Bobby Santos III Continues Stafford Run
Stafford Springs, CT — Coming from the 10th starting position, Bobby Santos III had the lead by lap 10 and went on to a convincing victory in the caution-free 30-lap Northeastern Midget Association feature at Stafford Motor Speedway’s Carquest Xtreme Tuesday.
The second leader, Santos, in the family #98, took the inside route past Jeremy Frankoski (Seamon #63) heading into turn one and then held off Randy Cabral to post his second win of the season. He has won his last three Midget starts on the historic half mile. It was the fourth straight Stafford win for the Santos family, sister Erica winning last year.
“I had a real good car and there were no yellows which is unusual here,” said Santos. “Randy has been the man to beat all year so this is good.”
Frankoski held on for third with Jeff Horn (Horn A1) and Erica Santos (Breault #44) completing the top five.
It was wild ride for Cabral. Starting 14th after dropping a valve in his heat, he followed Santos past Frankoski. Shortly after the midpoint, Santos and Cabral battled through lapped traffic a half-straightaway in front of third place Frankoski..
“I was taking my time in the beginning,” said Santos. “I was watching the Jumbotron and I saw Randy was with me. I picked it up a little bit.”
Santos and Cabral were nose to tail coming up on a lapped car in turn one on lap 23. Santos went low and Cabral was momentarily caught behind the lapped car. It resulted in a four-car length advantage Santos maintained to the checkered.
“This place is all about lapped traffic,” explained Santos. While he claimed the move was not intentional, he did point out “it worked for me. You always try to use the lapped cars to your advantage as much as you can, try and pass them at the right times.”
Cabral, who “actually gave up and didn’t want to race,” after the heat difficulty, was filled with accolades for the Bertrand crew. The Santos crew was equally busy after his heat “tightening up the car and making wing adjustments for more straightaway speed.”
After a lap of side-by-side racing with John Zych Jr., Frankoski assumed the lead in the backstretch on lap two. By lap seven, Frankoski, Eric and Bobby Santos and Cabral were in a nose-to-tail situation. Santos and Cabral passed Eric through one and two on lap nine and a lap later moved past Frankoski.
Midweek action continues for NEMA, part of next week’s “Open Wheel Wednesday” at Seekonk Speedway.
RESULTS: 1. Bobby Santos III, 2. Randy Cabral, 3. Jeremy Frankoski, 43. Jeff Horn, 5. Erica Santos, 6. Greg Stoehr, 7. Joey Payne Jr., 8. Jeff Abold, 9. Nokie Fornoro, 10. William Wall, 11. Mike Horn, 12. Mike Luggelle, 13. Andy Shlatz, 14. Doug Cleveland, 15. Kevin Park, 16. Brian Cleveland, 17. Aaron Wall, 18. Paul Luggelle. DNS- Adam Cantor, Neil Blatt, Lee Bundy, Abby Martino.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR