Cabral By Inches At Thompson

Thompson, CT – Randy Cabral withstood a late challenge from Russ Stoehr and won the Northeastern Midget Association’s 25-lap Marvin Rifchin Trophy race by a foot Thursday night at Thompson Speedway.

The leader since lap 15, Cabral (Bertrand #47) survived a last-lap counterattack that began in turn three and fell inches short at the line.

It was the second win of the season (and the eighth career Thompson triumph) for Cabral and a big night for Bertrand Motorsports, visiting Cole Carter claiming third. Early leader Mike Horn and his dad Jeff Horn filled the top five.

Losing his brakes (and battling heating woes) soon after taking the lead, Cabral “couldn’t enter the turns like I wanted too.” He decided “if anybody is going to get by me, it will be on the outside.”

“I have complete faith in Randy,” explained Stoehr who got even with Cabral in the middle of three and fourth and then lost the drag race to the checkered.

Cabral said he was not aware of the threat “until I looked down at my gages and saw Russ out there. That’s why I never look at my gages.”

The only caution on lap eight wiped away Mike Horn’s wide lead. Starting third, he moved to the lead immediately and when yellow showed was almost a half straightaway in front of a Carter-Stoehr battle for second.

Stoehr grabbed the lead from Horn with an outside move into three on lap nine, leaving Cabral to battle teammate Cole several lengths behind. Cabral quickly erased the advantage, taking the lead with an inside move heading into on lap 15.

Carter had “a great run,” emerging the winner of a battle with Mike Horn over the final five laps.

Midweek action continues for NEMA with CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday at Stafford Speedway.

NEMA Nuggets:

• Cabral moved back to Esslinger for the race after experiencing problems with the Honda at Lee.
• “The kind of finish Marvin would have enjoyed,” offered Stoehr. Cabral also acknowledged the late tire maker who for many years was a mainstay of NEMA.
• Mike Horn ran with a Bertrand set-up, the “same as Randy has,” offered Tim Bertrand.
• ”Any time you can get along side of Randy on the last lap at Thompson you’re doing something,” said Russ Stoehr after his fourth top five this year.

NEMA Feature – Thompson – Thurs. July 1st
Pos. # Driver Hometown Owner
1 47 Randy Cabral Plymouth, MA Tim Bertrand
2 45 Russ Stoehr Bridgewater, MA Gene Angelillo
3 39 Cole Carter Indianapolis, IN Tim Bertrand
4 93x Mike Horn Ashland, MA Mike Horn
5 A1 Jeff Horn Ashland, MA Jeff Horn
6 26b Greg Stoehr Bridgewater, MA Greg Stoehr
7 3m Jim Miller Weymouth, MA Jim Miller
8 9 John Zych, Jr. Liverpool, NY John Zych, Sr.
9 7ny Adam Cantor Dix Hills, NY Cantor Racing
10 30 Paul Scally Raynham, MA Paul Scally
11 DNF 2 Lee Bundy Kennebunkport, ME Lee Bundy
12 DNF 44 Erica Santos Franklin, MA Ed Breault
13 DNF 75 Chris deRitis Philadelphia, PA Dan deRitis

• ← Erica Santos Looks for Repeat Trip to CARQUEST Victory Lane in 7th Annual CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday at Stafford Motor Speedway
• Stefanik Returns to Victory Lane at Thompson in Mod Shootout; Cabral Wins NEMA’s Rifkin Memorial; Thompson Three-Peat for Christopher at Thompson; Gentes, Monahan, Tagg & Defevers Also Score Victories →