NEMA 2015 Banquet

"TIRES DESIGNED FOR CHAMPIONS"

2015 NEMA BANQUET
Saturday, December 5th
Royal Plaza Hotel
Marlboro, MA
-

2015 NEMA Midgets Owner & Driver Champions - John Zych Jr., John Zych Sr., and family

2015 NEMA Lites Driver Champion - Anthony Payne and the #21 Team

2015 NEMA Lites Owner Champion - Scott Bigelow & Family

The Jim O’Brien Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to family
and racing was presented by the O'Brien family to Glenn Cugini.

Appreciation Awards

Wiscasset win sign
for first time NEMA winner Danny Cugini

Mechanics of the Year
LITES - Scott Bigelow
NEMA - John Zych Sr.

Evans/Thrall Top Owner/Drivers:
LITES - Scott Bigelow
NEMA - Paul Scally

The Ralph Miller
Memorial Award:
Doug Cleveland

Up and Coming Yound
Driver Awards:
LITES - Jeremy Decourcy
NEMA - Avery Stoehr

Associate Member
Never Say Die Award:
LITES - Jeremy Decourcy

Associate Member
Never Say Die Award:
NEMA - Doug Cleveland

LITES:
10th to 6th

NEMA:
10th to 6th

Ed Clotheir
Rookies of the Year:
LITES - Jim Cataldo
NEMA - Alan Chambers

The Wen Kelley Award
Pete Falconi

Joe Csiki Memorial
Most Improved Driver:
Lites: Anthony Payne
NEMA - Alan Chambers

The Jim O’Brien
Memorial Award

The Jim O’Brien Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to family and racing was presented by the O'Brien family to
Glenn Cugini

Hard Luck Awards:
LITES - Danny Cugini
NEMA - Danny Cugini

Pat Thibodeau Youth and Determination Awards:
LITES - Megan Cugini
NEMA - Avery Stoehr

Ray Roberts
Memorial Award:
Paul Scally

Lites 5th Driver:
Megan Cugini
Lites 5th & 4th Owner:
Glenn Cugini

Lites 4th Driver:
Danny Cugini

Lites 3rd Driver:
Scott Bigelow
Lites 3rd Owner:
Glen Cabral

Lites 2nd Owner:
Mike Scrivani

Lites 2nd Driver:
Randy Cabral
Lites 2nd Owner:
Mike Scrivani

Lites 2nd Owner:
Mike Scrivani
with #21 Team Members

NEMA 5th Driver:
Avery Stoehr
NEMA 5th Owner:
Russ Stoehr

NEMA 4th Driver:
Jim Chambers
NEMA 4th Owner:
Mike Chambers

NEMA 3rd Driver:
Seth Carlson
NEMA 3rd Owner:
Gene Feigel

NEMA 2nd Driver:
Randy Cabral
NEMA 2nd Owner:
Tim Bertrand

Raffle Winner:
Bobby Seymour

Marilyn & Gene Angelillo Memorial Award for
Outstanding Performanc:
Tara Stoehr

Shane Hammond
Sportsmanship Awards:
LITES - Paul Bigelow
NEMA - Tim Bertrand

NEMA Lifetime
Member Award:
Glen Cabral

Dick Gallagher Memorial Hall of Fame:
Mike Scrivani

Raffle Winner

2015 NEMA Lites
Owner Champion
Scott Bigelow

2015 NEMA Lites
Driver Champion
Anthony Payne

2015 NEMA Midgets
Owner and Driver Champions
John Zych Sr. and
John Zych Jr.

2015 NEMA Midgets
Owner and Driver Champions
John Zych Sr.
and John Zych Jr.
& Family

2015 NEMA Lites
Owner Champion
Scott Bigelow
& Family

2015 NEMA Lites
Driver Champion
Anthony Payne
& the #21 Team

2015 NEMA Lites
Driver Champion
Anthony Payne
& Family

The Jim O’Brien Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to family and racing was presented by the O'Brien family to
Glenn Cugini

The Cugini and
The Payne
Families



Mike Scrivani held to his promise that he would shave his head if Anthony Payne won the 2015 Lites Driver Championship in the Scrivani #21

Photos by
Norm Marx

NEMA Champions Celebrated
at Annual Awards Gala

Marlborough, MA - NEMA gathered Saturday Dec. 5th to honor its champions at the annual awards gala, hosted at the Best Western Crown Plaza in Marlborough, MA. Hundreds of competitors, crew, fans and their families gathered for the event. NEMA's announcer, Pete Falconi, was the host for the evening, assisted by NEMA President, Russ Stoehr.

The crowd gave a rousing ovation to the night's special guests - Dave Humphrey, a six time NEMA champion, and Star Speedway General Manager & Promoter, Bobby Webber Jr. NEMA will return to Star Speedway on three occasions in 2016.

The team of John Zych Jr. and Sr. picked up their second championship in the last three years in the NEMA division, while Anthony Payne took down the Lites championship in the Scrivani #21 and Scott Bigelow took down the owner's crown in the Lites.

Trophies and checks were awarded to the top ten competitors in each division.

There were also many special awards given out, a hallmark of NEMA's annual celebration.

Long time club member and car owner, Mike Scrivani, took down the Dick Gallagher Memorial Hall of Fame honors, while Glenn Cugini was presented the prestigious Jim O'Brien Memorial award by the O'Brien family.

The Wen Kelley Memorial award, presented for outstanding dedication and service to the club was given to NEMA announcer and long time supporter, Pete Falconi. The Ralph Miller award for outstanding perseverance was given to Doug Cleveland, after a season of many mechanical issues on his family owned #87 machine.

The Joe Csiki most improved driver awards went to Anthony Payne in the Lites and to Alan Chambers in NEMA. Mechanic of the Year honors went to Scott Bigelow in the Lites and to John Zych Sr. in NEMA.

The Ray Roberts Memorial award went to veteran Paul Scally. Scally also took down the top owner/driver award, while Scott Bigelow took down that award for the Lites.

Rookie of the Year honors went to Jim Cataldo in the Lites and Alan Chambers in NEMA.

The "Never Say Die" award, went to Jeremy Decourcey in the Lites and Doug Cleveland in NEMA. Decourcey also took down the Up & Coming driver award, while Avery Stoehr took down that award in NEMA. Meg Cugini took down the Pat Thibodeau Youth & Determination award, while Avery Stoehr took down the honors in NEMA.

Tara Stoehr, mother of driver Bethany and husband of long time competitor, Greg Stoehr, took down the Angelillo Memorial Award. Danny Cugini took down the club's "Hard Luck" award after losing an engine on his NEMA car and destroying his Lites car.

Glen Cabral took down the Lifetime Member award.

Tim Bertrand took the Shane Hammond Sportsmanship award honors for NEMA and Paul Bigelow took down that award for the Lites.

A host of appreciation award were given out - to the following members: Bill van Slyke, Mariah Michalski, Norm Marx, Pete Falconi, Bob Blanchette, Linda Cleveland, Mike McCarthy, Craig Merriman, Steve Cleveland, Cynthia Tibbetts, Mike and Lu Jarret, Tara Stoehr, Robyn Buskey, Patrick Bertrand, Denise Chambers, and Bob Seymour.

NEMA's 2016 season kicks off at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on April 9th followed by Star Speedway on May 21st and Riverhead Speedway on May 28th.

NEMA President Stoehr Reflects on 2015

As John Zych Jr. and Anthony Payne are celebrating their 2015 NEMA driver's championships, NEMA President Russ Stoehr is reflecting on a very successful Northeastern Midget Association season. It was a year that highlighted a diverse group of winners across both venues, and 13 events.

Highlights on the season included 2 wins by back to back NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Doug Coby, one on opening day at Chemung and one at Waterford, respectively. Jim Chambers took down his first ever NEMA victory at the Twin State Speedway, and Joey Payne returned to NEMA victory lane after a two year hiatus at Monadnock Speedway after a hard fought victory over John Zych. Champion, Zych captured three wins, coming at Thompson Speedway, Oswego and Evans Mills, and Randy Cabral captured wins at Star Speedway and Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. Todd Bertrand performed a "wing dance" after winning the Speed Sport TV, Boston Louis Memorial at Seekonk Speedway, and Seth Carlson took down an impressive Wings & Wheels win at the New-London Waterford Speedbowl. Alan Chambers took down Rookie honors.

In the Lites division, young star Anthony Payne bested the wiley veteran, Randy Cabral for the season championship. Scott Bigelow captured his second consecutive owner's championship. On the racing front, many highlights included Meg Cugini's first ever career win, and PJ Stergios' repeat win at the Boston Louis Memorial. Jim Cataldo took down Rookie honors.

President, Stoehr, has already been very busy working on the 2016 schedule for the group as a whole. "Building on the momentum that was created over the last few years - in 2016, we are forging some important strategic partnerships with several facilities that are committed to both the NEMA brand and short track racing in general and are working on multiple dates at Waterford, Thompson, Star Speedway," he said.

And those facilities felt the same about NEMA.

"Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park enjoyed our expanded relationship with NEMA and the NEMA Lites in 2015. Both divisions were professionally organized and provided some ultra competitive racing on our 5/8 mile oval. Congratulations to John Zych and Anthony Payne as well as all other teams on their achievements this season. We look forward to seeing NEMA again in 2016," said TSMP General Manager, Josh Vanada.

"We can see that NEMA is on the up swing, and we want to partner with divisions that can both bring us consistent car count, and put on a great show," said Star Speedway Promoter, Bobby Webber Jr. "We are excited to have NEMA return, and are looking forward to some great races over the year to come."

"NEMA is very excited to have secured multiple dates at all of these facilities for 2016," Said NEMA President, Stoehr. "Between both divisions, we will have over 12 races at these facilities, - Waterford, Thompson and Star, in 2016."

Stoehr recognizes the stereotype that had been cast over midget racing in the Northeast over the last fifteen years, and is working hard to educate racers who are interested in midget racing on both affordability and reliability. "We had many races go green to checkered this year, and ninety percent of our cars finish the race in both classes," he said. "That's a lot different than midget racing fifteen years ago." "We have a tire rule that we actively police to keep costs down, and most teams are running engines between fifteen and twenty races before rebuilds in NEMA and multiple seasons in the Lites. There are teams who have run the same engine eight seasons in the LItes with no rebuilds!," he went on to say.

"If you look at the race cars that are winning - most are older cars that teams have refurbished over the years. John Zych Jr.'s Drinan car was built in 1999, and its the same car he has been running for the last six seasons. These cars exist in garages - with engines, and often times can be purchased for under $15,000. Many of the Lites cars are fifteen year old cars that have been passed down through the years, and there are teams running in front who have less than a $10,000 total investment in their program. I'm not sure of a place where you can go this fast, put on a great race, and run for that price," he said. "The other nice thing is that midget racing is one of the only places where a father & son/daughter team can compete without having an army of a crew to work on the car. The Club is great about helping people out and providing assistance at the track. The Zych family is a great example - most races its just the two of them at the race track," Stoehr went on to say.

There are also changes being implemented in the Lites division to bring parody to the engine rules. "We decided as a Board that the Honda engine package was not the right decision for the Club, so we have decided to put a moratorium on those going forward. We have a solid set of rules for the Focus engines, and are looking forward to having the premier division on the East Coast for that engine package going forward," he said.

Stoehr is also excited about adding new venues to the docket for 2016. "We have added a big Memorial Day weekend event to the schedule at Riverhead, and will be hosting a memorial race for Allan Cantor. That's a place we have wanted to go back to for a long time, and really appreciate the Partridge family giving us a shot to put on a show there," he said. Stoehr is also negotiating the schedule, which will be published in mid December, with a number of other venues.

With a very interesting schedule taking shape, a growing list of car owners, and costs & reliability well under control there is no doubt that the Northeastern Midget Association is on the upswing headed into 2016.