deRitis Gets First NEMA Win at Speedbowl
Waterford, CT – Chris deRitis played with the best Saturday night before going on to a convincing Northeastern Midget Association win at Waterford Speedbowl’s Wings and Wheels.
The 22-year old Pennsylvanian beat back challenges from defending champion Randy Cabral and had to retake the lead from Russ Stoehr before claiming his first-ever NEMA victory.
deRitis (Cicconi/deRitis 75) passed Russ Stoehr (Dumo’s Desire 45) with 10 laps remaining. He went on to win over Stoehr, Cabral (Bertrand 47), Greg Stoehr (Stoehr 26b) and Jeff Abold (Abold 29).
Leading all but two laps, deRitis made the winning pass inside Stoehr heading into turn three. “Russ drove it in high and I went right under him,” explained deRitis. “I barely lifted.”
“My mistake, I got in too high and he scooted under me,” said Stoehr who took the lead on a controversial restart with 12 laps remaining.
deRitis, the 2009 Rookie of the Year, twice beat back early restart challenges from stable mate Cabral. “I knew if I made a mistake it was over,” said deRitis. “I knew I couldn’t mess up.”
The two “came together” on the third restart. The incident clearly angered Cabral who had stormed from eighth to second before the second lap was complete.
“There was contact,” admitted deRitis who was concerned with Cabral’s post-race anger. “I was just trying to find the groove. I thought that was it, that everybody was going to go by.”
“They ran into each other,” offered Stoehr. “I drove off the bottom, took the lead and waited for a yellow that never showed.”
Cabral, who never doubted deRitis’ win, settled into third. deRitis, who had a fast lap of 12.977 (104.030 mph) quickly erased Stoehr’s lead before making the winning pass.
The coveted Boston Louie Memorial is next on Aug. 28 at Seekonk Speedway.
NEMA NOTES – “Really cooking” deRitis said of the fast lap…It was the third race of the season at Waterford and the second first-time winner, deRitis joining Chris Leonard who captured the season-opener…”and both cars with yellow,” pointed out Russ Stoehr who finished second to both of them…deRitis made co-owner Lou Cicconi look good, the latter predicting a win for the youngster before the season began…Lites standout Todd Bertrand scored an eighth in his NEMA debut…Jim Miller and deRitis were heat winners.
RESULTS: 1. Chris DeRitis, 2. Russ Stoehr, 3. Randy Cabral, 4. Greg Stoehr, 5.Jeff Abold, 6. Adam Cantor, 7. Mike Horn, 8. Todd Bertrand, 9. Anthony Nocella, 10. Andy Shlatz, 11. Brian Cleveland, 12. John Zych Jr., 13. Chris Leonard, 14. Erica Santos, 15. Pete Pernesiglio, 16. Jim Miller.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR
NEMA Feature – Speedbowl – Sat. August 14th
Pos. # Driver Hometown Owner
1 75 Chris deRitis Philadelphia, PA Ciconni/deRitis
2 45 Russ Stoehr Bridgewater, MA Dumo’s Desire Racing
3 47 Randy Cabral Plymouth, MA Tim Bertrand
4 26b Greg Stoehr Bridgewater, MA Greg Stoehr
5 29 Jeff Abold Pennellville, NY Bobby Seymour
6 7ny Adam Cantor Dix Hills, NY Cantor Racing
7 93x Mike Horn Ashland, MA Jeff Horn
8 39 Todd Bertrand Suffield, CT Tim Bertrand
9 4 Anthony Nocella Woburn, MA Bobby Seymour
10 20 Andy Shlatz Enfield, CT Andy Shlatz
11 78 Brian Cleveland Billerica, MA Linda Cleveland
12 DNF 9 John Zych, Jr. Liverpool, NY John Zych, Sr.
13 DNF 22 Chris Leonard Pelham, NH Dave Leonard
14 DNF 44 Erica Santos Franklin, MA Ed Breault
15 DNF 50 Pete Pernisiglio, Jr. Ronkonkoma, NY Pete Pernisiglio,Sr
16 DNF 3m Jim Miller Weymouth, MA Jim Miller
17 DNS 30 Paul Scally Raynham, MA Paul Scally
18 DNS 2 Lee Bundy Kennebunkport, ME Lee Bundy