NEMA Points Tight Heading into “Louie”
Brockton, MA — Randy Cabral, working on a streak of four straight podium finishes, has climbed to within 22 points of leader Russ Stoehr as the Northeastern Midget Association heads into the prestigious Boston Louie Seymour Memorial at Seekonk Speedway Saturday, Aug. 27.
Honoring the famed Massachusetts car owner, The 29-lap “Louie” has become NEMA’s premier race. The Seymour continues to operate with the number 29.
Greg Stoehr, Russ’ younger brother, sits third in points, 31 off the lead. Consistent throughout the season, Greg Stoehr and Cabral have each sat on the podium six times. Cabral has won twice including Seekonk’s Open Wheel Wednesday. Greg Stoehr has one win.
Russ Stoehr, who won the first-ever “Louie” back in 1997, hopes to shake off some bad luck of late including a broken throttle spring at the Angelillo Memorial. The defending champion, Russ Stoehr, like Cabral, is no stranger to the rigors dealing with the pursuit of a championship. They have eight between them.
Chris Abold, the only driver to win back-to-back “Louies,” will be out to make it three straight in the Seymour 29. Second at Seekonk earlier this summer, the Abold-Seymour combination has had incredible success at Seekonk over the past four seasons.
Anthony Nocella hopes to give the Seymour family a second straight “Louie” sweep in the accompanying 29-lap Lites feature. Nocella and Cabral will both be doing double duty.
Angelillo Memorial winner (and Cabral teammate) Todd Bertrand became one of a handful of rookies to capture a NEMA feature, the first since Jeremy Frankoski did it in 2007. Now the 20-year old Bertrand hopes to become the first-ever NEMA rookie to win two straight in the family’s Honda-powered No. 39.
Mike Horn and Keith Botelho, last year’s Seekonk DAV winner, are also seeking a second 2011 win. Veterans Jeff Horn (2001 Louie winner) and Jim Miller along with Frankoski and a constantly improving Paul Scally, off a strong run at Waterford, are others worthy of watching.
Should Cabral become the first three-time “Louie” winner, he will also move into a fifth place tie (with Bill Eldridge) on NEMA’s all-time win list.
Adding to Nocella’s favorite status in the Lites race are two Seekonk wins this summer. Still, picking a Lites winner is hardly easy in the most competitive campaign yet for the four year old division. Rookie Seth Carlson, Russ Wood Jr., Ryan Bigelow, Andy Barrows, Mike Luggelle have all been winners.
NEMA Nuggets
The same three drivers – Randy Cabral, Greg Stoehr and Todd Bertrand – made up the podium for the last two races. That hasn’t happened since 2003 when Cabral, Drew Fornoro and Adam Cantor did it at Thompson and Star.
Todd and Tim Bertrand are now on the list of siblings who have NEMA wins joining Drew and Nokie Fornoro, Bobby and Mike Seymour, Russ and Greg Stoehr, Bob and Lou Cicconi, Erica and Bobby Santos III and Joey and Johnny Coy Jr.
So far Gaerte, Mazda, Honda and Esslinger motors have made it to victory lane…With six so far, NEMA is one away from the 2009 and 2010 winners totals.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR