“The Louie,” A Showcase of Talent
Brockton, MA — En route to becoming the biggest pavement Midget race in the Northeast, the Boston Louie Memorial has added immeasurably to the recent history of the 60-year old Northeastern Midget Association.
The 16th edition of the two-tier “Louie” is part of the Saturday night, Sept. 29 Seekonk 200 Presented by S.M. Lorusso & Sons at Seekonk Speedway. A 29-lap feature for the full Midgets and a 21-lapper for the Lites share the agenda with a 100-lap International Supermodified Association event and a 50-lap Street Stock Open.
The “Louie,” which memorializes Hall of Famer car owner Louie Seymour, has been a showcase for the best Midget talent in the region. An expected banner field is expected in all three divisions.
A brief overview of Boston Louie history follows.
1997 – The championship-bound Russ Stoehr and Bruce Beane won the first Boston Louie, besting legend Nokie Fornoro, the latter driving for the Scally family.
1998 – Another championship bound team, Drew Fornoro and Gene Angelillo prevailed besting Bobby Seymour. It was the first of three Louie victories for Angelillo.
1999 – A perfect night for Louie Seymour’s boys, Bobby, in the Scrivani #9, besting Mike in the Tapply #8.
2000 – Driving a car older than he was – the family #35 – Randy Cabral collected his first-ever NEMA checkered (he now has 33) with a convincing win over Nokie Fornoro.
2001 – Driving Babe Shaw’s 1s, Jeff Horn started eighth, had the lead by lap two and beat Russ Stoehr by a comfortable margin.
2002 – Moving to Waterford Speedbowl, 16-year old Bobby Santos III, driving a Seymour/Scrivani maintained car, scored his first “big” win. The winning pass – going under Tim Bertrand in turns three and four – came with 13 laps remaining.
2003 – Win number one for Payne and two for Angelillo came after Randy Cabral’s car was judged “too wide.”
2004 – Ben Seitz (Valeri 17) chased down Payne, took the lead with nine left and then survived a late restart challenge. Seitz and Valeri went on to the championships.
2005 – Back at Seekonk, Joey Payne took advantage of a lap 23 caution to pass Jeff Horn and become the first two-time winner. It was the third Louie for Angelillo.
2006 – It was Nokie’s turn and he wired it in the Jarret #4, finishing far ahead of Payne.
2007 – Seitz joined the two win club. Although he led every lap, Seitz had to beat back challenges from both Nokie Fornoro and Payne in the closing laps.
2008 – The Cabral/Bertrand team, with a motor borrowed from the Santos team, started eighth, had the lead by lap three and won by less than a car length over a very young Jeff Abold in a Seymour car. Bobby Santos III was third. Shaun Gosselin was the first “Louie” Lites winner.
2009 – The first of three straight wins for the Abold/Seymour team. After posting a blistering 10.859 in time trials, Abold came from the 16th starting spot and passed Cole Carter, driving for Bertrand, on lap 18. Anthony Marvuglio, in the Cabral 35, scored an emotional Lites win.
2010 – Starting 14th, Abold needed only 10 laps to grab the lead and then beat back a late challenge from Cabral. It was a sweep for the Seymours, Anthony Nocella winning the Lites event.
2011 – Setting fast time for the third straight year, Abold needed 19 laps to grab the lead and again beat back Cabral threats in the closing laps. David Moniz ruled the Lites feature.
Ayla Brown, the daughter of U.S. Senator Scott Brown and an aspiring country music singer, will sing the National Anthem. New England racing legend Bentley Warren will be the Grand Marshall.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR