Keeler, NEMA Head Back To Monadnock
The Mike Keeler’s “deal” with John Seamon’s TSR Motorsports started a month ago at Monadnock Speedway.
Coming off an impressive run at Waterford Speedbowl, Keeler sees himself among “the contenders” when the Northeastern Midget Association returns to the tricky third-mile Saturday night. It will be NEMA’s third Monadnock visit of the year.
Five-time winner and point leader Randy Cabral leads NEMA to Monadnock. Other winners this year include Bobby Santos III, Joey Payne, Jeff Abold and Greg Stoehr.
Keeler definitely has his sights set on joining the list. He says things have “gotten better and better” since finishing sixth at Monadnock on July 26 in Seamon’s Gaerte-powered Stealth.
Keeler has been testing Seamon’s new Esslinger-Beast and doesn’t know what car the team will take to Monadnock. Either way, he’s optimistic.
“It’s different,” says Keeler of Monadnock. “My first time there I was in a True Value Modified. The last time I think I learned a lot and I have that to fall back on. The car is definitely capable.”
A heat win and a second (behind Cabral) at the Speedbowl’s “Wings & Wheels” is another reason for optimism for both the team. Keeler lost the lead to Cabral on the only restart and then “concentrated on getting second rather than smoking my tires.”
Starting back in the early 1990s in quarter midgets, Keeler has tried a variety of divisions. Currently campaigning his own Supermodfied, his resume includes a NEMA win at the Speedbowl in ’06. “I don’t feel I belong in anything,” he explains. “I feel I belong in everything.”
The #63 Midget, however, is priority one. The team, which includes car chief Joe Fiore and crew chief Steve Mikush, “is the best I’ve been with,” Keeler says. “John doesn’t spare a thing.”
“Mike’s a pro,” says Seamon. “He can tell you what’s wrong with the car and that’s important. I got lots of calls when the ride became available but I called Mike.”
Seamon’s racing experience goes back to “sneaking into Plainville Stadium as a 15-year old.” He had cars at Danbury Race Arena then took time off “to build my business before returning to the Go Karts with son John Jr.” He moved from Go Karts to Focus Midgets and then to NEMA with John Jr., the latter an engineering student at Rochester Institute of Technology and still a member of the team.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR