Prizes Aplenty at NEMA Banquet
Westport, MA – Drivers Randy Cabral and Ian Cumens and owners Tim Bertrand and Bobby Seymour carried off the biggest trophies Saturday night at the Northeastern Midget Association’s Awards Banquet at White’s of Westport. It ended NEMA’s 60th season.
Cabral and Bertrand celebrated their second straight and fourth championship in five seasons. The Bertrand #47 was the only multiple winner in a campaign that saw 11 drivers capture checkered flags.
Cumens, who often traveled seven hours from his Pennsylvania home, and Seymour captured the NEMA Lites Hoosier Tire Challenge title. It was a six-race series that included the Oswego Speedway race that Cumens won in the Seymour #9
“I’m looking forward to racing with you next year,” Bertrand told the gathering, a perfect ending to the awards-filled program. In addition to honoring the top 15 owners and drivers in each division, there were a host of award presentations, many honoring key figures in NEMA’s history.
Joe Fiore, a long-time member of the Dumo’s Desire crew, won the coveted Johnny Thomson Memorial Award.
Avery Stoehr (Lites) and Seth Carlson (NEMA) were the Ed Clotheir Rookies of the Year; Mike Horn (NEMA) and Jeff Johnson (Lites) the Mechanics of the Year and Jack Smith (Lites), Bethany Stoehr (Lites) and John Zych Jr. the Joe Csiki Most Improved Drivers.
The Pat Thibodeau Youth and Determination winners were James Santa Maria (NEMA) and Dylan Duhaime (Lites). Brandon Martinez and Dylan Duhaime were recognized with Up and Coming Awards. The Hard Luck hardware went to Lites competitor Andy Barrows.
Official Bob Blanchette (Wen Kelley Memorial), ageless Jeff Horn (Ralph Miller Memorial Award for Outstanding and Continuing Perseverance), Christian Briggs (Ray Roberts Memorial) and Jim Miller (Evans/Thrall top Owner/Driver) captured NEMA traditional awards.
The three-car deep Bigelow family took away the Associate Member Never Say Die Award. The Marilyn and Gene Angelillo Memorial Award for Outstanding Performance went to Jennifer Scrivani. Doug Cleveland won the Jim O’Brien Outstanding Contribution to Family and Racing Award and Dan Cugini (Lites) and Anthony Mavuglio (NEMA) were the Shane Hammond Sportsmanship Award recipients.
The Ken Schrader Racing-sponsored Hard Charger prize went to four-time Lites winner Carl Medeiros Jr.
Recognized for perfect attendance were the Bob Seymour # 9, the Stoehr # 26b, the Stoehr #15a, the Cabral #35, the Medeiros #50 and the Cugini #51 Lites cars and the Dumo’s Desire #45, Bertrand #47, Miller #3m, Scally #30 and Santa Maria #99 NEMA cars.
Also recognized were push truck operators Pete Pernesiglio, Glen Cabral, Steve Cleveland, Kurt Kiermont, Dave Shore, Chuck Hill and Jackie Giannini.
FINAL POINTS
NEMA MIDGETS
Owners: 1. Tim Bertrand #47, 2. Dumo’s Desire #45, 3. Jim Miller #3m, 4. Jeff Horn #93x, 5. Greg Stoehr #26b, 6. Paul Scally #30, 7. John Zych Sr. #9, 8. Tammy Bourbeau #38, 9. Susan Santa Maria #99, 10. Ed Breault #44, 11. Bertrand Motorsports #39, 12. Lee Bundy #2, 13. Gene Feigel #71, 14. Bobby Seymour #4, 15. Jeff Horn #A1.
Drivers: 1. Randy Cabral, 2. Russ Stoehr, 3. Jim Miller, 4. Greg Stoehr, 5. Mike Horn, 6. Todd Bertrand, 7. Paul Scally, 8. John Zych, 9. Anthony Marvuglio, 10. James Santa Maria, 11. Seth Carlson, 12. Jeff Horn, 13. Lee Bundy, 14. Anthony Nocella, 15. Adam Cantor.
HOOSIER TIRE LITES CHALLENGE
Owners: 1. Bob Seymour #9, 2. MC Racing #15a, 3. ShaWn Duhaime #57, 4. MCI Racing #26b, 5. Glen Cabral #35, 6. Donald Cugini #51, 7. Carl Medeiros #50, 8. Christian Briggs #44, 9. Dave Igo #45, 10. Paul Scally #4, 11. Randy Bigelow #33, 12. Jeff Johnson #46; 13. Ted Smith #93, 14. Michael Chambers #11w, 15. Lou Martinez #12.
Drivers: 1. Ian Cumens, 2. Avery Stoehr, 3. Dylan Duhaime, 4. Bethany Stoehr, 5. Randy Cabral, 6. Carl Medeiros Jr., 7. Danny Cugini, 8. Christian Briggs, 9. Logan Rayvals, 10. Ryan Bigelow, 11. Kenney Johnson, 12. Brandon Igo, 13. R.J. Tufano, 14. Jake Smith, 15. Brandon Martinez.
Sources: NEMA PR