Baptista |
Seekonk Speedway announced today that the
Northeastern Midget Association will return to the 1/3-mile Bay State oval for four points
events in 2007. The open wheel aces will make their first appearance of the season on
Saturday night, May 19, joining the track’s weekly Pro Stock, Late Model, Sport
Truck, and Street Stock divisions on the bill. The race will be the second of 15 points
events on this season’s NEMA calendar.
The midgets will also return on Wednesday, July 18, as part of the third annual Open Wheel
Wednesday event, highlighted by a 100-lap $10,000 to win Modified Madness open competition
race. The crown jewel in the Northeastern Midget Association schedule, the Boston Louie
Seymour Memorial Classic, honoring the memory of Louie Seymour (1927-1996) of Marlboro,
MA, will take place at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday, August 25. Seymour, “the man who
towed a million miles”, spent almost a quarter of a century competing in open-wheel
racing, traveling across the country with Midgets, Sprint Cars, and Silver Crown Cars. The
fourth and final NEMA visit of the season will coincide with the season-ending D. Anthony
Venditti Memorial Festival of Racing on Saturday and Sunday, October 6 and 7.
The Cement Palace and the mighty midgets share a storied history that goes all the way
back to the glory days of local short track racing. The then-quarter mile oval hosted
nothing but midgets on the weekly racing program from 1946 through 1948. NEMA, the
sanctioning body for the touring open wheel stars, held its first ever event at Seekonk on
Memorial Day weekend in 1953. Today, the cars sport wings atop the roll cages for added
speed and agility, and are safer than ever before.
Plymouth, MA’s Randy Cabral and Bobby Santos III of Marlboro, MA captured the May and
October NEMA events at Seekonk in 2006, while Stroudsburg, PA veteran Noki Fornoro wheeled
Mike Jarret’s machine to Victory Lane in July and August, bringing his Seekonk career
win total to eight. Defending NEMA champion Ben Seitz of Monument Beach, MA also has two
career wins at the Action Track of the East and is expected to be among the front-runners.
For more information, please visit online at www.seekonkspeedway.com. |
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The NEMA Booth at
www.SpeedwayEXPO.com
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Club President Mike Scrivani
took a turn in the dunk tank
The Anger Management Charity Event at SpeedwayEXPO.
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"Midget Racer Having Fun on Track"
Shane Hammond at
Boston.com |
SAD NEWS...
Fred
Meeker, the winner of the very first NEMA race, has passed away at age
eighty. |
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WELCOME TO...
Benjamin Harold O'Brien
Sue O'Brien gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby boy March 14th,
2007 at
1:02 PM.
He weighs 8lbs. 11oz. and is 19 1/2 inches long.
Congratulations Sue and Matt!
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