Bobby Seymour Praises NEMA’s Young Drivers
Over the winter of 2000-01, Bobby Seymour was at the forefront of an effort to make the Northeastern Midget Association “more friendly” to younger drivers. The minimum age for drivers was lowered considerably.
“It was a must,” says Seymour, “one of those things that had to be done.” Young drivers, he says, had “a lot of different avenues” coming out of go-karts and NEMA was not one of them. We had to change or lose them.”
Bobby Santos III and Adam Cantor are products of that move.
The list continues with teenagers William Wall, the 2008 Rookie of the Year, and Jeff Abold, 20, a winner last year at Seekonk in the Seymour #29. “Actually, there are great young drivers all over the place,” insists Seymour, adding “there are three or four ready to move up from NEMA Lites.”
The Lites produced several candidates including Jake and P.J. Stergios, Anthony Marvuglio, Todd Bertrand and Jesse State. Aaron Wall is another hopeful. “Economics is a factor right now,” Seymour says, “but they’re ready.”
The 58th NEMA season opens Saturday night May 23 at Monadnock Speedway, the first of 17 dates on seven tracks. The NEMA Lites second season begins Friday night, June 5 at Seekonk Speedway, the first of 14 events. Seymour predicts an average field of 15-to-16 cars for the Lites this summer.
Veterans – defending champ Randy Cabral, Greg and Russ Stoehr, Nokie Fornoro, Erica Santos, Doug Cleveland – are still the lifeblood of NEMA. The club, however, continues to make room for youth and the combination, suggests Seymour, “makes NEMA as good as any regional series in the country” with at least 10-potential winners every race.
Wall, who finished seventh in points last season, plans on a full-time ’09 assault in the family-owned #5. Last season was the first time on asphalt for the Whip City Speedway product who had three top fives. Abold will be very busy as well, his dance card including not only NEMA but ISMA and some USAC Midget dates. The second-generation driver had three podium finishes – all at Seekonk.
Seymour remains a big supporter of the program, and hopes for more recognition for the Lites in ’09. “My kids run Little T (Thompson) so I’m there a lot,” he says. “I watch these kids 13, 14, 15 and marvel at what they’re capable of. They are very good.”
Abold and Wall came to NEMA with plenty of experience in Quarter Midgets and Go Karts.
“When you asked the young kids ‘where are you going to race next?’ you would hear everything but midgets.” The cost of motors and tires made the move to NEMA very difficult if not impossible. The Lites, using Ford Focus or Oldsmobile Quad 4 engines, take aim at reducing those costs.
HERE AND THERE: Bobby Seymour was 21 when he drove a Midget for the first time. Brother Mike was 23. For many years, drivers didn’t get into Midgets until their late teens and early 20s and that includes the greats…There has been at least one “first time” winner in NEMA every year since 2001. The list includes Ryan Dolan, Kyle Carpenter, Bobby Santos, Adam Cantor and Chris Abold. Although they were teenagers when they did it, they came to NEMA with a lot of Quarter Midget and Go Kart experience…
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR