Randy Cabral Thompson Winner; Russ Stoehr NEMA 2010 Champion
Thompson, CT – Leading all but two laps, Randy Cabral, in the Bertrand Motorsports #47, ended the 2010 Northeastern Midget Association season Sunday, winning the 25-lap feature at Thompson Speedway’s World Series. Cabral held off teammate Cole Carter (Bertrand #39) over the final 15 laps to collect his fourth win of the season and his club-record ninth at Thompson.
Russ Stoehr’s third place was more than enough to clinch championships for him and Laura Kibbe’s Dumo’s Desire #45. It was the sixth championship for Stoehr who dedicated it to the late Gene and Marilyn Angelillo and to the crew that carried on following Gene’s death in March.
Adam Cantor (#7ny) was fourth ahead of a Greg Stoehr (#26b)-Jim Miller (#3m) battle for fifth that went to the former. Greg Stoehr wound up third in the final driver and owner standings.
[Thompson World Series Sat. Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
[Thompson World Series Sun. Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
“We wanted to win the race, that was our only objective,” said Cabral who came from the tenth starting spot. After a brief battle with Jim Miller, he grabbed the lead in the backstretch. Carter, meanwhile, took second from Miller on lap six and by lap nine had closed on the leader. When the second yellow showed on lap 12, Cabral and Carter had a seven car advantage on a Miller-Stoehr tussle for third.
Following the restart, Carter appeared to grab the lead momentarily out of two but Cabral beat him into three. It was the only time Cabral “saw” his teammate although the one-time USAC driver did make two other determined moves out of two before settling into a run on the leader’s tail. Cabral said he was “surprised” it was Cole, “expecting somebody else like Russ.” Still, he felt “if I didn’t screw up I was going to be OK.”
Russ Stoehr, who went into the feature with a 50-point edge, said he became aware he had nothing after “trying to take on” the leaders on the restart. He did get third from Miller but became aware “there was no purpose in trying to win.” He ran by himself in third almost a half straightaway behind over the last 10 laps. Stoehr, who took “a good whack” in a first lap altercation that eliminated Chris deRitis and Brian Cleveland, “played it safe.”
Cabral, eager “to redeem himself” after over-aggression proved so costly at Seekonk’s DAV, was cautious on the initial start, determined “to let things settle out.” On the second green, realizing “how fast everybody was going” he moved to the outside and “went for it.”
NEMA NUGGETS
- The championship, said Stoehr, is “just as huge” as the year (1997) that Bruce Beane retired. Four of Stoehr’s championships have come with Angelillo. It is the 14th owner’s title for the Angelillo team.
- Cabral said driving a Pro4 Modified for the Ricardi family on Saturday (he came from last to 11th) was a confidence builder. He continues to make NEMA history, his 30th career moving him past the legendary Johnny Mann on NEMA’s all-time win list.
- Cole Carter was three-for-three in podium finishes driving for Bertrand Motorsports this year, the World Series result besting the thirds he had a Stafford and Thompson…Cabral admitted a third championship would have been nice but “having to back them up every year is a pain.”
- Cabral admitted a third championship would have been nice but “having to back them up every year is a pain.”
NEMA Feature – World Series – Sun., Oct. 17th
Pos. # Driver Hometown Owner
1 47 Randy Cabral Plymouth, MA Tim Bertrand
2 39 Cole Carter Indianapolis, IN Tim Bertrand
3 45 Russ Stoehr Bridgewater, MA Dumo’s Desire Racing
4 7ny Adam Cantor Dix Hills, NY Cantor Racing
5 26b Greg Stoehr Bridgewater, MA Greg Stoehr
6 3m Jim Miller Weymouth, MA Jim Miller
7 93x Mike Horn Ashland, MA Jeff Horn
8 9 John Zych, Jr. Liverpool, NY John Zych, Sr.
9 44 Erica Santos Franklin, MA Ed Breault
10 50 Anthony Marvuglio E. Bridgewater, MA Pete Pernisiglio,Sr.
11 2 Lee Bundy Kennebunkport, ME Lee Bundy
12 25 Keith Botelho Attleboro, MA Russ Stoehr
13 DNF 88 Lanson Fornoro Stroudsburg, PA Andy Anderson
14 28 Paul Luggelle Holbrook, MA Paul Luggelle
15 DNF 30 Paul Scally Raynham, MA Paul Scally
16 DNF 75 Chris deRitis Philadelphia, PA Ciconni/deRitis
17 DNF 78 Brian Cleveland Billerica, MA Linda Cleveland