Making Ready For NEMA’s “Louie”
Brockton, MA — If absence makes the heart grow fonder, expect a banner field for the 16th running of the Northeastern Midget Association’s Boston Louie Memorial Sunday, June 2 at Seekonk Speedway.
A victim of weather last year, “the Louie,” which includes 29 lap features for both NEMA and the NEMA Lites, is part of an “open wheel” extravaganza that includes a 75-lap SK-Modified feature along with appearances by the Pro Four Modifieds and the New England Mini Stock Tour.
Doug Coby, who’ll drive the Bertrand #39 in the NEMA event, and Keith Rocco, slated to steer the Manafort 76 in the Lites race, will be doing double duty. Both have SKs rides as well.
Honoring one of New England’s racing Legends, car owner “Boston Louie” Seymour, “the Louie” has become the biggest plum on the NEMA schedule. Another legend, Bentley Warren, is grand marshal.
The route to Seekonk’s victory lane is hardly a secret for NEMA competitors, two-time defending champion Randy Cabral coming into the race with seven ‘Konk’ checkereds including two Louies. Cabral, whose win list started with the 2000 Louie, has brought the Bertrand #47 home second in the last two.
Lou Cicconi, who’ll be in the Cantor 7ny , has four Seekonk wins while the Stoehr brothers Russ (Dumo’s Desire 45)and Greg (Stoehr 26b ) have eight between them, one of Russ’ five the 1997 Louie. Joey Payne, back in the Breault 44, is also a two-time Louie winner.
Young Ian Cumens (Seymour 29) will be in charge of the Seymour family fortunes. The Seymours have won the last three Louie races with Jeff Abold. Cumens has won in a Lites car at Seekonk.
Seth Carlson’s 11.152 posted NEMA’s fastest Seekonk lap last year en route to a victory. Expectations are it will take at least that to prevail at the Louie. Carlson (Feigel 71), Waterford winner Todd Bertrand (Bertrand 39), Anthony Marvuglio (Bourbeau 38), Bethany Stoehr (Stoehr 5b), Jim Miller (Miller 3m), James Santa Maria (Santa Maria 99) and John Zych Jr. (Zych 9) are all contenders.
There is, however, plenty of historical precedent for a surprise – Cabral’s 2000 win in a family car older than he was is a classic example.
A bumper crop of Lites is expected with Anthony Nocella, who owns 5 Seekonk wins, a possibility in the Seymour car. A pair of determined youngsters – Carl Medeiros Jr. and Dylan Duhaime – are on a contender list that also includes Ryan Bigelow, Jake Stergios and James Santa Maria, the latter three all seeking a return to Seekonk’s Victory Lane.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR
Boston Louie Memorial NEMA Winners
1997. Russ Stoehr/Beane 26
1998: Drew Fornoro/Angelillo 45
1999: Bobby Seymour/Seymour 9
2000: Randy Cabral/Cabral 35
2001: Jeff Horn/Shaw 102
2002: Bobby Santos/Scravani 9
2003: Joey Payne/Angelillo 45
2004: Ben Seitz/Valeri 17
2005: Joey Payne/Angelillo 45
2006: Nokie Fornoro/Jarret 4
2007: Ben Seitz/Valeri 17
2008: Randy Cabral/Bertrand 47
2009: Jeff Abold/Seymour 29
2010: Jeff Abold/ Seymour 4
2011: Jeff Abold/Seymour 4.
Boston Louie Memorial NEMA Lites Winners
2008: Shaun Gosselin/Gosselin #26
2009: Anthony Marvuglio/Cabral #35
2010: Anthony Nocella/Seymour 29
2011: David Moniz/Moniz #18