This Day in NEMA History...
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May 8th
1970...A third for Hank Stevens, in Chuck Daniel’s #10, was the top NEMA finisher in a co-sanctioned 25 lapper at Albany Saratoga Speedway. Johnny Coy, in the Brenn #1, was the winner. Albany-Saratoga, a four tenths paved oval before becoming dirt in 1977, hosted NEMA 18 times, many of those evens co-sanctioned with ARDC. |
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Left: The always colorful and proven Stock car ace, Hank Stevens, aboard Chuck Daniels Falcon Powered Kurtis at Halifax Speedway in 1969.
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May 9th
1959...Everett Rogers, in his own #74, scored his only win as a driver at Norwood Arena beating Bill Randall and Hank Williams. Rogers, a motel owner in Warwick, RI, had a long career as a car owner including the 1984 championship with Billy Mann. |
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Left: Everett Rogers in his driving days poses here at West Peabody Speedway in Massachusetts.
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May 10th
2003...Adam Cantor (7ny) grabbed his first NEMA feature at Star. Drew Fornoro (Campanale 91) was second with Randy Cabral (Cabral 36), Bobby Santos III (Seymour 29) and Joey Payne (Angelillo 45) fifth. Driving a car sister Erica qualified, Santos came from the back of the field. Cantor, Cabral and Santos were all part of NEMA’s “youth movement.” |
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Left: One of the first drivers to benefit from NEMA lowering the driving age to 16 (from 18), Adam Cantor stands with a very proud Dad and Step-Dad.
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May 11th
1956...An innovator who began racing in the immediate post-war era, Len Thrall grabbed his first NEMA win at Seekonk in his own Falcon-powered #8. Jerry Russo and Al Pillion were second and third. A pioneer (notably with the Falcon engine and some unique body designs), Thrall, who drove in NEMA’s first race, would go on to win 17 features for eight other owners. |
Long before the revolutionary "Yellow-Jacket" roadster and famous Badgers, Len Thrall was building and driving roadster style midgets.
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May 12th
2012 – Greg Stoehr (Stoehr #26b) took the lead on lap 13 and went on to beat Randy Cabral (Bertrand #47), John Zych Jr. (Zych #9), Russ Stoehr (Angelillo #45) and Todd Bertrand (Bertrand #39) in the prestigious 60th Anniversary race at the Waterford Speedbowl. It was the last of 11 career wins for Greg. |
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Left: Greg Stoehr after this historic win. Over four generations, the Stoehr family has been part of NEMA's history for almost five decades with grand-father Paul, sons Russ and Greg, and grand-children Bethany, Kathryn, and Avery.
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May 13th
1964 – The season-opening 25 lapper at Westboro went to Johnny Kay (Slaney 28) with King Carpenter and George Monsen completing the podium. It was Kay’s fifth NEMA victory but the first after a near fatal crash at San Antonio, TX in November of 1959. Kay, a winner at the famed 16th Street and the 1955 Indy 500 first alternate, had eight total NEMA wins. |
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Left: A huge accomplishment in his era, Johnny Kay came close to qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 four times. Back home in New England, his deeds in midgets are legendary. His last steady ride was aboard the famous Dumo's Desire when Gene Angelillo came onto the NEMA scene in 1980.
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May 14th
1976...Bobby White, in Hop Harrington’s Pinto-powered #42 Badger prevailed over Billy Mann (Rogers 6), Butch Walsh (Scrivani 22), Rick Hart (Daniel 10) and Bob Hart (Young 4) in a 25 lapper at Monadnock. |
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Left: 1975 NEMA Champion Driver, Bobby White, stands in victory lane at Star Speedway with his family and car owner, Hop Harrington. He went on to win another Championship again in 1979.
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