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), Lou Cicconi Jr. (3), Payne (2), rookie Jeremy Frankoski, Erica Santos and Greg Stoehr in addition to Seitz (3).
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 Volkwagon-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.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR