“Lites” Division Big Part Of NEMA’s ’08 Success
Springfield, MA — Throughout the summer, interest in the Northeastern Midget Association’s “Lite” division picked up. It was the first season for the developmental division but definitely not the last according to club President Mike Scrivani Jr.
Featuring much less expensive machinery, the Lites (powered by Focus or Quad 4 engines) ran in conjunction with the “full” midgets on eight occasions. They definitely contributed to NEMA’s strong year.
The Lites season will be celebrated along with the ’08 NEMA campaign t the club’s annual banquet Saturday night, Nov. 22 at White of Westport in Westport, MA.
“We gained a little each time they ran,” said Scrivani. “We ended the season at Twin State and there were a lot of people from other divisions talking to me about the cars. I think it was a real good start. There were a lot of promising things.”
The Lites ran at Waterford, Seekonk, Lee and Beech Ridge in addition to Twin State. They are all “traditionally sized” Midget tracks.
The division was designed to capture young racers before they “go romping off” in some fendered division. Jesse State, Shaun Torrey, Shaun Gosselin, Matt Bettencourt, Jake Stergios and Todd Bertrand were winners. Anthony Marvuglio, Russ Wood Jr., Stephanie Doty and J.C. Stergios were also impressive.
“I think we have also saw the development of some outstanding mechanics,” said Scrivani, NEMA president since 2003.
One or two of them could move up to the full midgets next year. Equally important, Scrivani believes the division will grow by six-to-eight cars next year. “Promoters just love that,” he says. “There’s the prospect of 35-to-40 Midgets coming to a track.”
While 2008 was “just about seat time,” Scrivani plans on providing “some more incentives” for next year starting with a sponsor-driven point fund. He also said the club will do a lot more in “teaching the kids the right way to do things” next season.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR