NEMA Tidbits
Milestones in 2012: Jim Miller
Brockton, MA – When Jim Miller won at Oswego Speedway this summer, he not only joined a list of Northeastern Midget Association competitors to win in three different decades, he ended one of the longest waits between victories in club history.
Prior to Oswego, Miller’s previous victory came at Oxford Plains Speedway on Aug. 18, 2001 – six days short of 11 years. The longest time between victories belongs to Greg Stoehr – 13 years (1994-2007) although in all fairness Stoehr spent much of those years voluntarily inactive. Keith Botelho waited a dozen years between a 1998 win at Seekonk and a checkered at Seekonk in 2010. Infrequent NEMA competitor Lou Ciccioni Jr. also waited 11 years between wins at Flemington in 1996 and at Waterford in 2007.
Over sixty years, NEMA has operated in seven decades. Russ Stoehr is by himself in the “four-decade” category.
Despite those long waits, Cicconi and Greg Stoehr join Miller in the “three decade club.” Howie Bumpus, Joey and Johnny Coy, Bill Eldridge, Ronnie Evans, Drew and Nokie Fornoro, Jeff Horn, Dave Humphrey, Bobby Seymour, Lee Smith and Len Thrall are other three decade winners.
Another Achievement for Cabral
Brockton, MA – When Randy Cabral won at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway this summer, he became the 21st Northeastern Midget Association driver to post victories at at-least eight different speedways.
Considering schedules are much slimmer than they were 25 years ago, it is a laudable achievement for the five-time champion whose 35 career wins have come at Lee, Monadnock, Seekonk, Star, Twin State Thompson and Waterford in addition to “The Ridge.”
Russ Stoehr is the leader among active drivers with wins at 14 tracks – Beech Ridge, Flemington, Fonda, Hudson, Lee, Monadnock, Oswego, Oxford, Seekonk, Stafford, Star, Thompson, Thunder Road and Waterford. Stoehr is tied for fourth on the all-time list with Nokie Fornoro.
The top-three in the “tracks won at” category are Dave Humphrey (20), Drew Fornoro (19) and Billy Eldridge (16). After Stoehr and Fornoro, comes Joe Csiki (12). Johnny and Joey Coy join Johnny Mann in the 10 bracket while Bobby and Mike Seymour, Dick Brown and Len Thrall have won at nine tracks.
Joining Cabral with eight are current competitors Jeff Horn, Joey Payne Jr. and Bobby Santos III along with Al Pillion, Lee Smith, Jerry Wall and Bobby White.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR