Cabral Grabs NEMA Opener At Monadnock
Winchester, NH — Powering into the lead on a lap 17 restart, defending champion Randy Cabral won the 2009 Northeastern Midget Association season opener Saturday night at Monadnock Speedway. Coming from the ninth starting spot, Cabral passed William Wall, the only other leader, and won going away.
Cabral, in the Bertrand #47, was sitting third when Wall (Wall #5) and Russ Stoehr (Angelillo 45), battling for the lead, tangled coming out of two, Stoehr winding up in the wall. The incident, which Cabral called “a racing accident” was “the turning point” of the race.
Sitting second when the green flew, Cabral, who scored his second straight season-opening win, pulled away heading down the backstretch. Two circuits later Cabral turned a 12.301, the fastest lap of the race.
Mike Keeler (Seamon #63) passed Aaron Wall (Wall 55s) for second on lap 19 and finished .713 of a second behind. He was later disqualified for a wing angle violation giving second to Aaron Wall. William Wall wound up third followed by Adam Cantor and John Zych Jr.
It was the 22nd career win for Cabral but the first at Monadnock for him and for car owner Tim Bertrand. “It’s a good feeling getting that monkey off our backs,” said Cabral.
The Wall/Stoehr incident came on the second attempt to restart after the second caution. Stoehr had taken second from pole sitter Zych on a lap two restart. Cabral needed seven laps to move from ninth to third where he was “content,” believing he “had nothing for the leaders.”
But he also “had a feeling something was going to happen. I dropped back a little but I knew I had enough to catch back up if I had to. Still, catching up and passing are two different things.”
“Randy just had a lot more steam,” said William Wall who grabbed the immediate lead from pole sitter Zych. He beat a restart challenge from Zych on lap two and admitted to thinking “I might get a victory if there isn’t another restart.”
Cantor, forced to pit with a flat tire after a second lap incident with Jeff Horn, had an impressive run. Following Zych were Nokie Fornoro, Horn, Greg Stoehr, all in the lead lap. Doug Cleveland and Andy Shlatz came from deep in the starting field to claim ninth and 10th.
Russ Stoher and Keeler were the heat winners.
NEMA returns to action on Friday night June 26 at Lee USA Speedway.
RESULTS: 1. Randy Cabral, 2. Aaron Wall, 3. William Wall, 4. Adam Cantor, 5. John Zych Jr., 6. Nokie Fornoro, 7. Jeff Horn, 8. Craig Stoehr, 9. Doug Cleveland, 10. Andy Shlatz, 11. Lee Bundy, 12. Neil Blatt, 13. Paul Luggelle, 14. Chris DeRitis, 15. Russ Stoehr, 16. Erica Santos, 17. Matt O’Brien, 18. Paul Scally, 19. Chris Leonard, 20. Jim Miller (DNS), DQ-Mike Keeler.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR