Jeff Horn NEMA’s Seventh Winner
Lee, NH — Jeff Horn became the Northeastern Midget Association’s seventh winner Friday night at Lee USA Speedway. Horn had the lead by lap five, lost it briefly to Jeff Abold and then got it back when the latter broke.
“I’m glad to have won,” said the 64-year old Horn following his 20th career NEMA victory. “It is satisfying especially when you are so damn old.”
Paul Luggelle led from start to finish and recorded his first-ever win in the 20-lap NEMA Lites feature.
Starting third, Horn took the lead from Abby Martino (Martino 21) on a restart. He lost it to Abold on a lap 13 restart. Three laps later, on the final restart Abold slowed in the backstretch, the victim of a broken rocker arm.
Russ Stoehr (Angelillo 45), whose crew changed motors following a practice session, finished second followed by Adam Cantor (Cantor 7ny), Nokie Fornoro (Jarret 4) and current point leader Randy Cabral (Bertrand 7).
“Abold was a rocket ship,” said Horn, “and I had nothing for him. “When he went by I said to myself ‘the best I can do is second unless something happens to his car (Seymour 29).’ Then I see him slowing and I said ‘holy cow.”
Following the final restart, Horn battled Russ Stoehr briefly before going on to a four-car length win. “I drove the best race I could,” he said. “Look, if somebody was faster, well, what are you going to do?”
Horn followed pole sitter Martino before the first restart. Grabbing the lead through one and two, he left behind a Cantor-Martino battle that was soon joined by Abold, the latter coming from 10th. Abold took second, chased down and passed Horn.
Abold’s 13.521 seconds effort on 15 was the race’s fastest. “I think we had everybody covered” understated owner Bobby Seymour.
After a first-lap yellow, Luggelle took the immediate lead in the Lites race and raced to the checker without incident. Jake Stergios came from mid pack to pass Eddie LeClerc Jr. for second on lap seven and held that to the end.
Russ Wood Jr. took the final podium spot in turn two on the last lap. He was followed by Shaun Gooselin and Anthony Nocella. LeClerc was sixth.
NEMA and the Lites are now idle until Sunday, Oct. 4 at Twin State Speedway.
NEMA NUGGETS: Abby Martino won the second heat becoming only the second female (following Erica Santos) to do that. She won praise from Randy Cabral who chased her home and from Jeff Horn who finished third…Russ Stoehr won the first heat, just making it after changing an engine. “It was a heroic effort,” said car owner Gene Angelillo of the effort that took just over an hour and a half…Horn acknowledged he became aware of the 20th win late in the race “because so much has been written about it.” It was the second win at Lee for Horn whose first NEMA checker came at Star on May 30, 1987. ..Steve Grant continues to play the proud father “tough love” role with the Lites and the division continues to respond positively.
NEMA RESULTS: 1. Jeff Horn, 2. Russ Stoehr, 3. Adam Cantor, 4. Nokie Fornoro, 5. Randy Cabral, 6. Chris DeRitis, 7. Erica Santor, 8. Abby Martino, 9. Jim Miller, 10. John Zych, 11. Barry Kittredge, 12. Mike Horn, 13. Matt O’Brien, 14. Lee Bundy, 15. Ed LeClerc, 16. Jeff Abold, 17. Paul Scally, 18. Mike Ordway Jr., DQ-Greg Stoehr, Chris Leonard. DNS – Doug Cleveland.
LITES RESULTS: 1. Paul Luggelle, 2. Jake Stergios, 3. Russ Wood, 4. Shaun Gooselin, 5. Anthony Nocella, 6. Ed LeClerc Jr., 7. Mike Ordway Jr., 8. Anthony Marvuglio, 9. David Rose, 10. Joe Spinzola, 11. Eric Cabral. DNS – Josh Wollam, Jake Smith, Shawn Torrey.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR