NEMA Lites Kick Off at ICEBREAKER; Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park to Offer “Bounty” to NEMA Lites

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

The Northeastern Midget Association has long considered Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (TSMP) the ultimate 'separate the men from the boys (or girls!)' facility. While any Thompson checkered is a treasure, winning on opening day in the NEMA Lites feature at this year's ICEBREAKER event will be a goal high on the list of many attendees.

To add to the excitement, TSMP is offering a “bounty” of $150 to any teams that forfeit their qualified starting positions and drop to the rear of the field, and come through to win the feature event.
2016 Lites champion Jim Chambers will lead the field to Thompson. Chambers was battling for the lead last year, when disaster struck in turns three and four with another competitor, ending his day. In addition to Chambers, NEMA’s all time winner at TSMP Randy Cabral, will be on hand in his family owned #35. Ben Mikitarian, who had an impressive run last Fall at TSMP, will be on hand with his family owned RACE Depot sponsored machine.

In addition to Chambers, Cabral and Mikitarian, one cannot count out 2015 NEMA Lites Champion, Anthony 'The Tornado' Payne in the Scrivani owned #21. Son of legendary open cockpit mainstay, Joey Payne, the young Payne had impressive outings at TSMP last season.

A number of new teams are rumored to be at TSMP for the ICEBREAKER as well, including one of NEMA’s most famous families, the Coy’s, returning full time with Richie Coy at the helm.
With a twenty plus car field rumored, that's just the beginning of the list. Jeremy Decourcey will be debuting his new chassis at the ICEBREAKER, while the Cugini family will bring their two family owned vehicles to the event with brother and sister, Dan and Meg at the wheel. Dan is a multi time Lites feature winner at the Speedway, and always a threat to win.

Ryan Bigelow is set to return to Thompson in his ECOTEC powered BEAST chassis as well. Other entrants include PJ Stergios, a multi time NEMA Lite winner, set to run a full season in pursuit of a Championship in 2017, and p long time Northeastern racer, Chad Labastie.

Todd Bertrand, who had an impressive run last Fall at the World Series, in the Lites division will be on hand in his family owned Drinan chassis, as will long time NEMA owner Paul Scally in his Drinan Chassis.

Kevin Iannarelli will be on hand debuting his new BEAST chassis, hot off the lettering presses from 32 Signs, and Chris Vose is looking forward to his second season with the Lites kicking off at TSMP as well.

Thompson, known for its long straightaways and high banked corners presents a 'mental wrestling match from mid straightaway into the turns,' pointing out to be successful 'you have to pretty much keep your foot in it deep into the corner' says long time NEMA member and multi time winner Greg Stoehr.

 NEMA and Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park have a relationship that goes back to 1960, the legendary Dutch Schaefer the winner. Since then, Thompson has helped write a ton of NEMA history. Greg Stoehr, driving for John Zahar, passed brother Russ in the closing laps to win in 1994. In 2001, Joey Payne, who like Greg Stoehr started last, passed the same Russ Stoehr on the final lap en route to the checkered. The latter was the famed car owner Gene Angelillo's 100th NEMA win.