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.
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”.
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.
Champions Season Driver1953 Bill Eldridge1954 Bill Eldridge1955 Ray Burke1956 Al Pillion1957Bill Eldridge1958 Bill Eldridge1959 Al Pillion1960 Dick Brown1961 Dick Brown1962 Joe Csiki1963 Joe Csiki1964 Walt Gale1965 Joe Csiki1966 Ray Roberts1967 Dave Humphrey1968 Dave Humphrey1969 Dave Humphey1970 Dave Humphrey/ Lou Fray1971 Dave Humphrey1972 Johnny Mann1973 Butch Walsh1974 Johnny Mann1975 Bobby White1976 Armond Holley1977 Lee Smith1978 Dave Humphrey1979 Bobby White1980 Lee Smith1981 Nokie Fornoro1982 Lee Smith1983 Drew Fornoro1984 Billy Mann1985 Drew Fornoro1986 Drew Fronoro1987 Bobby Seymour1988 Drew Fronoro1989 Joey Coy1990 Russ Stoehr1991 Joey Coy1992 Drew Fornoro1993 Joey Coy1994 Mike Seymour1995 Drew Fornoro1996 Russ Stoehr1998 Drew Fronoro1999 Drew Fronoro2000 Russ Stoehr2001 Russ Stoehr2002 Russ Stoehr2003 Joey Payne Jr.2004 Ben Seitz2005 Ben Seitz2006 Ben Seitz2007 Ben Seitz2008 Randy Cabral2009 Randy Cabral2010 Russ Stoehr2011 Randy Cabral2012 Randy Cabral2013 John Zych Jr.2014 Randy Cabral2015John Zych Jr.2016 John Zych Jr.2017Season Starts 5/7/17
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