Avery Stoehr of Lakeville gets a full time ride for the 2015 season on the NEMA Midget circuit. (Credit: NEMA photo.)

By Lou Modestino

For many years, a NEMA race has not been run without a Stoehr family name on the starting grid – from grandfather Paul, to brothers Russ, from Bridgewater and Greg of Lakeville, to the new generation of Stoehrs – Avery of Lakeville and Bethany of Bridgewater. This year will be no different.

The 2015 runner-up in the NEMA Midgets division, Avery Stoehr, will again campaign a full-time ride on the NEMA schedule, and also will sport a new NEMA Lites ride at the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Icebreaker on April 11th and 12th. Avery will be bringing along his familiar sponsors: Motorcars International, Skaters Edge, Maaco, and Jon Andruk’s Circle Performance. In addition, Stoehr will run select TQ races – as evidenced by his appearances in Trenton NJ and Atlantic City – and is working on other possible rides, including Stafford Speedway on Friday nights. “2014 was a good year. I think we accomplished everything we set out to and then some. I think we’ve got a very good season to build off of for 2015,” said Avery.

A welder by trade, the young Stoehr says that Oswego and Thompson, two of NEMA’s fastest tracks, are his favorite places, not unlike many of the young drivers. “NEMA is a place where any given car can win on any given night at any track these days,” he says.

Avery’s #15A race cars are crewed by the familiar father & son combination of Carl and Curt Kibbe. The Kibbes have been a mainstay in NEMA for the last four decades with Carl having won multiple championships as a car owner, and Curt having been a key crew member for his father and the late Gene Angelillo.

And it does not end there. Avery’s cousin, Bethany, also a regular front runner in NEMA, is looking forward to the full NEMA schedule as well.”Our plans for the 2015 season for the #5B team include building a new car over the winter and attending every scheduled event. Our goal is podium finishes or a top 5 at every race,” she says.

When asked about her favorite track, Bethany says “I like Oswego and Twin State the most, but it is awfully hard to narrow down a favorite. I like any track that involves going fast and turning left!”

A race fan since she can remember, NEMA’s top division only current female competitor has had the sport in her blood since a very young age. Bethany also has a passion for music, singing the National Anthem at a number of NEMA races. She enjoys singing & writing music as a hobby, when she is not busy either working on the race car, racing, or at her full time job at Motorcars International.

Longtime NEMA board member, tech inspector and chassis expert, Shawn Torrey of Marshfield will join Bethany’s father Greg and mother Tara as the crew on her #5B in 2015.

There is one thing for sure, when the green flag drops at NEMA’s season opener, the chances of a Stoehr on the podium, or in the winner’s circle are very strong for 2015.

Source: NEMA PR/Tim Bertrand