Stoehr Breezes to Speedbowl Victory
Waterford, CT – Coming from the fourth starting position, Greg Stoehr had the lead halfway down the front straightaway and went to score a 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association victory Saturday night at Waterford Speedbowl. He is NEMA’s fifth winner this season.
Only two cautions slowed down Stoehr’s run to his seventh career victory. Driving the Mazda-powered family-owned #26b, he finished eight-tenths of a second ahead of Erica Santos (Breault #44) who ran second for all but one lap. Nokie Fornoro (Jarret #4) was a second-and-a-half back in third.
“I knew if I could get in front quickly everything would be OK,” said Stoehr. “On this track where everybody runs so well you’ve got to get to the front as soon you can and be real consistent.” Getting a great run out of two, he blasted past pole-sitter Doug Cleveland before the race was a lap old.
Santos, who started sixth, grabbed second on the first restart just a lap in. “It took [my car] a couple laps to get going,” she said. “Greg got away from me.” It actually happened twice.
The second yellow with 15 laps left wiped out Stoehr’s large lead. Fornoro stormed from sixth to third with a daring outside run but Stoehr was quickly back in command with Santos in second.
“Watching the scoreboard” Stoehr knew he was in command. He “couldn’t hear the #44 behind him” and “didn’t see Randy (Cabral), Bobby (Santos) or Joey (Payne.)”
Adam Cantor (Cantor 7ny) claimed fourth with Payne (Angelillo 45) fifth. William Wall, Mike Keeler, Cabral, John Zych Jr. and Aaron Wall completed the top 10.
Pointing out “we’ve been chasing the chassis all year,” Stoehr said he and brother Russ “finally figured out what the car wanted.” He turned the only sub-13 seconds lap (12.983) a fact influenced by the lack of practice time.
The Stoehr family hopes to take the momentum in Saturday’s Boston Louie Seymour Memorial Classic at Seekonk Speedway. “Everybody wants that one,” Stoehr said of the biggest race on the NEMA schedule.
NOTES: Stoehr made special mention of Bruce Beane, the force behind his Mazda power, in Victory Lane… It was Stoehr’s first Speedbowl checkered, joining an ever-expanding win list that includes his brother…It was the second straight third place finish for Fornoro who said the Jarret team continues to gain on motor troubles…Cabral’s Speedbowl win streak ended at three. He was never a factor…NEMA returns to the Speedbowl on Aug. 16 as part of the Racing Against Cancer Wings and Wheels event.
RESULTS: 1. Greg Stoehr, 2. Erica Santos, 3. Nokie Fornoro, 4. Adam Cantor, 5. Joey Payne Jr., 6. William Wall, 7. Mike Keeler, 8. Randy Cabral, 9. John Zych Jr., 10. Aaron Wall, 11. Howie Bumpus, 12. Andy Shlatz, 13. Barry Kittredge, 14. Doug Cleveland, 15. Lee Bundy, 16. Kevin Park, 17. Bobby Santos III, 18. Paul Luggelle, 19. Brian Cleveland, 20. Lou Cicconi Jr., 21. Jim Peruto, 22. Jeremy Frankoski, 23. Mike Luggelle, 24. Abby Martino.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR