Coby, Rocco Probable 2013 NEMA Competitors
Doug Coby, the National NASCAR Whelen Modified champion, and Tim Bertrand are talking about doing a handful of Northeastern Midget Association races for next year, including the opener. Coby spelled Todd Bertrand in the #39 at Lee’s Ocktoberfest, finishing second in a heat before being involved in a first-lap feature crash. “I am looking forward to it,” said Bertrand. “Doug was incredibly impressive in the car for his first ever run, and just an absolute pleasure to work with as a driver.”
There are some other possible topics for conversation at the NEMA Banquet Saturday night (Nov. 17) at White’s of Westport in Westport, MA.
Long-time Midget competitor Bobby Seymour delights in the probability of Keith Rocco and Coby running with NEMA next season. Rocco made four Lites starts, winning one at Waterford in a Manafort car. Returning to Waterford, he had a win taken from him but returned to run at Lee. “I want NEMA to be good and having these guys run with us is good for the club, for the fans, for the promoter,” says Seymour who insists a number of drivers in other divisions continue to seek NEMA rides.
More testimony to the equity in NEMA: There were three first time winners for the past two years, Seth Carlson, Anthony Marvuglio and John Zych Jr. doing it this season. Mike Horn, Todd Bertrand and Anthony Nocella, first timers in 2011, scored their second career wins in 2012.
Russ Stoehr on passing Nokie Fornoro on NEMA’s all-time win list: “It’s unfair to list Nokie’s accomplishments only by what he’s done in this club. It’s only a small part of what he’s done in Midget racing around the country. Look at the numbers he’s put up (100-plus wins). It’s just amazing.” The car Nokie drove to his last win will be the regular ride in 2013 for Russ’ niece and Greg’s daughter Bethany Stoehr. Stoehr’s win at Waterford made it 19 straight seasons the Dumo’s Desire #45 has visited victory lane.
The 2012 championships were the fourth in five years for Bertrand and Randy Cabral. “The first championship is always the best because you’ve never sure you’re ever going to get one,” says Cabral, who also puts special value on the 2011 crown “because it went right down to the wire.” Winning in NEMA’s 60th season does, however, reduce some of the sting he remembers finishing second, driving for his dad, in NEMA’s 50th campaign. “I would have loved to win that one,” he says.
Cabral admits he is motivated by goals. He can set his sights on Dave Humphrey’s 36 NEMA wins with a car numbered 47. Cabral currently has 28. Actually seven different drivers have won in a #47 – Jeff Horn (16), Lou Fray (7), Al Pillion (2), Tim Bertrand (1) and George Tilton (1) joining Humphrey and Cabral. There are just four car owners: John McCarthy (47), Bertrand (29), Bay Hayes (14) and Tilton (1). Lou Cicconi won three times in a Bertrand 47b.
Zych, Cabral insists, deserves special mention. After four straight top fives including a win in the opener at Waterford, the Louisville, KY-based Customer Sales Executive (for the Hershey Corporation) ran into a series of postponement/business commitment problems. “Without them, he could have well been the champion,” says Cabral. Zych wound up with six top fives in nine starts. He is also the first driver with a name starting with ”Z” to win a NEMA list. The only letters not represented: I, Q, U, X.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR