Cabral, Stoehr Lead NEMA to Speedbowl
Brockton, MA – Randy Cabral has had enough of it. The Northeastern Midget Association three time and defending champion believes it is time for him to return to Waterford Speedbowl’s victory lane, a spot he has frequented more than anybody else in the club’s long history.
What better time than Saturday night when NEMA celebrates its 60th birthday with 60 laps of feature racing – 30 each for NEMA and the NEMA Lites – at the historic Connecticut shoreline oval. Cabral (Bertrand 47) is part of an expected strong NEMA field in pursuit of the coveted Marvin Rifchin Trophy.
President Mike Scrivani has compiled an impressive “guest list” for the party including former champions Dave Humphrey, Butch Walsh, Bob Pascale and Lou Fray. “This will be a celebration of midget history past and present,” reports Scrivani. “Winning this one is definitely going to be big.”
There have been 11 NEMA races since Cabral’s last (and eighth) win at Waterford. A fan favorite at Waterford, he made it very clear after finishing second at this year’s Blast Off, getting back to Victory Lane is “Priority One.”
Russ Stoehr (Dumo’s Desire #45), who has won five of the last 11 races, heads up the opposition. Stoehr was third at the Blast Off, his 10th podium over the same span.
The Cabral-Stoehr rivalry, takes place in a field of legitimate contenders. Blast Off winner John Zych (Zych 9) leads a group of Rifchin Trophy contenders that include Joey Payne (Breault 44), Jim Miller (Miller 3m), Barry Kittredge (Kittredge 8), Chris Leonard (Leonard 22), Adam Cantor (Cantor 7ny), Todd Bertrand (Bertrand 39) and Greg Stoehr (Stoehr 26). All have won at Waterford in the past.
Cabral’s owner Tim Bertrand points out The Speedowl “keeps coming up with surprises.” Defending Rifchin Trophy winner Mike Horn (Horn 93x), Anthony Marvuglio (Bordeau 38), Matt O’Brien (O’Brien 16), Paul Scally (Scally 30), and rookies James Santa Maria (Santa Maria 99) and Seth Carlson (Feigel 71)are in the mix as well.
Zych posted a 13.001 second laps at the Blast Off. Many believe speeds will exceed that on a most seasoned track. Waterford is generally acclaimed as one of the region’s premier Midget facilities. “In many cases,” says Greg Stoehr, “the best you run all year is at Waterford.”
While history is center stage, the five-year old Lites Division is the club’s history. Anthony Nocella is the man to beat in the Lites feature. A large field in expected including Nocella’s teammate Ian Cumens, Ryan Bigelow and Paul Bigelow, Paul Luggelle, cousins Avery and Bethany Stoehr, Christian Briggs, Brandon Igo, Kenny Johnson, Carl Medeiros Jr. and Andy Barrows
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR