Remembering Maury Dumas: A Legend of NEMA
In the golden eras of open-wheel racing, the person standing on the flag stand was much more than a visual aid—they controlled the safety, rhythm, and showmanship of the entire event. Among the most legendary of these masters was Maurice Dumas, a Hall of Fame flagman whose career spanned nearly four decades. Draping his commanding presence over short tracks from coast to coast, Dumas became an institution in American motorsport, most notably leaving an indelible mark on the Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA).
Maury was a commander on land and at sea. Born in Malone, New York, in 1933, he lived a life defined by discipline, authority, and passion. He served a highly decorated 33-year career as a Captain and XO in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, navigating treacherous waters across the globe. When he wasn't guiding massive ships through storms, he applied that same calm composure to auto racing.
Beginning his flagging career in 1957, Maury went on to control the fields at over 100 racetracks worldwide. Iconic New England venues like Norwood Arena, Westboro Speedway, and Oxford Plains Speedway relied on his keen eye and unyielding judgment to keep drivers safe and races fair. He was widely respected as a true "starter" rather than just a man waving fabric. Maury famously detested race radios, choosing instead to trust his eyes, stand fiercely by his track calls, and put on a thrilling, physical show for the fans in the grandstands.
While Maury could tame any field of stock cars or modifieds, his true motorsport love belonged to the open-wheel warriors of NEMA. He served on the NEMA flag stand sporadically from 1957 until his official retirement in 1993, orchestrating what fans affectionately called the "Mighty Midgets." Waving the green flag for open-wheel midget cars required a rare mix of bravery and split-second decision-making. Maury governed the sport during its most volatile transitions, commandingly managing tight fields of lightning-fast cars. He earned the respect of legendary open-wheel racers by combining absolute fairness with an innate understanding of entertainment value, helping build NEMA's reputation as one of the most innovative and enduring midget racing clubs in the country.
A Lasting Racing Dynasty: Maury Dumas' retirement in 1993 wasn't the end of his legacy, but rather the cementing of a multigenerational racing dynasty. He spent his final professional race sharing the flag stand alongside his oldest son, Steve Dumas, who carried the torch by flagging for NEMA throughout the 1990s. The passion trickled down further to his son John, a veteran racer and mechanic, and his grandson Jack Dumas, a winning open-wheel driver who continues to carry the family name across New England short tracks and NEMA.
Maury Dumas passed away in January 2018 at the age of 84, leaving a void on the flag stands of New England. His contributions remain deeply woven into the fabric of open-wheel history, highlighted by events like the inaugural Maury Dumas Memorial Race held at Oxford Plains Speedway.