NEMA’s “Louie” Set To Go
Seekonk, MA — The 16th annual Boston Louie Memorial, set for Saturday night at Seekonk Speedway, is the biggest paved track midget race in the northeast. It is the biggest plum in the Northeastern Midget Association’s basket.
The two-tiered – a 29 lap feature for the full Midgets and a 21 lapper for the Lites – “Louie” joins a 100-lap International Supermodified Association event and a 50-lap Street Stock Open on the Seekonk 200 Presented by S.M. Lorusso &Sons agenda.
The race memorializes “Boston” Louie Seymour, a Marlboro, MA resident who, for better than two decades, competed around the nation in USAC Sprint and Super Crown action. The 29 laps recognizes the number Louie Seymour made famous.
The entire Seymour family including Louie’s widow Ellie and son Mike and Bobby continue to present the event.
The Seymours are looking to extend a “Louie” win streak, Jeff Abold driving the family car to victory in ’09, ’10 and ’11. With Abold driving his own car this year, the Seymours will put their hopes in young driver Anthony Nocella. Abold will be doing double duty and will be among the ISMA field trying to end Johnny Benson’s Seekonk win streak at two.
Leading the NEMA field aiming to end the Seymour streak is defending champion and current point leader Randy Cabral, second the past two Louies driving for Bertrand Racing. Cabral has two Louie victories –his first-ever NEMA in 2000 and again driving for Bertrand in 2008.
NEMA rookie Seth Carlson comes to the Louie hoping to repeat his win earlier this year in Seekonk’s Open Wheel Wednesday. He is one of 10 NEMA winners this year, the list including John Zych Jr., Greg Stoehr, Mike Horn, Adam Cantor, Anthony Marvuglio, Jim Miller and Todd Bertrand in addition to Nocella and Cabral. Joey Payne and Russ Stoehr, both Seekonk experts, are always contenders. Other hopefuls include Barry Kittredge, Jim SantaMaria, Paul Scally, Doug and Brian Cleveland, Lee Bundy and Matt O’Brien.
Four-time winner Carl Medeiros Jr. and Alan Chambers, each coming off victories two weeks ago at Beech Ridge Speedway, head up the Lites contenders.
Modified standout Keith Rocco, a surprise winner at Wateford Speedbowl a few week back, will be making his second career Midget start in the Lites feature. It will be first-ever Seekonk race for Rocco who’ll be driving the Manafort #87 that came from the rear at Waterford.
Other Lites contenders include Ian Cumens in the Seymour entry, Avery Stoehr, Randy Cabral, Brandon Igo and Ryan Bigelow, all winners this season as well. Bethany Stoehr, Danny Cugini, Kenny Johnson, Andy Barrows and Christian Briggs have been knocking on the door.
Bentley Warren is a perfect choice for Grand Marshall duties. A many time ISMA champion, Warren’s resume includes, in addition to a pair of Little 500 victories and a Copper World Classic checkered, multiple wins at the Oswego and Star Classics. The two-time Indianapolis 500 competitor has a history with the Seymour family as well, driving the “Spirit of Boston” Silver Crown car as well as an occasional midget ride.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR