Marvuglio Moves Up to Full NEMA Ride
Brockton, MA — Anthony Marvuglio joins a list of Northeastern Midget Association Rookie of the Year candidates. A veteran of NEMA’s Lites division, Marvuglio will drive Chris DeRosiers’ #38 in NEMA action this year, beginning with Waterford Speedbowl’s Budweiser Blast Off March 31-April 1.
The NEMA Lites will also be on the Saturday night card at Blast Off while NEMA is part of the Sunday agenda. Both divisions are scheduled for 25-lap features. Blast Off begins NEMA’s 60th season.
Driving DeRosiers' Gaerte-powered Spike chassis is a major step for Marvuglio who also answers to “Bug.” He joins Seth Carlson and Jim Santa Maria, also Lites products, on the rookie list.
Last year Todd Bertrand and Anthony Nocella became the first Lites products to capture NEMA features. Bertrand went on to win Rookie of the Year honors.
Marvuglio, 20, believes he is on schedule. A veteran of quarter midgets and go karts, he’s been a Lites regular over the past three years. His resume includes an emotional Lites victory driving the Cabral #35 at the 2009 Boston Louie. He was third last year at Waterford Speedbowl (in the Scrivani #21) in his late brother Shane Hammond’s Memorial Race, counting that battle among his career highlights.
He recalls talking to DeRosiers a few years back but things didn’t work out. They got together at the end of last year, Marvuglio driving the car at the DAV and World Series.
After NEMA lost Hammond in 2008, Marvuglio recalls his mother Deb asking “hey, do you still want to do this?” He answered “absolutely.” He has proven himself in a number of Lites cars since.
“I know Shane is always with me and I know that he is happy for me,” he says.
Marvuglio says the competition he will face “fires him up.” NEMA expects a banner season with defending champion Randy Cabral heading up a group of contenders that includes Russ and Greg Stoehr, Joey Payne, Jim Miller, Adam Cantor and Barry Kittredge.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR