Russ Stoehr Eyes Historic NEMA Win at Stafford
Brockton, MA — Russ Stoehr heads to Stafford Motor Speedway’s Carquest Extreme Tuesday aiming to take over third on the Northeastern Midget Association’s all-time win list. Last Sunday’s victory at Thunder Road was the 45th career win for Stoehr, putting him in a tie for third with Nokie Fornoro.
Two-for-two in 2011, defending champions Stoehr and the Dumo’s Desire team take plenty of momentum to a facility he has yet to win at. Thunder Road was the 12th track Stoehr has conquered going back to his initial win with owner Bruce Bean at Star Speedway on June 20, 1987.
A third straight win will put Stoehr in some lofty company as well. Since 1981, three straight has been accomplished only five times, the last time by Randy Cabral in 2008.
Cabral, flirting with history himself, may be the only driver in the field with a victory on the famed half-mile. Cabral, a winner at last year’s Extreme Tuesday, sits sixth on the all-time win list with 30, three behind Billy Eldridge. The next win for the driver of the Bertrand #47 will mark the 12th consecutive season he has at least one victory, a standard second only to Dave Humphrey’s 16.
Stafford, part of NEMA since 1953, is one of the toughest tests for the midgets. Speeds are well in excess of 115. Cabral’s 17.8 was the fastest lap a year ago.
Trouble with lapped traffic cost veteran Jim Miller last season at Stafford. He’ll be back looking for some revenge. Mike Horn, coming off a strong effort at Thunder Road, is part of the contender list as well. Horn would love to join his dad Jeff on the long Stafford/NEMA win list.
Greg Stoehr, second at Thunder Road, John Zych Jr., Jeremy Frankoski, Keith Botelho, Jim Miller and Chris Leonard are threats as well.
Stafford is no stranger to NEMA history. Jerry Wall’s win in the revolutionary “yellow jacket” on June 5, 1971 and Erica Santos becoming the club’s first female winner on July 10, 2007 are NEMA milestones at Stafford.
Drew Fornoro (85) and Dave Humphrey (73) are one-two on the NEMA win list.
The tracks Russ Stoehr has won at are Beech Ridge, Flemington, Fonda, Hudson, Lee, Star, Monadnock, Oswego, Oxford, Seekonk, Thompson and Waterford.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR