This Day in NEMA History...
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July 31st
1999...Mark Buonomo (Buonomo 76) got his second NEMA victory in a 25 lapper at Waterford. Drew Fornoro (Angelillo 45) and Russ Stoehr followed. In his rookie season the year before, Mark was a surprise winner of prestigious the Wen Kelley Memorial at Seekonk Speedway on May 24th. He held off a hard charging Babe Shaw and Russ Stoehr to the finish line. |
Mark Buonomo and family, including his proud father Ed Buonomo in victory lane.
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August 1st
1964...Bill Eldridge, driving Bob Bahre’s #26 Offy, was the winner at Oxford Plains. Pete Thurston and Walt Gale were second and third. |
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Left: Cartoonist Phil Bissell's portrayal of the well known Bill Eldridge. Phil is most well known for inventing "Pat the Patriot" - the New England Patriot's Mascot.
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August 2nd
1981...The first NEMA win for both Drew Fornoro and owner Gene Angelillo team came at Hudson. The race was stopped when Nokie Fornoro, in the Scrivani #21, went off the track. While sitting, the right rear on the Angelillo #45 went down. It was replaced by the right rear off the crashed #21. Drew restarted last and went on to defeat Lee Smith and Mike Favulli. Angelillo and Fornoro remain NEMA’s most successful owner/driver combo. Drew Fornoro stands tall at the top of the NEMA all-time winner's list with 85 wins. |
Hall of Fame owner, Gene Angelillo, stands with his VW-powered Edmunds in 1981.
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August 3rd
2013... John Zych Jr (Zych 9) got away from a mid-race battle with Ian Cumens (Seymour 29) and went on to a win at Airborne Speedway, his third career checkered. It was NEMA’s first visit to the New York state since Jerry Wall won there in 1971. Cumens held on for second with Seth Carlson (Feigel 71) third. |
John Zych Jr in his Dad's #9 battles Ian Cumens in the Bobby Seymour #29.
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August 4th
1978 – Joey Coy, in the Scrivani 21, grabbed his first NEMA victory at Star. Buddy Peckham (Peckham 18) was second followed by Dave Humphrey (McCarthy 47) and Billy Mann (Rogers 61). Joey, who joined his dad Johnny Coy on the NEMA win list, finished up with 15 wins. Johnny Coy Jr. also joined the list in 1979 at Hudson, giving the family a unique spot in club history. |
Joey Coy in the Scrivani #21
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August 5th
1973...Gene Bergin (Fahey #18) won a 20 lapper on the Lakeville Speedway dirt. Butch Walsh was second (Connors 58) followed by John Romano (Kilkelly 19), Bob Hart (Czyzewski 2) and Bobby White (White 63). It was the second NEMA win for Bergin who beat a strong ARDC/NEMA field in a 50-lapper at Thompson on Aug. 24, 1969. Starting in the rear in the Scrivani 21 at Thompson, Bergin took the lead with five to go, besting Lou Fray (McCarthy 47) and Roger Bailey (Dorer 5). |
Modified regular, Gene Bergin, poses in the Len Thrall midget at Lakeville.
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August 6th
1960...Hank Williams (Stone 3) was the winner at West Peabody, besting Dick Brown (Monast 19). When NEMA allowed the Offenhauser motor beginning in 1957, car owners Ed Stone and Al Monast were the clear leaders. Stone won there straight championships (1957-59). Williams won three races for Stone in ’60 but the championships went to Brown and Monast, the first of two straight. |
Hank Williams in victory lane with car owner, Ed Stone, and legendary flagman, Maury Dumas.
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