Angelillo Memorial Next for NEMA
Brockton, MA — Points will be a priority when the Northeastern Midget Association comes to Waterford Speedway Saturday night, Sept. 11 for the second annual Gene and Marilyn Angelillo Memorial race.
The race honors a dynamic couple that, over three decades, brought major changes to NEMA. Gene and Marilyn made countless contributions both as car owners and officers.
The NEMA Lites are also on the busy agenda. The event follows last year’s Marilyn’s Passion event at Monadnock Speedway.
Leaders Randy Cabral and owner Tim Bertrand bring a 33-point lead over Russ Stoehr and the Dumo’s Desire team. The latter has been run by daughter Laura Kibbe since Gene Angelillo’s death in March of this year.
In the battle for third, Chris deRitis, the winner at Waterford’s Wings & Wheels three weeks ago, leads Greg Stoehr, last year’s Marilyn’s Passion winner, by 26 points. The deRitis 75 is housed at the Bertrand garage.
Boston Louie winner Jeff Abold will return to the family #29 for the Angelillo race. Joey Payne Jr. takes over the Seymour #4 that prevailed at Seekonk.
Including deRitis and Leonard, who captured the season-opener, there could be as many as nine Waterford/NEMA winners in the field. The list also includes Cabral (who has eight wins), Russ and Greg Stoehr, Adam Cantor, Jim Miller and Barry Kittredge.
“There are few secrets left at Waterford,” offers Russ Stoehr, a winner there last year. “It has the perfect geography,” Bobby Seymour says of the three-eighths oval considered by many to be the Northeast’s premier Midget track. deRitis’ turned a 12.977 seconds (104.030 mph) lap at Wings & Wheels.
Aaron Wall, coming off a strong effort at “The Louie,” and Mike Horn are looking to join the list of drivers who scored their first NEMA win at Waterford. Other contenders include Keith Botehlo, driving a Stoehr-owned car, local favorite Erica Santos and John Zych Jr.
The Seymour family will be looking for another sweep. “Louie” winner Anthony Nocella will be after a second straight Lites win. Nocella also won the season opener at Waterford.
Double Duty Cabral is another Lites hopeful in a field that includes brother Todd, Andy Barrows, Landon Fornoro, Jim Santamaria, Bethany Viets, Carl Medeiros Jr., Paul Luggelle, Eddie LeClerc Jr. and Russ Wood Jr.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR