Ryan Newman Highlights NEMA Field at Lee
Brockton, MA – Looking to add another track to its list of “solved” venues, Bertrand Motorsports will “double team” Lee USA Speedway Friday night, June 26. NASCAR Sprint Cup regular Ryan Newman and defending champion Randy Cabral will be in Bertrand equipment in the 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association feature.
Cabral comes to the challenging third-mile off a victory in NEMA’s season opener at Monadnock Speedway a month ago. “That was our first win there and we want to continue to add tracks to the list,” said team owner Tim Bertrand.
Gene Angelillo, an eight-time Lee USA winner, heads up a group with equally committed goals. Angelillo’s car was a crash victim at Monadnock. He and driver Russ Stoehr will be coming to Lee with a new East chassis. Stoehr has won twice at Lee, both times back in 1991.
The NEMA Lites will be at Lee as well.
The 2008 Daytona 500 winner, Newman brings impressive open-cockpit credentials to the Bertrand #39. Among his 17 USAC victories is a Night before the 500 checkered. Currently driving for the Stewart-Hass team, the popular Newman is the only driver to have won Rookie of the Year honors in USAC Midgets, Sprints and Silver Crown cars.
After a number of changes suggested by Newman over the past couple of weeks via phone discussions with Bertrand, the #39, tested by Ryan Preece at Stafford Speedway this past Friday was “very impressive” according to Bertrand. Newman, a Purdue University grad, is “anxiously awaiting another opportunity to drive a Midget” said Bertrand.
While the attention may be magnified, Angelillo points out “a lot of other teams have something to prove” and predicts another great race on what has become one of the most challenging tracks on the NEMA schedule. It will be the 25th NEMA event at Lee going back to 1966.
Second at Monadnock, Mike Keeler admits to “a fondness” for Lee. He aims to give the constantly improving TSR Motorsports operation its first NEMA win. Wall Motorsports will double-team the opposition as well, brothers William and Aaron collecting a third and fourth at Monadnock. Adam Cantor, who came from last to fifth in a damaged racer at Monadnock, is another threat.
Youngster Jeff Abold is expected to be in the Seymour car, part of a field that will include established NEMA standouts Nokie Fornoro, Erica Santos, Greg Stoehr, John Zych Jr. and Doug Cleveland.
Cabral was second in NEMA’s only visit to Lee last season and is ready for the challenge as well, stating that the team has been busy installing a fresh engine for the occasion and making significant chassis changes from their Monadnock setup. He hopes to duplicate last year’s start when he won the first two events on the schedule.
NEMA Winners at Lee USA Speedway
First: Walt Gale, 1966; Last: Bobby Santos III, 2008.
No. Driver First Last
6 Drew Fornoro 1985 1990
3 Jeff Horn 1987 1994
2 Nokie Fornoro 1986 1989
2 Dave Humphrey 1967 1985
2 Russ Stoehr 1991 1991
One-time Lee USA Speedway winners: Joey Coy (1991), Mike Favulli (1988), Walt Gale (1966), Mike Osite (1987), Joey Payne Jr. (2003), Bob Resco Jr. (1994), Bobby Santos III (2008), Ben Seitz (2004), Bobby Seymour (1990).
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR