Bill Roberts Named NEMA Race Director
Bill Roberts will become the Northeastern Midget Association’s Race Director when the 2009 season begins May 23 at Monadnock Speedway. NEMA president Mike Scrivani Jr. announced the appointment.
NEMA, which has 17 races on the ’09 schedule, will “introduce” Roberts at the SpeedwayExpo Feb. 27-Mar. 1 at Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA.
Race Director was one of the roles Roberts had over the past two dozen seasons at Waterford Speedbowl. He has been a fan since growing up watching the Midgets at Hickory Speedway in New Castle, PA.
“Bill will be working with the personnel at the tracks we visit and will have a big role in running our races,” said Scrivani. “He comes to us with a great reputation of handling people and situations.”
Scrivani said NEMA “went without a race director for a while and we suffered. We stretched ourselves a little too thin during the races. Billy in the booth and me in infield improves that situation.”
“Over the years I’ve gotten to know a lot of the folks in NEMA and I look forward to meeting many more,” said Roberts, a one-time flagger. “NEMA is growing. It is a very exciting division, making many new fans. Everybody wants that to continue.”
Scrivani said that NEMA, which will have a number of cars on hand, will be part of SpeedwayExpo’s salute to Riverside Park. Bobby and Mike Seymour, each two-time NEMA winners at “The Park” will be signing autographs.
Between 1966 and 1989 (the final season), NEMA ran 15 events at Riverside. Keith Botelho, in the Campanale car, won the last NEMA race at the Park on June 14, 1989. Ray Roberts won the first on May 30, 1966.
The 2009 NEMA Yearbook will also be on sale at SpeedwayExpo.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR