This Day in NEMA History...
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June 12th
1966...NEMA’s first visit to Lee USA Speedway – it was still a unique third-mile tri-oval - went to veteran Walter Gale in Smokey Secondo’s #32. Dave Humphrey (Downing #3) was second with Bill Stofer (Slaney #6) third and Ray Roberts (Smiley #60) fourth. It was one of 14 wins for Gale, the 1964 champion, collected between 1964 and 1968. He is tied for 14th on the all-time NEMA win list. |
Walter Gale in the Secondo Offy
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June 13th
2015...Taking advantage of a late restart with eight laps remaining, Danny Cugini (Cugini #51) was the winner at Wiscasset. The yellow was absolute heartbreak for Paul “Dangerous” Scally, the only other leader. Randy Cabral (Bertrand #47) was second and Seth Carlson (Fiegel #71) third. Scally brought an overheating car home fourth with John Zych Jr. (Zych #9) fifth. Randy Cabral made him earn the win as the two made contact on the last lap. |
A very happy Dan Cugini stands with his proud family in victory lane after giving the Wiscassett fans one of the most exciting NEMA finishes in years.
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June 14th
1992...Greg Stoehr, who spent several seasons in stock cars, grabbed his first NEMA win in Jim Miller’s VW powered Reider #3M at Vermont’s Thunder Road. Bobby and Mike Seymour were second and third. Greg went on to win multiple times in this car when it was John Zahar's #38. |
Greg Stoehr stands with his wife, Tara, and a very proud Jim Miller, the car owner.
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June 15th
2002...After a battle with Bobby Santos III, Tim Bertrand, in the family-owned 47, prevailed in a restart with four laps left and ran away to his first NEMA win at Waterford. Randy Cabral (Cabral 35) passed Santos (Seymour 9) late in the race to claim second. Russ Stoehr (Angelillo 45) and Ben Seitz (Valeri 17) were fourth and fifth. Bertrand was the fourth driver to win in a #47 car. |
Current NEMA President, Tim Bertrand, poses with the family owned Esslinger powered Drinan chassis.
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June 16th
1961...Joe Csiki, in his Ferguson-powered #22, won his first NEMA feature at Plainville. The next six cars, including second through fourth place finishers Jerry Russo, Bert Brooks and Ray Brown, were in Offenhauser-powered equipment. Csiki was a leading character in developing NEMA’s role as an innovator in Midget racing, especially in the development of “stock block” motors. |
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June 17th
1966...Bill Stofer, in Don Slaney’s Falcon-powered #6 was the 25-lap winner at Norwood ahead of Walter Gale in Smokey Secondo’s Offenhauser #32. Al Pillion, in John McCarthy’s #47 Chevy II was third with Dave Humphrey fourth in Freeman Downing’s #3. This came in the middle of the emergence of the stock blocks in Midget racing. |
Bill Stofer in Slaney's roadster at Riverside Park Speedway.
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June 11th
2005...Coming from deep in the field, defending champion Ben Seitz (Valeri 17) took the lead on lap eight and went on to win the 25 lapper at Seekonk. Randy Cabral (Seymour 29) prevailed in the battle for second with Mike Keeler (Keeler 55) and Bobby Santos III (Berrio 2) following. Joey Payne (Angelillo 45) was third. This was Ben's second victory of the season en route to his second consecutive Championship. |
Four time champion and NEMA Hall of Famer, Ben Seitze poses in victory lane with 2nd generation flagman, Steve Grant.
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