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Wednesday, July 23, 2014 |
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presented by
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NEMA MIDGETS THRILL BIG CROWD & TV AUDIENCE AT
THE “BOSTON LOUIE” RACE |
Wednesday night’s NEMA Boston Louie Memorial Classic
did not disappoint any of the 5,000 fans in attendance at
Seekonk, MA Speedway and turned out to be the perfect event
for NEMA’s first nationally televised races in its 61 year
history. Both the NEMA Midgets and the NEMA Lites provided
all the action and drama a spectator or viewer could want.
The season’s largest field of midgets turned out for the
series’ most prestigious race of the season. Something the
late “Boston” Louie Seymour would have been proud of.
The historic event was taped for rebroadcast by MAVTV
and sponsored by Burlington, MA computer software company
Acquia.
The most coveted trophy of any collection was
up for grabs and NEMA’s Paul Scally of Raynham, MA had time
to think about where he would put it while he cruised to a
near half lap lead in the 29 lap main. Scally rocketed from
his front row starting spot and set a blistering pace with
the fastest lap of field of 11.454 on lap 6. He was living
up to his handle as “Dangerous,” looking like a sure bet for
victory until the first caution flew on lap 24.
Scally now had the likes of Randy Cabral of Plymouth, Ma,
Todd Bertrand of Suffield, CT and Avery Stoehr of Lakeville,
MA restarting around him. Scally got the jump and held off a
charging Cabral for a couple of laps, but Cabral motored on
by with his fastest lap of the race on lap 27, bringing his
teammate Bertrand with him. Stoehr got by Scally on the last
lap. Scally wound up with a season high fourth. Seth Carlson
from Brimfield, MA was fifth.
Cabral complimented
Scally during the post-race interview, saying that he was
rooting for him, “but knew he had to pass him if he wanted
to keep his job!” Cabral, the winningest midget driver at
Seekonk dedicated his win to the late Irene Vendetti, the
matriarch of the track known as “The Cement Palace.”
28
NEMA Lites took the green in their 29 lap main event and
when the checkered flag fell PJ Stergios of Candia, NH had
notched his fourth win of the season. Young Stergios turned
in the fastest and only lap under 12 seconds in the entire
field on his next to last circuit. PJ credited his brother
Jake and dad Bill for the help they provide in fielding an
almost perfect car.
He won by two seconds over Chris
Lamb of Greensboro, NC., who had a tremendous run for his
first time at Seekonk. The multi-time winner and USAC
Eastern HPD Midget Champion looked to spoil the NEMA
regulars big night, but didn’t have enough for the hard
charging Stergios.
Saturday night’s winner Jake Smith
of Stroudsburg, PA had another good run finishing third,
followed by Vermont dirt track ace Adam Pierson in Frank
Manafort’s pavement car. Lites point leader Ryan Krachun
from NJ was fifth.
NEMA moves on to the Waterford
Speedbowl Saturday night for third event in a week, before
having the following week off. Saturday’s event honors the
late NEMA driver Shane Hammond. A big night is planned
through the efforts of Shane’s mom, Deb Marvuglio and the
Shane Hammond Believe Foundation. |
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Watch the 9
"Boston Louie"
clips on
YouTube
HERE |
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From NASCAR to
Formula 1, World of Outlaws to
Midgets,
MotoGP to Supercross, SPEED SPORT is the only
publication that covers it ALL! With one of the
best editorial teams in the business, and
carrying on a legacy over 75 years in the
making, SPEED SPORT is the ONE magazine any
serious race fan needs to have.
SUBSCRIBE HERE |
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GRAND MARSHALL - BENTLEY WARREN
PACE BIKE from
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE OF
FOXBORO |
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NEMA LITES |
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NEMA LITES - SEEKONK -
7/23/14 |
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Pos.
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#
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Driver |
Hometown
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Owner |
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1 |
11 |
PJ Stergios |
Candia, NH |
Bill Stergios |
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2 |
9 |
Chris Lamb |
Greensboro,NC |
Butch Lamb |
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3 |
93 |
Jake Smith |
Stroudsburg, PA |
Ted Smith |
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4 |
76 |
Adam Pierson
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East Corinth, VT
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Frank Manafort
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5 |
29 |
Ryan Krachun |
Neschanic Station, NJ |
Mike Krachun |
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6 |
9s |
Matt Swanson |
Acton, MA |
Matt Seymour |
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7 |
31 |
Paul Bigelow |
Kensington, CT |
Paul
Bigelow |
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8 |
25 |
Richie Morrocco |
Plainville, MA |
Richard Morrocco |
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9 |
46x |
Andy Barrows |
New Ipswitch, NH |
Jeff Johnson |
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10 |
18 |
DJ Moniz |
Fairhaven, MA |
David Moniz |
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11 |
24 |
Calvin Carroll |
Andover, NJ |
Joe Carroll |
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12 |
27 |
Kevin Hutchens |
E. Waterborro, ME |
Dan Hutchens |
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13 |
52 |
Kevin Park |
Foxboro, MA |
Kevin Park |
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14 |
41 |
Megan CuginI |
Marshfield, MA |
D. Cugini |
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15 |
16 |
Dennis O'Brien |
Deerfield, NH |
Chris O'Brien |
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16 |
21 |
Anthony Payne |
Fairlawn, NJ |
Jennifer Scrivani |
17
DNF |
51 |
Danny Cugini |
Marshfield, MA |
D. Cugini |
18
DNF |
94 |
Logan Rayvals |
Brockville, ON, CA |
Craig Rayvals |
19
DNF |
04 |
Ryan Preece |
Berlin, CT |
Craig Rayvals |
20
DNF |
42 |
Juris Kupris |
Williamsburg, NY |
Charles Thomas
Motorsports |
21
DNF |
32 |
Scott Bigelow |
E. Hampton, CT |
Scott
Bigelow |
22
DNF |
44 |
Christian Briggs |
Mattapoisett, MA |
Charles
Thomas Motorsports |
23
DNF |
39 |
RJ Tufano |
West Haven, CT |
RJ Tufano |
24
DNF |
6 |
Jessica Bean |
Farmland, IN |
Butch Lamb |
25
DNF |
35 |
Randy Cabral |
Plymouth, MA |
Glen Cabral |
26
DNF |
13 |
Ryan Bigelow |
E.Hampton, CT |
Ryan Bigelow |
27
DNF |
45m |
Joey
Mucciacciaro |
Wolcott, CT |
Frank
Mucciacciaro |
28
DNS |
20 |
Myles DeVits |
Barrington, NH |
Myles DeVits |
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NEMA MIDGETS |
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NEMA MIDGETS - SEEKONK -
7/23/14 |
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Pos.
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#
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Driver |
Hometown
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Owner |
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1 |
47 |
Randy Cabral |
Plymouth, MA |
Tim
Bertrand |
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2 |
39 |
Todd Bertrand |
Suffield, CT |
Bertrand Motorsports |
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3 |
15a |
Avery Stoehr |
Lakeville, MA |
Russ Stoehr |
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4 |
30 |
Paul Scally |
Raynham,
MA |
Paul Scally |
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5 |
71 |
Seth Carlson |
Brimfield, CT |
Gene
Feigel |
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6 |
46 |
Kenney Johnson |
Bethany, CT |
Jeff Johnson |
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7 |
87 |
Doug Cleveland |
Sudbury, MA |
Doug
Cleveland |
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8 |
29 |
Ian Cumens |
Lydell, PA |
Bobby Seymour |
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9 |
21 |
Jim Chambers |
Atkinson, NH |
Mike Chambers |
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10 |
9 |
Bobby Santos III |
Franklin, MA |
John Zych
Sr. |
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11 |
5b |
Bethany
Stoehr |
Bridgewater,
MA |
MCI Racing/
Greg Stoehr |
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12 |
16 |
Matt O'Brien |
Wilmington, MA |
Matt O'Brien |
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13 |
80 |
Pete Pernisiglio Jr. |
Ronkonkoma, NY |
Pete Pernisiglio Sr. |
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14 |
44 |
Russ Stoehr |
Lakeville, MA |
Ed Breault |
15
DNF |
4 |
Anthony Nocella |
Woburn, MA |
Bobby Seymour |
16
DNF |
74 |
Doug Coby |
Milford, CT |
Bertrand Motorsports |
17
DNF |
1s |
Jeff Horn |
Ashland , MA |
Babe Shaw |
18
DNF |
85 |
Michael Barnes |
Mexico, NY |
Michael Barnes |
19
DNF |
99 |
Jim Santa Maria |
Burlington, CT |
Susan Santa
Maria |
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Presented by
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Boston Louie Memorial
Sponsors |
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Event Sponsor
ACQUIA
Burlington,MA
www.acquia.com
Associate Sponsors
Total Seal Piston Rings
Phoeniz, AZ
Bentley's Saloon
Arundel,ME
Blackwatch
Farm
Weathersfield, VT
Seals-It
Ellington, CT
NEMA Feature Sponsors
Motorcars
International
Bridgewater, MA
Crown
Collision
Pawtucket -
Bristol - Middletown, RI
Randy Cabral #47
NEMA LITES Feature Sponsors
Blackwatch Farm
Weathersfield, VT
FMR Racing
Weathersfield, VT
East Ontario Hay Sales
Brockville, Ontario
Seekonk Grand
Prix
Seekonk , MA
Dr. James Cataldo
Sterling, MA
PJ Stergios #11
NEMA
LITES Hard Charger Award
K-Tron Corporation
Marlboro, MA
PJ Stergios #11
NEMA
LITES Hard Luck Award
The Seymour Family
Rayvals Racing #94 & #04
NEMA Hard Charger Award
Mike Jarrett
Bellingham, MA
Randy Cabral #47
NEMA Hard Luck Award
The Seymour Family
Paul Scally
#30
NEMA LITES Heat Sponsors
Viveiros Insurance
Fall River, MA
Pro Stock Kitchens
Peterborough, NH
Doug Howells
Hunter, ND
Heat 1 - Ryan Krachun #29
Heat 2 - DJ Moniz #18
Heat 3 - RJ Tufano #39
NEMA Heat Sponsors
Falconi Energy
Southborough, MA
Mike Jarrett
Bellingham, MA
Heat 1 - Paul Scally #30
Heat
2 - Randy Cabral #47 |
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NEMA ROLLS INTO SEEKONK FOR
THE
BOSTON
LOUIE SEYMOUR MEMORIAL
by Chris
Romano
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Eighteen years ago the Northeast Midget
Association held its first Boston Louie Seymour Memorial
at Seekonk Speedway, and it rapidly became a signature
event for midget racing in the northeast. On July 23 the
NEMA Midgets and NEMA Lites will invade Seekonk Speedway
again for Open Wheel Wednesday, joining the Modifieds
for a night of record breaking lap speeds and three
abreast racing.
This year’s Boston Louie will be special as Ralph
Sheheen and the crew of MAVTV’s SpeedSport Magazine show
will be on site to film the 29 lap event for broadcast
on August 14. For co-founders Mike and Bobby Seymour,
the broadcast of their father’s race brings the legacy
of Boston Louie Seymour full circle. For years Boston
Louie towed the family’s Sprint Car to the Midwest to
race with USAC’s finest, and in 1976 with Billy Casella
the team won the USAC Silver Crown championship.
“From 1971 to 1980,” said Bobby, “ABC’s Wide World of
Sports broadcast USAC Sprint Cars from Terre Haute, and
our car won the first year, the second year, and the
last year.” That exposure, said Seymour, helped propel
his father to a national stage.
Asked if he thought the race would grow to the size and
stature it has, Seymour responded, “In some ways, yes,
and in some ways no. I never thought we’d get a TV deal.
But I knew a lot of people in the Midwest were behind it
because of his notoriety. You’ve got to work it all the
time, and that’s what we do now. There’s a lot of
history there but there are fans who weren’t even born
when my father was racing. That’s when I show them the
Wide World of Sports clip.”
Coming on board for corporate sponsorship this year is
Acquia, A Burlington, MA commercial open source software
company. Other associate sponsors also on board will
help make the Boston Louie one of the best paying shows
on the NEMA calendar.
In addition to NEMA regulars like Randy Cabral, Todd
Bertrand, and Avery and Bethany Stoehr, the NEMA field
will see former Whelen Modified Tour champions Doug Coby
and red hot Bobby Santos seeking to repeat their own
Boston Louie wins. Coby is the defending champion of the
race and will drive for Tim Bertrand, while Santos won
the race in 2002 and will drive the car normally driven
by John Zych. Santos comes to Seekonk off of wins in the
USAC Silver Crown Series in St. Louis, and a last lap
pass at New Hampshire International in the Modifieds.
NEMA Lites will be represented by P.J. Stergios, Paul
Bigelow, Anthony Nocella and rookie Anthony “The
Tornado” Payne. Overall Bobby Seymour is expecting a
record turnout for the event.
“Between the NEMA Midgets and the NEMA Lites,” said
Seymour, we’re expecting between forty and fifty cars.
Given the way things are in racing, I’d say that is
pretty good.” |
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