NEMA Completes 58th Season
Brockton, MA – The Northeastern Midget Association finished its 58th racing season at Thompson Speedway’s World Series, Randy Cabral the 25-lap feature winner while third-place finisher Russ Stoehr claimed championships for himself and the Dumo’s Desire #45. The championship battle clearly turned at Seekonk Speedway’s D.Anthony Venditti Memorial, the admittedly over-aggressive Cabral winding up 21st after an early confrontation.
The “official” ending comes with the usual host of presentations at the annual Awards Banquet Saturday night, Nov 20 at White’s of Westport in Westport, MA. More information is available at www.nemaracing.com.
The championships were a fitting a tribute to Angelillo’s daughter Laura Kibbe who decided to carry on in honor of her mother Marilyn and father. Angelillo died on March 1. It was the sixth title for Stoehr, the 14th for the Angelillo team.
While the championship streak ended at two for Cabral and car owner Tim Bertrand, it was a noteworthy season for the Plymouth, MA competitor. It was the 11th straight season he has won, a mark surpassed only by the legendary Dave Humphrey. He moved into sixth place on NEMA’s all-time win list with 30, just three behind Bill Eldridge. The World Series triumph upped his Thompson total to nine.
Perhaps fittingly, Stoehr took the point lead winning the Angelillo Memorial at Waterford Speedbowl, the most emotional of his three wins. Stoehr now has 43 career wins, two behind third-place Nokie Fornoro. NEMA’s top-two winners – Drew Fornoro (85) and Humphrey (73) appear out of reach.
Stoehr and Cabral shared the podium five times. They were one-two twice: after losing to Cabral at Thompson’s Marvin Rifchin Trophy race by inches, Stoehr prevailed at Monadnock.
There were seven winners including first-timers Chris Leonard and Chris deRitis, both turning the trick at Waterford, a charter-member of NEMA that now shows 45 winners going back to 1953. Other winners included Jeff Abold, Lou Cicconi Jr., Adam Cantor and Keith Botelho. Cicconi and Abold each drove the Seymour #4 in Seekonk’s Open Wheel Wednesday and Boston Louie respectively. Cicconi’s win could well be the most dominating performance of the campaign.
Botelho’s success at the DAV, his first win in 12 years, ranks as the upset of 2010. The car is owned by Russ Stoehr, powered by a 20-plus year old Gaerte engine and crewed by father-and-son Carl and Curt Kibbe. Carl Kibbe, a two-time NEMA owner champion with 18 NEMA wins, was a winning crew chief for the first time since 1991 with driver Joey Coy at Hudson Speedway.
Thirty nine drivers scored points, Russ and Greg Stoehr, Cabral, Cantor and deRitis making all 13 events.
A foursome of youngsters – Todd Bertrand, Lanson Fornoro, Anthony Marvuglio and Anthony Nocella – were all impressive in limited runs. All were active in NEMA Lites action as well.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR