Keeler, TSR #63 Combo Eyeing NEMA Success
Brockton, MA — Mike Keeler refuses to pick a favorite. The Danbury, CT racer has driven everything from Quarter Midgets to Dirt Modifieds. He cannot deny, however, statistically he fits best in a Midget.
Since joining John Seaman’s TSR #63 team in July of 2008, Keeler has posted seven top-10 finishes in eight Northeastern Midget Association starts. He’ll take a second place in NEMA’s ’09 opener at Monadnock into the Friday night, June 26 event at Lee USA Speedway.
“I’m definitely fond of Lee,” says Keeler who has driven a True Value Modified and Supermodified as well as a Midget there. Being one of the fastest cars at Monadnock – “I finally felt comfortable there”- was a major boost.
Keeler needed some late heroics to beat Aaron and William Wall at Monadnock. Adam Cantor and John Zych Jr. also got off to impressive starts as they join veterans Nokie Fornoro and Russ and Greg Stoehr as contenders to dethrone champion Randy Cabral and Tim Bertrand. NASCAR Sprint Cup star Ryan Newman, in a second Bertrand car, will be the Lee headliner.
“A victory is definitely in our future,” predicts Keeler. Although he “expects to make all the NEMA events” he says the team “does not talk about points. Jon wants us to have a good time but that starts with good finishes. Getting a lot of points in not a bad thing.”
Keeler will also campaign a pair of ISMA Supermodifieds in ’09. He’s looking forward to dates at Stafford Speedway (July 7), Waterford Speedbowl (Aug. 15) and Thompson Speedway (Oct. 18) when NEMA and ISMA are both on the agenda.
“I love twitchy race cars and the Midgets are twitchy,” Keeler offers. “I love the movement. You can kind of throw a Midget around. I absolutely love going through traffic in a Midget.”
Driving his own car, he won at Waterford in 2006. In his third race with TSR he was second there last August. Keeler’s first NEMA podium finish was a second at Star Speedway in 2005.
Although the Southbury-based TSR operation is only minutes away, Keeler leaves maintaining the #63 to Seaman. “He enjoys tinkering,” says Keeler, pointing out “the car is always ready off the trailer. Jon runs a good team.”
The #63 wound up ninth in owner points last year, Jeremy Frankoski collecting five top-eights before leaving.
The only finish outside of the top-10 for TSR came at Beech Ridge in Maine. Keeler was leading the feature when the fuel pump drive system failed.
Keeler operates MKM Property Management LLC in Danbury. It stands for Mike Keeler Motorsports.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR