Tearful NEMA Victory for Marvuglio
Waterford, CT — He was so focused, he missed the crossed flags and the five-to-go sign and the white flag caught him by surprise.
“Once I saw the checkered flag, tears started running down my face’” said Anthony Marvuglio. “I couldn’t believe it was actually real.” Marvuglio went wire-to-wire Saturday night winning the caution-free 27-lap Shane Hammond Memorial at Waterford Speedbowl. The event memorializes Marvuglio’s brother who died at Thompson Speedway in 2008.
Starting on the outside pole in Chris DeRosiers’ 38, Marvuglio, 20, needed just shy of six minutes, twenty seconds (96.694 mph), finishing 2.3 seconds in front of Todd Bertrand (Bertrand 39). Russ Stoehr (Dumo’s Desire 45), Randy Cabral (Bertrand 47) and Mike Horn (Horn 93x) completed the top five.
It was the first NEMA win for Marvuglio who had his brother’s ashes in his pocket and was wearing the gloves Hammond wore at Thompson. “I really wanted this bad,” he said. “When we got the outside pole, I decided I was just going to go.”
Jumping into the lead, Marvuglio was a full straightaway ahead when Greg Stoehr passed Erica Santos (Breault 44) eight laps in. The only car that might have had something for Marvuglio, Greg Stoehr’s motor went bad five laps latter.
Completely focused, Marvuglio was not aware of what was going on behind him. Spending much of the race in traffic, he had high praise for starter Steve Grant. “I kept telling them “don’t get high on me,’” said Marvuglio who did move to the bottom over the final circuits to protect his tires.
Marvuglio has been “so close” at Waterford. Back on May 12th he was dominant with laps in the 12 seconds before a flat tire. En route to winning his heat, he knew “I had a good car, very similar to that night when the tire went flat.”
The quickest lap Saturday, a 13.046, like everything else belonged to Marvuglio. He is the seventh winner in as many races this season and the streak is now 17 without a back-to-back winner.
NEMA and the NEMA Lites take on Oswego Speedway Saturday night and return to Waterford Sept. 1 for the Angelillo Memorial.
NEMA MIDGETS – Shane Memorial – 8/18/12
Pos. # Driver Hometown Owner
1 38 Anthony Marvuglio E. Bridgewater, MA Tammy Bourbeau
2 39 Todd Bertrand Suffield, CT Bertrand Motorsports
3 45 Russ Stoehr Bridgewater, MA Dumo's Desire Racing
4 47 Randy Cabral Plymouth, MA Tim Bertrand
5 93x Mike Horn Ashland, MA Jeff Horn
6 33 Adam Cantor Glen Cove, NY Allan Cantor
7 A1 Jeff Horn Ashland, MA Jeff Horn
8 71 Seth Carlson Brimfield, CT Gene Feigel
9 3m Jim Miller Weymouth, MA Jim Miller
10 44 Erica Santos Franklin, MA Ed Breault
11 99 Jim Santa Maria Burlington, CT Susan Santa Maria
12 87 Doug Cleveland Sudbury, MA Doug Cleveland
13 28 Paul Luggelle Holbrook, MA Paul Luggelle
14 DNF 30 Paul Scally Raynham, MA Paul Scally
15 DNF 26b Greg Stoehr Bridgewater, MA Greg Stoehr
16 DNS 7ny Phl DiMario – Allan Cantor
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR