Cabral and Carlson Winners at Twin State
Claremont, NH — Randy Cabral’s domination of Twin State Speedway continued Saturday night with a fourth-straight 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association victory on the tricky third mile. Cabral (Bertrand #47) took the lead on a lap 10 restart from teammate Todd Bertrand (Bertrand #39) and went on to his second victory of the year.
“I just like it here,” understated Cabral who had a quarter-lap edge on Greg Stoehr (Stoehr #26b) at the checkered. Bertrand filled out the podium with Anthony Nocella (Santa Maria #99) and Jeremy Frankoski (Cantor #7ny) following.
Starting second, Bertrand grabbed the lead immediately. He was still in command when Jeremy Frankoski, running second, spun in turn four bringing out the only yellow. Cabral was now outside him.
“I asked myself what do I do now?” said Cabral. “Todd is like my little brother.” They battled side-by-side through one and two and down the back before Cabral moved ahead. “The car was really good on the outside,” continued Cabral. “It got better as the race went on. I was able to drive it nice and free.”
Bertrand, who grabbed his first podium, “enjoyed” the brief battle with Cabral – “we actually touched wheels” – and acknowledged “he just out-drove me through three and four.” Chasing Cabral “actually proved “beneficial” added Bertrand.
Greg Stoehr snuck under Bertrand in one on the final lap to claim second. Both Cabral and Greg Stoehr gained on point leader Russ Stoehr (Dumo’s Desire 45), the latter never really finding the set up and finishing seventh.
It was the 32nd career win for Cabral who is now one away from tying Bill Eldridge on the all-time NEMA win list.
Seth Carlson won the rain interrupted 25-lap NEMA Lites feature. Carlson was running second when the race was stopped on lap eight. When it resumed a half hour later (after a strictly stock feature) Carlson took command and romped to victory.
Carlson, a rookie, took second from Paul Bigelow just before the yellow showed stopping the Lites feature. Starting second, Bigelow grabbed the lead but lost it to Carl Medeiros on lap two. Carlson was five lengths behind Medeiros when the yellow showed. A brief shower then sent the Lites off.
Leaving no doubt, Carlson took off at the resumption of the event leaving behind a Medeiros-Anthony Nocella struggle that lasted to the checkered. Paul Bigelow was fourth and Andy Barrows fifth.
The NEMA Midgets return to Waterford Speedbowl’s Wings & Wheels Saturday night for the third annual Gene and Marilyn Angelillo Memorial.
Sources: NEMA PR