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05/25/2010

Empire State Racers Eager to Register for NELMA's 2010 Event

NELMA's first three entrants - Roger Oxee (Late Models), John Visconti (Legends), and Kevin Orlando (Street Stocks) - have one thing in common: they hail from New York. The three racers from the Big Apple hope that their race cars are as fast as a New York minute and can find the way to victory lane during this year's edition of NELMA on Saturday, October 23 at Sundance Vacations Speedway in St. Johns, Pa.

Roger Oxee, of Peconic, N.Y., drives the No. 39 AMC Technology Pontiac. If you look in the Late Model record books at his home track Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway, most likely you’ll see Oxee’s name in it several times. He holds a record 25 consecutive winning seasons, a record 57 feature wins, and the 2005 track championship. However, his last win came in August 2008, a dry spell that has led Oxee to ponder if he’s lost his magic touch behind the wheel. A NELMA Late Model Challenge win would mean much more than a check and a trophy for Oxee – it would reaffirm his status as one of Long Island’s best Late Model drivers, not only for his fans, but perhaps, more importantly, for himself.

Brooklyn, New York’s John Visconti steers the No. 1 7-Eleven Ford Legends car. The second-generation racer grew up turning wrenches for his father Cookie Visconti, a Late Model legend who raced at the now defunct Freeport (N.Y.) Speedway and other L.I. racetracks of the era. While John Visconti has many go-kart championships to his name, he has yet to taste victory in Legends car competition. Will the 2010 NELMA Legends Car Classic be when Visconti finally gets his first feature win trophy? Or, will his spot on the shelf remain empty next to overfilling trophy case of his father’s?

Another second-generation racer, Kevin Orlando of Calverton, N.Y., drives the No. 00 RP Landscaping Dodge. His father Jack ranks third in all-time Riverhead Charger wins. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree – Kevin has tasted victory lane at Riverhead, too, during his short racing career. Last year, Orlando was Long Island’s best in the inaugural NELMA Street Stock Fender Fury, finishing fourth. Can Orlando improve three more positions and take the second annual NELMA Street Stock Fender Fury?

These racers are just three of the many stars that have something to prove during this year’s NELMA blockbuster event on Saturday, October 23, 2010 at Sundance Vacations Speedway in St. Johns, Pa. For more information, visit www.nelmaracing.com.