NEMA Ready for Traditional Ending
The battle for the 2010 Northeastern Midget Association championships comes down to two traditional stops for the 59-year old club – the D. Anthony Venditti Fall Classic at Seekonk Speedway Oct. 9-10 and Oct. 15-17 World Series at Thompson Speedway. It comes down to two different challenges – the “ultimate momentum” track followed by the fastest track on the slate.
Coming off a victory in the Angelillo Memorial at Waterford Speedbowl, Russ Stoehr and the Dumo’s Desire team have 22-point edges on Randy Cabral and the Bertrand Motorsports operation. It is, however, hardly the time for celebrations heading into a pair of facilities where Cabral ranks second and first on the all-time win list. Still the Dumo’s Desire outfit is determined to add to the 13 championships resume of the late Marilyn and Gene Angelillo.
Each has won three times this season. A five-time champ, Stoehr now has 43 career wins, two behind third-place Nokie Forbore on NEMA’s all-time list. With 29, two-time defending champion Cabral, in his 11th season, is tied with Johnny Mann in sixth place. Six of Cabral’s wins have come at Seekonk, eight at Thompson including one this year when he held off Stoehr by inches. Stoehr’s figures are five at Seekonk, three at Thompson.
Cabral and Bertrand and Stoehr and the Angelillo crew have both won and lost championships at Thompson. A year ago, Cabral brought an ailing car home third to give owner Tim Bertrand the championship by a scant four points.
Looking for DAV favorites, it has to start with the Seymour cars – Jeff Abold and the #29 and the #4. Since 2004 Seymour cars have won six times at Seekonk including both races this year with Lou Cicconi Jr. and Jeff Abold. Cabral comes to the “Cement Palace” off two seconds.
Chris deRitis and last year’s DAV champ Adam Cantor have been winners this year. They come to the finish determined to secure high spots in the final standings along with Greg Stoehr, Barry Kittredge, Jim Miller and Erica Santos, the latter quartet recording impressive season-best seconds over the summer. Santos comes to the DAV after a very strong effort at Waterford. Chris Leonard, the winner in the season opener, is another contender.
The DAV memorializes one of New England’s premier promoters whose love for the Midgets is overwhelming evidence looking at Seekonk history. Starting with Oscar Ridlon’s controversial win in 1946, there have been hundreds of Midget races at “The Konk.” The list includes NEMA’s first race won by Fred Meeker on Memorial Day 1953.
The DAV will be the fifth Memorial race of the season following the Rifchin Trophy event at Thompson (won by Cabral), the Shane Hammond Memorial at Waterford (won by Russ Stoehr), the Boston Louie at Seekonk (Abold) and the Angelillo at Waterford (Stoehr again).
The NEMA Lites campaign will come to an end at the DAV where Anthony Nocella, in the Seymour 29, looks like the favorite although Cabral, Jim Santa Maria, Jesse State and Bethany Viets are favorites as well.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR