Jesse State, Desrosiers Eye NEMA Success
Brockton, MA — Jesse State, a standout in the Lites two seasons ago, will move into Chris Desrosiers’ #99 Power Point Racing car for the 2010 Northeastern Midget Association season. NEMA will open its 58th campaign at Waterford Speedbowl on March 26-27.
“It’s the opportunity I’ve been looking for,” said State who replaces Chris DeRitis in the Mazda-powered Spike chassis. A junior at Rensselair Polytechnic Institute, the soon to be 21-year old will be making his “full midget” debut.
“An obvious choice,” said Desrosiers, “especially after looking at the success he had with the Lites. We expect to do well. We don’t expect rookie results.”
State spent three years in Ford Focus cars before a five-win season with the Lites in ’08. He was an accomplished go karter for eight seasons, winning five grand national crowns and two national titles. The New Hyde Park, NY resident is looking forward to the step up in horsepower.
Pointing to the influence of Bobby Seymour and NEMA President Mike Scrivani, Desrosiers said State “comes highly recommended” to the four-race old Spike car. With DeRitis aboard, the car was fourth quickest at Seekonk’s DAV last fall. DeRitis, the ’09 Rookie of the Year, will drive a Lou Cicconi–owned car this year.
About to start his sixth season with NEMA, Desrosiers said the engine has been redone. “I can’t say enough about Spike, Circle Performance and our sponsor Marine Engines,” added the Freemont, NH resident. “We are optimistic.”
Pointing out “you carry a lot of speed at Waterford and the wall comes up quickly,” State hopes to get some testing in before the opener.
NEMA NUGGETS – Jesse State and Lites driver Shaun Gosselin are in the same fraternity house at RPI. While pointing out nothing beats seat time, State, a mechanical engineering major, says the academic side “helps you stay focused and also helps in understanding what the car is doing.”…State had a Wednesday night win at Waterford in 2008…
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR