Northeastern Midget Association

The Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) is a sanctioning body of short track auto racing in the United States and is the oldest sanctioning body of midget car type open wheel racing in North America.

Northeastern Midget Association
CategoryAuto racing
CountryUnited States
RegionNortheastern United States
Inaugural season1953
ClassesMidgets
Lights
Current championsJohn Zych Jr
Drivers' championJohn Zych Jr
Official websitenemaracing.com
Current season

History

On March 8, 1953 a meeting was held at the Thompson Speedway Clubhouse for the purpose of forming a new midget racing organization. The founders were dedicated racing men determined to salvage the remains of what had been the most successful spectator sport in the United States. The first officially sanctioned NEMA race took place at the famed Seekonk Speedway May 30, 1953. It was a two billed show in conjunction with the American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) of New York, with each organization running its own program. The cars and drivers came from the ranks of several other racing organizations which had fallen on hard times and the pits of the infant organization were filled to capacity with no less than forty six cars signed-in. Fred Meeker captured the first NEMA victory driving the Kerhan #17 V-8. The years of 1953 and 1954 saw the fortunes of midget racing at their lowest ebb. Total purses of less than what is paid to the winner of a race feature today were common place. The group credited with keeping NEMA afloat during this timewere; Milt Dentch, the first club president, car owners Ray and Wen Kelley, and John McCarthy; drivers Al Pillion and Ray Roberts; racing officials Lenny Poe and many others. NEMA gradually outgrew its humble beginnings and emerged as a solid professional division. The early rules of NEMA restricted the use of costly specialized racing engines, specifically the twin overhead camshaft Offenhauser. These engines were so powerful and expensive that owners with modified stock engines had little chance at the top prize money. By 1957 the stock block powered machines had developed to such an extent that this restriction was removed and from this time until 1968, NEMA crowned an Offy non-Offy champion, with one being the overall champion. Along with this improved competition with this rule change came a renewal of interest in midget racing among competitors as well as the fans, who came out in large numbers to see the Ford Falcon and Chevy II engines take their share of wins over the mighty “Offy”. [1]

Current

NEMA remains one of the main short track sanctioning bodies in the country and one of the largest in the northeastern US. With 10-15 races a year, the series runs at some of the most historic tracks in America, and when top the feature event, NEMA midgets support some of the top series such as; ISMA and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. NEMA also sanction its own junior support series, NEMA Lites. The Lites are similar in appearance to the traditional midgets, but have less power, some running the USAC Ford Focus Midget engine, and are limited in components they are able to use; all to control cost. [2]

Champions

Season Driver
1953 Bill Eldridge
1954 Bill Eldridge
1955 Ray Burke
1956 Al Pillion
1957 Bill Eldridge
1958 Bill Eldridge
1959 Al Pillion
1960 Dick Brown
1961 Dick Brown
1962 Joe Csiki
1963 Joe Csiki
1964 Walt Gale
1965 Joe Csiki
1966 Ray Roberts
1967 Dave Humphrey
1968 Dave Humphrey
1969 Dave Humphey
1970 Dave Humphrey/ Lou Fray
1971 Dave Humphrey
1972 Johnny Mann
1973 Butch Walsh
1974 Johnny Mann
1975 Bobby White
1976 Armond Holley
1977 Lee Smith
1978 Dave Humphrey
1979 Bobby White
1980 Lee Smith
1981 Nokie Fornoro
1982 Lee Smith
1983 Drew Fornoro
1984 Billy Mann
1985 Drew Fornoro
1986 Drew Fronoro
1987 Bobby Seymour
1988 Drew Fronoro
1989 Joey Coy
1990 Russ Stoehr
1991 Joey Coy
1992 Drew Fornoro
1993 Joey Coy
1994 Mike Seymour
1995 Drew Fornoro
1996 Russ Stoehr
1998 Drew Fronoro
1999 Drew Fronoro
2000 Russ Stoehr
2001 Russ Stoehr
2002 Russ Stoehr
2003 Joey Payne Jr.
2004 Ben Seitz
2005 Ben Seitz
2006 Ben Seitz
2007 Ben Seitz
2008 Randy Cabral
2009 Randy Cabral
2010 Russ Stoehr
2011 Randy Cabral
2012 Randy Cabral
2013 John Zych Jr.
2014 Randy Cabral
2015 John Zych Jr. [3]
2016 John Zych Jr. [4]
2017 Season Starts 5/7/17

References

  1. "NEMA History: THE BEGINNING". Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  2. "NEMAracing.com Who We Are". Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  3. "John Zych Jr. NEMA Champ 2015". Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  4. "2016 NEMA BANQUET". Retrieved 2017-01-09.
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