NEMA ‘first timers’ love Speedbowl
Brockton, MA — Thirteen drivers on the club’s all-time win list grabbed their first Northeastern Midget Association victory at Waterford Speedbowl. The list includes four-time champion Ben Seitz, who won the 2004 season opener at the Bowl, and current USAC standout Bobby Santos III whose first-ever Midget triumph came in the 2002 Boston Louie.
A number of drivers including youngsters Chris DeRitis, the 2009 Rookie of the Year, William Wall, John Zych Jr., Chris Leonard and Jesse State, the latter a 2010 Rookie, hope to join that club March 27-28 when NEMA joins the lineup for the Speedbowl’s season-opening Budweiser Blast Off.
DeRitis had two top fives at the Speedbowl in the Power Point Racing #99 last season. He’s moved to a Lou Cicconi entry for 2010. DeRitis had the fastest lap (11 seconds) in last weekend’s testing at Seekonk.
“It is one of NEMA’s most visited tracks but Waterford has provided plenty of surprises especially early in the season,” says club president Mike Scrivani Jr. “If you catch some breaks and get a good lead early, you can be tough to catch at a place as quick as Waterford.”
Jim Miller, among those expected for Blast Off, scored his first NEMA win at Waterford back in 1999. Tim Bertrand, the two-time defending owner champ (with driver Randy Cabral) grabbed his only driving win at The ‘Bowl in 2002. Cabral hopes to give Bertrand his eighth Speedbowl win as an owner.
Waterford will mark the debut of Honda power in the Bertrand 47. Cabral turned laps in the low 11 seconds at Seekonk.
Russ Stoehr, a Bowl winner last year, will be attempting to add to the late Gene Angelillo’s Waterford legacy. Angelillo claimed 12 features at the Connecticut shoreline oval. The Seymour operation can claim at least eight wins.
Others drivers who won their first NEMA feature at Waterford are Rudy Boetticher Jr. (the 2000 opener), Howie Bumpus (1988),legend King Carpenter (1960), Ted Christopher (1998), Lou Cicconi (2007), John Dudevoir (1962), Bill Eldridge (1953), Mark Keeler and Paul Lawless.
Waterford hosted the second race in NEMA history on May 31, 1953. Eldridge was the winner. The Speedbowl is one of three “charter members” on the 2010 schedule joining Seekonk and Stafford.
NEMA NUGGETS -Eleven times in NEMA’s long history the opening day winner has gone on to capture the championships. Cabral has done it the last two years joining Ben Seitz who accomplished it in 2004 and 2005. Bill Eldridge (1954, 1958) and Drew Fornoro (1983, 1998) have also done it twice. Dick Brown (1961), Armond Holley (1976) and Joey Coy (1991) did it once…There have been 35 NEMA races in the past 10 seasons at Waterford and over that span Cabral has had 18 podium finishes including eight wins. Joe Payne has 14 top threes and Bobby Santos III eight.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR