Drew Fornoro Returns For Marilyn’s Passion
Brockton, MA – “How could I not do it?” answered Drew Fornoro when the opportunity came to drive in the Northeastern Midget Association’s Marilyn Passion Race at Saturday night, Sept. 5 at Monadnock Speedway. “There is just no way.”
Shaking off two years of inactivity, NEMA’s all-time winningest driver will be in the Seymour 29 in the $11,000-plus 25-lap race that memorializes long-time NEMA owner and official Marilyn Angelillo.
It is, Fornoro says, the first time two of Midget’s greatest names will join forces. “I know I’ve never driven for the Seymour family and I’m pretty sure my brother (Nokie) hasn’t either. It’s ironic because it was always a dream ride.”
It still is. The car won the Boston Louie this year with Jeff Abold aboard.
“But I was always in a pretty good spot,” continues Fornoro, now an assistant football coach at Pope John High School in Sparta, NJ. He and the Angelillos were one of the premier Midget teams in the nation. All but six of Fornoro’s 85 NEMA triumphs came in Angelillo equipment. Over a quarter century they combined for 20 championships.
“Marilyn was the backbone of the whole thing,” says Fornoro. “She could read me like a book. We went through a lot together. She could read a lot of people. That’s what made her so special.”
Fornoro, who last drove at Thompson two years ago, returns to a track where he had remarkable success. He had 11 wins at Monadnock. “You know, I wasn’t sure I would be back,” he says, “so I told my brother the secret to the place. Maybe I made a mistake.” Nokie Fornoro has won four times at Monadnock including one this year.
Modified ace Ted Christopher will be on hand driving the Bertrand 74. Randy Cabral, in the Bertrand 47, will be also be looking for a second Monadnock win this year.
Drew Fornoro will see some familiar faces including current Angelillo driver Russ Stoehr and his brother Greg. Other contenders include Jeff Horn, Adam Cantor, Erica Santos and a group of youngsters including John Zych Jr., William Wall, Abby Martino and Rookie of the Year candidate Chris DeRitis.
The Marilyn’s Passion Race offers heat prizes and hard charger money. There is a dividend for the first female finisher.
The top three finishers in the 20-lap Lites feature will divvy up $600.
NEMA POINTS
Drivers: 1. Randy Cabral 929; 2. Nokie Fornoro 867; 3. Adam Cantor 832; 4. Russ Stoehr 724; 5. Greg Stoehr 655; 6 Chris DeRitis 647; 7. Erica Santos 535; 8. John Zych Jr. 527; 9. Paul Scally 508; 10. William Wall 494.
Owners: 1. Mike Jarret (4) 947; 2. Tim Bertrand (47) 929; 3. Gene Angelillo (45) 842; 4. Adam Cantor (7ny) 832; 5. Greg Stoehr (26b) 655; 6. Power Point Racing (99) 647; 7. John Zych Sr. (9) 527; 8. Paul Scally (30) 508; 9. Ed Breault (44) 500; 10. Lee Bundy (2) 493.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR