(Press Release from Northeastern Midget Association)
One of the most recognized names in American motorsports, Sammy Swindell, will make a handful of Northeastern Midget Association starts for Tim Bertrand/Bertrand Motorsports beginning on Wednesday August 14 at the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, and continuing on to LEE USA Speedway on Friday August 16th.
Swindell will be available for fan interaction & autographs at both venues. Swindell is a three-time World of Outlaws Champion & Five-time Chili Bowl champion.
Swindell will join a five car Bertrand Motorsports NEMA operation for the races joining teammates Todd Bertrand, Randy Cabral and Avery Stoehr. Four time NEMA champion and ISMA champion Ben Seitz will join the team at Thompson, and one of the hottest drivers in the northeast, Alby Ovitt, will join the team at LEE USA in a fifth car.
“It was great to be able to put together another deal with Sammy for 2019,” said team owner Tim Bertrand. “We had a great time racing together over the last couple of years and getting to know each other, and the entire team is looking forward to having him back to the Northeast.
“We are incredibly excited to have one of the biggest names in open wheel racing participate in our program on Friday August 16that LEE USA Speedway. Swindell is undoubtedly one of the best and we are looking forward to having him here,” said LEE USA Speedway GM, Joe Bassett.
“We are ecstatic to have Sammy Swindell join an already exciting evening of racing at the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. Between the exciting NEMA action and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, fans should be in for a great evening,” said Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park General Manager, Terry Eames.
Swindell was successful in his debut two seasons ago with the team, running second fastest in qualifying, advanced from seventh to third in his heat and from fifth to fourth in the feature, against NEMA’s best.
Along the way he went wheel-to-wheel with teammates Randy Cabral, Todd Bertrand and held off a charge from two time and defending Champion John Zych. Last season, the team struggled with a new car that Swindell ran, but this year, the team has opted to put Swindell in the family’s iconic No. 47, a threat to win any time it shows up. Danny Cugini took down the Iron Mike Scrivani Memorial race just last weekend in the Bertrand 47.
“We struggled a bit last year, and frankly, if Sammy is going to come out all this way to run, I want to give him a car that he can get right to it in,” said Bertrand.
“I’m excited to be able to get back out and drive for Tim and his team. We’ve gotten to know each other well over the last couple of years and even teamed up for a couple of Chili Bowls. A lot of the learning curve is behind us, and we should be able to get right to it off the bat this year,” said Swindell.
Car owner Bertrand was ecstatic about the partnership.
“Sammy is a great guy to be around, and I’m particularly excited to have him run Thompson for us, a place that our team has had so much success at,” said Bertrand.
This ought to be an outstanding race since NEMA has invited all and any NEMA Lites to join the race with the regular NEMA’s. Quality show being put on right there by NEMA.