Busy Agenda Looms For NEMA’s Bertrand
Brockton, MA – Bertrand Motorsports had an extraordinary 2011. Randy Cabral and Tim Bertrand captured the Northeastern Midget Association drivers and owners championships respectively. Todd Bertrand added to the luster, scoring his first-ever NEMA feature en route to Rookie of the Year honors.
Bertrand and driver Randy Cabral are set to defend their crowns. The Esslinger-powered #47 Drinan chassis is “completely refurbished and ready to go” Bertrand reports. Brother Todd’s car, the Honda-powered #39, “is in good shape.”
Expect both cars when NEMA opens its 60th season March 31-April 1 at Waterford Speedbowl’s Budweiser Blast Off. The NEMA Lites kick of campaign number five at the ‘Bowl as well.
Bertrand is “bullish on the upcoming season.” Both Russ and Greg Stoehr, second and third last year in points, will be back in 2012. Joey Payne, the 2003 champion, returns full time in the Breault #44 and Adam Cantor is moving back behind the wheel of 7NY. “There will be no shortage of contenders,” adds Bertrand, hardly a stranger to the rigors of winning titles.
So, why add what amounts to the next chapter in the Bertrand Guest Program? “I miss it,” answers Bertrand who in the recent past has added to NEMA prestige providing rides for, among others, Sprint Cup ace Ryan Newman, USAC standout Cole Carter, and Modified star Ted Christopher.
Pennsylvania open cockpit standout Ryan Smith is “a definite” for the “Guest Car,” an AutoCraft-powered, refurbished Drinan chassis. “I’ve wanted to put Ryan in one of our cars for a while,” says Bertrand. Other possibilities for the car – “definitely a short track machine” – are Modified driver Doug Coby, Mark Buonomo, looking to return to the Midgets after being away for five years, and veteran Lou Cicconi Jr.
Carter, son of the legendary Pancho Carter, will drive the #39 at Thompson and is “a possibility” for Oswego, the latter back on the NEMA schedule for the first time since 2005.
Bertrand calls going to the Night Before The 500 show at IRP with both Cabral in the #47 and Carter in the #39 in May “a good possibility.”
NEMA NUGGETS – Cicconi and Buonomo have won in Bertrand equipment. Carter has three podium finishes, including one at Thompson, in Bertrand equipment. Bertrand Motorsports has 30 NEMA wins, all in the last decade…Russ Stoehr is the only driver with wins at every track NEMA will visit this season. Randy Cabral’s resume is missing an Oswego win.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR