NEMA’s Erica Santos “Wants to Win Races”
Brockton, MA — Don’t ask Northeastern Midget Association competitor Erica Santos about championships. Heading into NEMA’s 2009 opener May 23 at Monadnock Speedway, the 26-year old has only one thing in mind.
“I really want to win races,” says Santos who plans a full season in Ed Breault’s No. 44. “I don’t care about points. One of the reasons is I don’t want to be known as a driver who won only one race.” She scored a much-publicized win at Stafford Motor Speedway in 2006, becoming the club’s first (and still only) female winner.
Erica and brother Bobby III are part of one of New England’s premier racing families. Although Santos’ father and brother will be racing elsewhere they will be “involved in setting up” the Breault car. Erica actually followed her brother into NEMA and has been a contender since joining Breault in ’06.
Breault, a one-time competitor, says getting another win for Santos is “high priority.”
About to begin her 19th year as a racer, the one-time quarter midget competitor says last season was “a little disappointing.” The team started strong and then ran into some mechanical woes late in the season. Santos and Breault wound up sixth in driver and owner standings respectively. She had three podium finishes (including a second at Waterford) and eight top fives (including one at Monadnock).
Santos, a registered nurse, is among NEMA’s top headliners, sharing billing with the likes of defending champion Randy Cabral and veterans Nokie Fornoro, Greg Stoehr, Adam Cantor and Doug Cleveland and youngsters John Zych Jr. and Jeff Abold. Russ Stoehr, who returns to the Gene Angelillo #45, is her pick as the driver to beat.
Stafford and Waterford are her favorite tracks. “There’s lots of room at Waterford and lots of passing,” she says. Monadnock has been tough but she’s been gaining on it and says the last run there was her best yet.
“NEMA gets tougher and more competitive every year because there is so much good equipment around,” says Santos.
Santos is also driving an SK-Light on Friday nights at Stafford this season.
NEMA NUGGETS: How times flies! There have been 27 NEMA races since Erica Santos won at Stafford on July 10, 2007…Last year’s championship car – the Bertrand #47- continues a trend. The last even-number to win the NEMA owner championship was the #26 of Bruce and Ann Beane (driven by Russ Stoher) way back in 1997. Before that it was the Tapply #8 driven by Mike Seymour in 1994. Tapply won again in ’95 but with the No. 1. Since 1998, the Angelillo #45 won seven titles and the Valeri #17 three…More on Linda and Doug Cleveland: Their first date was a World of Outlaws event at Lebanon Valley. Doug also remembers telling his future wife that if she wanted to meet any of his NEMA buddies at the track she’d have to do it herself because he would be too busy. She’s done a great job.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR