NEMA Battle Moves to Stafford
Brockton, MA — Russ Stoehr takes a slim 536-530 point lead over Randy Cabral into the Northeastern Midget Association’s 30-lap feature at Stafford Motor Speedway’s CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday night.
Coming off an epic battle last Thursday at Thompson – Cabral beat Stoehr by a foot – both will be looking for their first-even wins on the ultra-quick half mile.
Erica Santos and Jeff Horn may well be the only former Stafford winners in the field. Santos became NEMA’s first even female winner at Stafford back in 2007. The ageless Horn, who will turn 65 on Tuesday, won back in 2005.
Two-time defending champion Cabral, after his 29th career NEMA win has had two straight seconds at Stafford. He chased Nokie Fornoro home last year and Bobby Santos III in ’08. Third back in 2005, Cabral would very much like to include the half mile on his conquered list.
Five-time Stoehr, who has driven the Angelillo 45 to four straight top fives, would also like to put his Stafford woes to rest.
Lap times in the mid 17 seconds are competitive at Stafford, meaning speeds well in excess of 120 mph. “It’s not for the timid,” says NEMA President Mike Scrivani Jr.
Adam Cantor, third a year ago, comes to Stafford sitting fourth in points with 498. Other threats include Jim Miller and Greg Stoehr, the latter on his way to a Stafford win in ’07 when he ran out of gas.
USAC competitor Cole Carter, off a strong third in the Bertrand #39 at Thompson, will get his look at Stafford. Carter, part of one of racing’s most famous families, clearly loves the “speed tracks.”
NEMA NUGGETS – Although a “charter member” of NEMA, the club returned to Stafford in 2004 after a long layoff … Nokie Fornoro’s 17.625 was the quickest lap in last year’s feature run…Bobby Santos III, the Spring Sizzler winner this year, has three Stafford Midget wins … The next win will put Randy Cabral into a tie with Johnny Mann on the all-time NEMA win list …
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR