This Day in NEMA History...
May 22nd
1977...Doug Cleveland, in Jimmy O’Brien’s #16 “Pink Panther”- his version of the Badger, was the winner at Sanair International Speedway in Quebec. Cleveland was in his sophomore season as a NEMA competitor and it was only the fourth race for the car, one of several O’Brien is remembered for in his four decades as a NEMA car owner. Bob Cicconi and Johnny Evans were second and third. |
Left: NEMA's "iron man", Doug Cleveland, strapping on his helmet moments before out running Bob Cicconi and the rest of the Sanair field to victory lane. A NEMA driver every year since 1976, Doug has arguably raced more laps than any other driver the club's history.
|
May 23rd
1998...Keith Botelho’s first NEMA win came at Seekonk in the Campanale #54. The Seymour brothers, Bobby and Mike respectively, was second and third. All of NEMA celebrated for the popular Botelho. |
Left: Keith Botelho in the Campanale #54 at Seekonk Speedway in 2005. A winner in Street Stocks at Seekonk, Keith debuted in the midgets aboard Mazda Pete's #50 in 1988.
|
May 24th
1998...Modified ace Ted Christopher, in Marilyn Angelillo’s #45b, beat back a determined challenge from Bobby Seymour and won the 25 lapper by inches at Waterford. It is his only NEMA win. Mike Seymour was third. |
Left: A very proud Gena Angelillo stands with Marilyn's driver, Ted Christopher, and Kurt Keirmont, Jack Giannini, and the others from the Dumo's Desire crew. (Miour Photo)
|
May 25th
1991...Amidst controversy and a violent flip by Jim Miller, Mike Favulli (Favulli #80) was the winner at Star. Mike Seymour, Jeff Horn, Russ Stoehr and Joey Coy followed. The controversy arose when Favulli stopped during an on-track incident to tighten his belts. |
Left: NEMA president at the time, Mike Favulli, waits in the infield later the same year at Oswego in his Fontana powered Lindblad chassis.
|
May 26th
2007...In a real messy affair – seven cautions – Joey Payne (Angelillo 45) got plenty of restart experience before winning the 25-lapper at Star. Ben Seitz (Valeri #17) was second followed by Lou Cicconi Jr. (Bertrand #47b), Shane Hammond (Jarret #4) and Randy Cabral (Bertrand #47). |
Left: Joey Payne in the Dumo's Desire #45 battles on the inside of Pete Pernisiglio Jr in the family's #80 on his way to victory at Star Speedway. (Dadalt Photo)
|
May 27th
2006...The first victory for the Randy Cabral/Tim Bertrand driver/owner team came at Seekonk. Cabral took over on a restart with 14 remaining and went on to beat Jeff Horn (Horn #A1), Ben Seitz (Valeri #17), Shane Hammond (Jarrett 4) and Mike Ordway Jr. (Power Point #44). Cabral/Bertrand is one of the most successful of all NEMA teams with 41 victories and nine championships between them. |
Left: Randy Cabral does his victory lap at Seekonk Speedway, where during his last visit, he suffered one of the worst midget wrecks ever in his debut start for Bertrand Motorsports, leaving the team wondering if they would be back in 2006. (Converse Photo)
|
May 28th
1972...The first of what would be many wins for the Badger chassis came at Star, Dave Humphrey driving John McCarthy’s Chevy II-powered Rollie Lindblad-built #47 to a convincing victory. Don Keller and Bob Pick, in classic “uprights,” followed. The success of Jerry Wall and his “Yellowjacket” in ’71 prompted McCarthy and builder Lindblad to come up with an answer. The Badger, which dominated for over two decades, was it. |
Left: A victorious Dave Humphrey stands in victory lane at Star with car owner and current NEMA president at the time, John McCarthy. This was the very first victory for chassis innovator Rollie Lindblad's famous "Badger".
|