A. Payne, Zych Lead NEMA to Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park World Series of Racing
Thompson, CT — Both Anthony Payne and John Zych Jr. lead NEMA to this coming weekend’s World Series of Racing at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, with commanding points leads. Payne leads reining NEMA champion Randy Cabral by 49 points in the Lites division, and Zych leads Cabral by 65 points in the NEMA division. Zych merely needs to finish his heat race and start the feature event to clinch the NEMA championship. For the previous winner, Zych, it seems like a very accomplishable feat this Saturday, barring any mechanical issues. In the Lites division, Scott Bigelow leads Mike Scrivani in the owners points and John Zych Sr. leads Tim Bertrand in the NEMA owner points.
This year’s Thompson finale is a special one, in that it will be the first time that the Shane Hammond Memorial will be held at TSMP. The young Hammond lost his life in a NEMA midget at Thompson in 2008. Since that point, his mother, Deb Marvuglio, has been a devout supporter of the club through the Shane Hammond Memorial Foundation, and her support of the annual event, memorializing Hammond.
For Payne, son of Joey Payne, and a multi generational racing family, a Championship is the ultimate prize.
“Coming into this season I wanted to improve my finishes from last year and concentrate on getting some wins. We got some wins and consistent top 5s. The season started at Thompson, which was a big accomplishment getting a top 5 on my first ever 5/8th St mile race. We got wins at Evans Mills and New London Waterford Wpeedbowl and had a lot of strong finishes,” said the young Payne.
“Thompson is a very unique track with lots of speed and room to use the high banks to help pass cars. They have made it into such a great place to race, one of the most professional looking tracks to race at. Going into the last race of the year as points leader comes with a lot of pressure and a lot on the line. I want to be successful with another good run there and come away as the 2015 NEMA Lite Champion. Battling Randy Cabral for the championship is really special, he is such a talented driver and a multi-time NEMA Midget champion. Its great racing against him in the series as it helps me watching where he is on the track learning his lines,” Payne went on to say.
“I’d like to thanks the Scrivani’s, Jarret’s and Jim Susi for all they do for me. My family for their support and my sponsors Dave Shore, Waddell Communications for making my racing successful. I’ve had a successful season and looking forward to many more to come,” he concluded.
As always, a Thompson victory prize is the ultimate for any NEMA or NEMA Lite driver. A “separate the men from the boys” track, the 5/8 mile will see speeds in excess of 140 miles per hour when the NEMA cars hit the tracknext Saturday.
“We’re very excited to conclude a very competitive season at the Thompson Speedway Motorspors Park,” said NEMA President Russ Stoehr. “Josh (Vanada), Don Hoenig and their team have put together a first class facility, staff and program. We have been very proud to be a part of their program for three events this year, and the World Series is one of everyone’s favorites in the club” Stoehr said.
The NEMA midgets will run the Saturday evening portion of the World Series of Racing program and the Lites will be a part of Sunday’s program this coming weekend.
Sources: Tim Bertrand/NEMA PR