Oswego, Star Return On NEMA’s ’12 Agenda
Brockton, MA — The established mainstays and a return to Star and Oswego Speedways fill the Northeastern Midget Association’s 2012 schedule. NEMA, entering its 60th season, and the NEMA Lites, heading into its fifth campaign, will kick things off at Waterford Speedbowl’s Budweiser Blastoff March 31-April 1.
Randy Cabral and Bertrand Motorsports will be defending their respective owner/driver championships over a 14-race agenda that includes five visits to Waterford including the Shane Hammond Memorial (July 28), Wings & Wheels (Aug. 11), Angelillo Memorial (Sept. 1) and the Fall Finale (Oct. 6-7). There are two stops at Thompson (the May 20 Marvin Rifchin Trophy Race and Oct. 13-14 World Series), two at Seekonk including the July 18 Open Wheel Wednesday and two at Lee USA Speedway including the season-ending Ocktoberfest Oct. 20-21.
NEMA continues to be part of Stafford Motor Speedway’s Open Wheel offering (Carquest’s Super Saturday on June 30).
The Oswego trip (Aug. 28) is the first since 2005. Clearly one of the most demanding ovals in the nation, an Oswego checkered remains one of the most cherished laurels in all of racing. Star, missing since 2007, returns on July 21. The tricky Star has hosted more NEMA events – 137 – than any other facility.
The Lites, arguably the most successful developmental division in open cockpit racing, have 14 events planned. They’ll share seven of those with the “full midgets” including Waterford’s Hammond Memorial and Finale and Lee’s Octoberfest.
“In view of the economic times, it is a challenging and varied schedule for both NEMA and the Lites,” says NEMA President Mike Scrivani, Jr. “The traditional events are so important and we, of course, are excited about the return to Star and Oswego.”
Cabral and Bertrand will not have an easy task. The Stoehr brothers will be back, Russ in the Dumo’s Desire #45 and Greg in the family-owned #26b. Former Champion Joey Payne will be fulltime in the Breault #44 and Adam Cantor returns to the driver’s seat in the family’s 7ny. The super reliable Paul Scally is bent on a successful campaign as is Mike Horn.
Seth Carlson and Jim Santa Maria move up to the full midgets, joining two other “Lites” graduates that won last year – Todd Bertrand and Anthony Nocella.
The Lites expect continued growth with the fields approaching the mid 20s. Among the Lites newcomers is Avery Stoehr, the young son of Russ. Avery will be joining his cousin Bethany, Greg’s daughter, who showed great promise last summer.
Sources: NEMA PR