He’s Driven To Honor His Late Brother
Seekonk, MA — Whether in the pits or in the stands, one doesn’t have to search long at a Northeastern Midget Association race before seeing people wearing shirts dedicated to Shane Hammond, who died in a NEMA race in April.
At some NEMA shows, there’s a more personal reminder. Hammond’s younger brother, 16-year-old Anthony Marvuglio, is racing in the new NEMA Lite series – a lower-cost, lower-horsepower alternative which gives drivers experience in the winged, open-wheel Midgets.
“I went from maybe 12½ horsepower in a go-kart, with body panels, to a little over 200 horsepower,” said Marvuglio, an East Bridgewater resident whose brother had moved to Halifax. “Having big tires, having motor (power) right there, is a big difference. I love it.”
Marvuglio, who began racing quarter-midgets at age 7 and karts at 8, is being groomed by the Cabral family of Plymouth. Randy Cabral, NEMA’s points leader, was one of Hammond’s closest friends. Cabral’s father, Glen, owns the NEMA Lite Marvuglio is driving this season.
“They’ve been a huge help to me, putting me in this car,” Marvuglio said.
Randy Cabral sees it as fulfilling a friend’s wish. “Shane was around long enough to figure out what to do,” Cabral said. “Anthony doesn’t have that kind of experience yet, so he’s going to learn from us. It’s what (Hammond) would have wanted. He wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Marvuglio is grateful for the guidance.
“Shane and Randy were best friends,” he said. “My brother got started through (the Cabrals), and now I’m getting started through them. It’s an awesome feeling.”
Marvuglio says he gets help from outside the Cabral stable, too.
“I’ll talk to (Hammond) before a race, and once I get going, everything will sort out,” he said. “I know there’s definitely been times that he’s helped me out on the track, when I was too sideways, or I was pushing straight at the wall.
“There have been times when it’s been tough … but I know Shane’s been there, helping me out along the way.”
Sources: Mike Loftus/GateHouse News Service