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2024 NEMA NEWS |
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DOUG CLEVELAND
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For Doug Cleveland it began at Westboro Speedway in
1975.
"First race of the season, said Doug, "Being a
rookie I started in the back of the pack and in the feature
I saw a hole that didn't end up being totally there and I
ripped the rear end out of the car. That was a pretty rough
track but I loved it."
It's been a lifelong love
affair with NEMA from then on for the entire Cleveland clan
with Doug racing his own equipment for much of that time,
supported by brothers, uncles, girlfriends, and wife Linda,
to whom Doug proposed to at a NEMA banquet.
His first
win came in 1977 driving for Jim O'Brien in St. Pie, Quebec.
And then it was over 16,800 days before the next one at
Lee USA. He didn't have to wait as long for the next at
Waterford this year. Two end of season races.
"Lee is
actually the better track for me," said Doug. "Waterford
seems to me like over the years I've had some decent runs
but never as good as I had this day. The strange thing is
the last two races that I've won I almost didn't really want
to go. We got there late both times. We got a good parking
spot both times. This time I got there late enough so I
couldn't make the first practice. I didn't have tires.
(Bobby) Seymour was out in Indiana so I was going through my
pile of tires and I picked out the best ones I had. So they
were all used tires except for my right rear for the day
because Peter Valeri came over and said 'I understand you
might need a right rear tire.' I said 'Well yeah, I do, what
do you want for it?' He said, 'Go out and win.'
"I
won my heat, walked over to him with a little trophy and
said 'I'm halfway there.' After the feature when I won it I
went over to him and said, 'I did what you asked! Thank
you!'
"Towards the end of the race (Paul) Scally was
right there and he got inside me going down the backstretch
and actually got ahead of me but as we were coming out of
the corner I kinda squeezed him down and he had to back out.
I saw Randy at the end of the straight away and I caught up
to him and slowed down in the corner to use him as a pick.
That's how I ended up winning it by two car lengths."
He won, as usual, with a car of his own making.
"I bent the tubing, welded the tubing, made all the
suspension points, made a lot of the suspension parts. I try
to use whatever I can in the house and the garage instead of
going out and spending money on it.
"One time I needed
something to turn my fuel on and off right out at my
injectors and I was trying to figure out how to do it. I
found a curtain rod holder and made that work."
A
Mopar engine powered him to his last two victories. "I've
had help with this one through John Andruk from Circle
Performance. I go down to his shop and he helps me out, but
I basically did the original Mopar and I'm pretty much using
all those parts.
"I like the quickness of the car,
it's a small enough car so I can continue to work on it."
What's next for this NEMA legend?
"Two years ago
I was thinking of retiring, said Doug "and every time I get
to that point I end up with a win, so I guess I'm going for
another season.
"I'm like a block of cheese. I just
get better with age." |
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October 19, 2024 - New London-Waterford
Speedbowl |
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October 1, 2022 - Lee USA Speedway |
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CHUCK
WELLING
June 6, 1960
July 29,
2024 |
Longtime NEMA driver and car owner
Chuck
Welling #69 has passed away. |
Chuck D. Welling of Wrentham, MA passed away at home
surrounded by his loving family on July 29, 2024.
Chuck was born in Jackson, Michigan on June 6. Chuck grew up
in Michigan and graduated from H.H. Dow High School in
Midland, Michigan. Chuck went on to graduate from Ohio
Diesel Tech and attended classes at University of Michigan.
He moved to Massachusetts in the 1980’s. Chuck married the
love of his life, Ro, in 2004. The two have enjoyed over 38
years of love and adventure.
Aside from working as a
Tig Welder for the United States Government, Chuck was a man
of many trades. He was a race car driver with Northeastern
Midget Association and a Licensed Auctioneer. He received
his Auctioneer degree in both Massachusetts and New
Hampshire.
Chuck loved riding his motorcycles, going
to yard sales and flea markets with Ro, building things and
racing with NEMA. His greatest enjoyment was spending time
with his family and lots of friends. Chuck was always there
to help anyone in need, he will be greatly missed by all who
knew him.
Chuck is survived by his loving wife Ro
Welling; daughter Nicole Torrisi and her husband Mark; his
two grandchildren Abigail and Fionn McKenna; his parents
Paul and Cly-t (Patton) Welling of Michigan. He is also
survived by many friends that were family to Chuck.
Chuck was predeceased by his sister, Jane Wolf-Welling.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling
hours Thursday, August 15, 2024, from 9:45AM - 11:45AM at
R.J. Ross Funeral Home, 135 South Street Wrentham, MA. A
collation in Chuck’s memory will follow.
www.rjrossfuneralhomeinc.com/obituaries
In lieu
of flowers donations in Chuck’s name may be made to The
Haymakers for Hope at
haymakersforhope.org/donations/new and Hope Hospice
Health Care at
www.hopehealthco.org/ways-to-give/donatenow/donate-to-hopehealth-hospice-palliative-care/.
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