NEMA Back To The Bowl; Record Lap Probable
Although he insists, “lap times are never first priority,” point leader Randy Cabral admits, “they get a lot of attention.” His 12.74 seconds lap could “definitely be bested” when the Northeastern Midget Association returns to Waterford Speedbowl Saturday night for the Racing Against Cancer Wings & Wheels presented by Foxwoods and Kool 101.
Making its fourth Speedbowl visit of the season, NEMA shares the program with the International Supermodified Association, the True Value Modifieds and the SK-Modifieds.
Through 10 races, NEMA has had five winners, Bobby Santos III (3), Joey Payne, Greg Stoehr and Jeff Abold joining Cabral (4). . Consistent finishes by Payne and Santos have prevented Cabral and car owner Tim Bertrand from pulling away in their respective point races.
Coming off a victory in the Boston Louie at Seekonk, Cabral believes there are plenty of candidates to turn a 12.6 lap. Greg Stoehr, the winner the last time NEMA visited Waterford, Erica and Bobby Santos and Abold are all strong possibilities.
Despite his six career Speedbowl wins including two this year, Cabral refuses to see himself as the favorite. “Everybody says the goal is to catch me,” he says. “Well, they didn’t have any trouble catching me last time at the Speedbowl. There are a lot of potential winners every time.”
The Speedbowl, he adds, “is where everybody seems to run their best.”
NEMA has been in record territory all season. “Everyone is really up on their game, paying attention to what’s going on,” Cabral says. “The technology, the motors, the tires, everything is getting better. You need those times to say competitive.”
Lap times have always been of special importance to open cockpit racers. “A lot of people always want to get in the record books,” says Cabral. “I am a little different. I’m happy as long as we’re faster than the second place car.”
NEMA NOTES – Way back in the Speedbowl’s first season, 1951, Indiana driver George Tichenor set fast time for an AAA 100 lapper with a 17.92 seconds run. Art Cross won the October race which was held in near freezing temperatures.
Sharing the program with the Supermodifieds always pumps up the NEMA fraternity. Lou Cicconi Jr. is the only driver to win in both at the Speedbowl. Jeff Abold has driven both with success this season.
After a strong top-five at the Boston Louie, Jeremy Frankoski will be back in the second Bertrand car this weekend. Mike Keeler, another who has driven in both ISMA and NEMA this year, is in Frankoski’s old ride, the Seamon #63. Keeler has a NEMA Speedbowl win.
Only once has a Boston Louie winner won the next race as well. Russ Stoehr did it in 1997, the first year the Louie ran.
There have been 41 different winners in the 78 NEMA features at the Speedbowl since 1951 and its probable 15 will be on hand this weekend in some capacity.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR