Cabral Beats Teammate Newman at Lee USA Speedway
Lee, NH – Randy Cabral passed Bertrand Motorsports teammate Ryan Newman coming out of turn two on lap 13 and went on to score a convincing win in Friday night’s 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association feature at Lee USA Speedway.
After taking second on a lap 11 restart, Cabral needed only two laps before slipping past NASCAR Sprint Cup star Newman. Only a lap 22 caution impeded his romp to a second win in as many 2009 races.
Cabral called grabbing second on the restart as key to the win, his first ever at Lee. Lining up third, he “just stayed on it and followed Ryan. It was one of those let’s see what happens moves.”
Dropping Mike Keeler to third, Cabral was immediately on Newman’s tail. The winning move was swift. “Sure, I was aware it was Ryan Newman,” he said. “He is a tremendous, very talented driver, but I’ve raced with Nokie Fornoro and Russ Stoehr and they’re not exactly slouches.”
Russ Stoehr (Angelillo) passed Keeler on lap 17 and went on to claim third in a new chassis. Adam Cantor (Cantor 7ny) came from 12th to claim fifth
Newman, a one-time national Midget contender, disappointed no one. After the initial start resulted in a yellow, Ryan took off from the outside pole and before yellow flew again had half straightaway on Keeler. Further back, contact as a result of hard racing between Cabral and Greg Stoehr resulted in the latter spinning in turns one and two.
“I feel like a idiot,” Cabral said of the incident with Stoehr. “I drove it in too hard and Greg checked up a little trying to get around a lapped car. I ran into the back of him and that is not my style.”
Cabral’s 13.834 was the fastest lap of the feature. Keeler and Greg Stoehr were the heat winners.
Jake Stergios’ late rally resulted in a NEMA Lites victory over Eddie LeClerc Jr. Russ Wood was third in the Lites race with Paul Luggelle and Rick Hart completing the top five.
NEMA moves on to Thompson International Speedway on Thursday, July 2.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR