Emotional Lites Win for Marvuglio

Seekonk, MA – Wearing his late half-brother’s gloves, Anthony “The Bug” Marvuglio drove to a dominating victory in the caution-free 29-lap NEMA Lites feature at the Boston Louie Memorial at Seekonk Speedway. It was his first ever-Midget win.

It was an emotional win for the half-brother of Shane Hammond, who died at Thompson two years ago. The motor in the Cabral 35 actually expired on the final lap. Starting on the front row, he led the entire event, often by more than a straightaway.

“Shane loved this track so much,” said Marvuglio, in his second season with the Lites. “I wanted to bring him along for the ride.”

A fast closing Shawn Gooselin (Gosselin 26) was second followed by Stephanie Doty (Doty 09), Joe Mikitarian (Mikitarian 9) and Jake Smith (Smith 93).

“I drove as hard as I could going into one and two on the start,” said Marvuglio. “I knew I had to get in there ahead of the #93 (Smith.) He “stayed right on it” throughout, not even lifting when he was first aware that the motor was going heading into three of the final circuit. “It would have not gone another lap,” he said.

He was “not aware” of Gooselin’s late charge, “There was no looking back,” he said. “I wanted this badly. I looked up at the scoreboard on like lap 10 and he wasn’t there yet.”

When Gooselin grabbed second with 19 left, Marvuglio was picking his way through traffic. “The traffic concerned me a little,” said Marvuglio. “I just looked at it as passing cars for the lead.”

RESULTS: 1. Anthony Marvuglio, 2. Shawn Gooselin, 3. Stephanie Doty, 4. Joe Mikitarian, 5. Jake Smith, 6. Paul Luggelle, 7. Russ Wood Jr., 8. Eric Cabral, 9. Mike Muldoon, 10. Eddie LeClerc Jr., 11. Todd Bertrand, 12. Anthony Nocella, 13. Joey Chick, 14. P.J. Stergois, 15. Kevin Park, 16. Chris Haskell, 17. Randy Cabral, 18. Shawn Torrey, 19. David Rose Jr.

Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR