Hardware Harvest At NEMA Banquet
Westport, MA — “I can’t wait to come back next year,” champion Randy Cabral told the 200-plus at the Northeastern Midget Association Awards banquet Saturday night at White of Westport. It was the third championship in four years for Cabral and owner Tim Bertrand.
The NEMA Lites, led by “champions” Gene Feigel and Seth Carlson, shared in the traditional harvest of hardware
Cabral, who dedicated the season to the late car owner Jim O’Brien and super fan Jim Parsons, carried off the biggest trophy as the top 15 owners and drivers in each division were recognized.
Full 2011 NEMA Banquet Photo Page HERE
Traditional trophies went to Greg Stoehr (the coveted Johnny Thomson Memorial), Greg and Kathryn Stoehr (Mechanic of the Year), Glen Cabral (Wen Kelley Memorial), Jim Bundy (Ray Roberts Memorial) Todd Bertrand and Seth Carlson (NEMA and Lites Ed Clotheir Rookies of the Year), Mike Horn and James Santa Maria (NEMA and Lites Joe Csiki Memorial Most Improved Drivers), Russ Stoehr (Evans/Thrall Top Owner/Driver) and Anthony Nocella and Bethany Stoehr (the NEMA and Lites Pat Thibodeau Youth, Determination and Talent Award winners).
Sons Matt, Dennis and Chris introduced the Jim O’Brien Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to family and racing and presented it to Glen Cabral. On the tenth anniversary of his passing, Brian Caruso was memorialized with a hard charger award that went to Bethany Stoehr. Tara Stoehr accepted the Angelillo Memorial, honoring the “woman behind the man.”
Keith Botelho (NEMA) and Christian Briggs (Lites) won the Shane Hammond Sportsmanship Awards.
Dave Leonard (Ralph Miller Memorial Award for Outstanding and Continuing Perseverance), John Zych Jr. (Associate Member New Say Die Award) and Randy Bigelow (Hard Luck Award) were recognized.
Lifetime Memberships went to Doug Cleveland and Pete Zanardi.
Driver Ben Seitz and owner Peter Valeri, the dominant team between 2004 and 2007, were inducted into the Dick Gallagher Hall of Fame.
First time NEMA feature winners Mike Horn, Todd Bertrand, Anthony Nocela were recognized as were first-time Lites winners Seth Carlson, Randy Bigelow, Andy Barrows, Ian Cumens, D.J. Moniz. The Scally #30 (NEMA) and the Mederios #50 were the Wild Child Designs best appearing cars. Ted Smith, Cantor Racing of Long Island and Pennsylvania’s BJ MacDonald shared the Long Haul award
Collecting perfect attendance Awards trophies were the Dumo’s Desire #45, the Bertrand Motorsports #47, the Russ Stoehr #25, The Cantor Racing #7ny, the Scally Racing #30, Lee Bundy’s #2 along with Gene Feigel #71, Paul Luggelle’s #28 and the Bobby Seymour/Andy Barrows #81, the latter three Lites entries.
The Mazda Motorsports Top Gun Pit Crew Awards went to #45 Dumo’s Desire (April), #13 Randy Bigelow (May), #28 Paul Luggelle (June), #93X Mike Horn (July), #39 Bertrand Motorsports (August), #9 Seymour Racing (September) and #71 Gene Feigel (October)
NEMA – Top 15
Owners: 1. #47 Tim Bertrand, 2. #45 Dumo’ Desire, 3. #7ny Allan Cantor, 4. #25 Russ Stoehr, 5. #26b Greg Stoehr, 6. #30 Paul Scally, 7. #93X Mike Horn, 8. #2 Lee Bundy, 9. #29 Jeff Abold, 10. #9 John Zyck, 11. #22 Dave Leonard, #12. #39 Tim Bertrand, #13. #49 BJ MacDonald, 14. #44 Ed Breault, 15. #3m Jim Miller.
Drivers: 1. Randy Cabral, 2. Russ Stoehr, 3. Greg Stoehr, 4. Keith Botelho, 5. Jeff Abold, 6. Paul Scally, 7. Mike Horn, 8. Jeremy Frankoski, 9. Lee Bundy, 10. Todd Bertrand, 11. Chris Leonard, 12. John Zych, 13. BJ MacDonald, 14. Anthony Nocella, 15. Doug Cleveland.
NEMA LITES – Top 15
Owners: 1. #71 Gene Feigel, 2. #81 Bob Seymour, 3. #29 Matt Seymour, 4. #50 Carl Mederios, 5. #28 Paul Luggelle, 6. #26b Greg Stoehr, 7. #13 Randy Bigelow, 8. #99 Susan Santa Maria, 9. #48 David Igo, 10. #9 Bob Seymour, 11. #18. DJ Moniz, 12. #4 Paul Scally, 13. #21 Jennifer Scrivani, 14. #44 Christian Briggs, 15. #3 Randy Bigelow.
Drivers: 1. Seth Carlson, 2. Andy Barrows, 3. Anthony Nocella, 4. Carl Mederios Jr., 5. Paul Luggelle, 6. Ryan Bigelow, 7. Bethany Stoehr, 8. Brandon Igo, 9. Antnony Marvuglio, 10. James Santa Maria, 11. DJ Moniz, 12. Randy Cabral, 13. Christian Briggs, 14. Paul Bigelow, 15. Lanson Fornoro.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR