Coby Makes Midget Debut at Ocktoberfest
Brockton, MA — 2012 NASCAR Whelen Modified champion Doug Coby will make his debut in a Midget this weekend at Lee USA Speedway’s Ocktoberfest. Coby will be in the #39B Bertrand car in the 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association feature on Sunday.
Coby, a five time 2012 winner, who clinched the NASCAR crown Sunday at Thompson, joins Randy Cabral, who brings an almost insurmountable 88-point lead over Russ Stoehr (Dumo’s Desire 45) into the weekend, in the Bertrand stable.
NEMA has a big presence at Ocktoberfest. A 25-lap Lites feature (a make up for an Aug. 10 rainout) is on the Saturday schedule. The Lites and the full Midgets both run Sunday.
“Doug and I have been friends for almost 30 years,” said Tim Bertrand, “and we’ve talked about this for the past four or five years. With Todd having a commitment at the Linda's Microsprint Nationals in Pennsylvania, the opportunity presented itself. We're just looking to have some fun, and if he likes it, get him in the car a few times next year as well.”
Over the years Tim Bertrand has provided cars for a number of “guest drivers” including Ryan Newman, Cole Carter, Ryan Preece, Mike Stefanik and Ted Christopher.
“I’ve been asking Tim 'when do I get the opportunity to drive one of your cars?' for a while,” said Coby. Although it will be his first Midget ride and his limited experience at Lee, Coby is “looking forward to trying something new.”
Mike Ordway Jr. piloted the car Coby will drive (an Autocraft powered Bertrand/Drinan chassis) to a 4th place finish in its maiden voyage at Beech Ridge Speedway in September.
Cabral is NEMA’s only multiple winner this year in a season that had produced 10 winners, insists the points situation will not be a factor. “When you start changing your approach is when you start getting in trouble,” said Cabral, a winner at Lee back in 2009.
Coming off his third win of the season at Thompson’s World Series, Cabral will drive in both Lites races as well.
Adam Cantor, who has won two of the last three NEMA Lee visits including 25-lapper in July, and Carl Medeiros Jr., who pulled off a double on that date, are high on the favorite lists as well.
In addition to Cantor, John Zych Jr., Greg and Russ Stoehr, Mike Horn, Seth Carlson, Anthony Marvuglio, Jim Miller and Anthony Nocella will be looking to join Cabral on the multiple winner list. Ageless Jeff Horn and Joy Payne, both winners at Lee in the past, are on the contender list as is Bethany Stoehr who steps back in the for Jarret (now part of the Stoehr operation) No 4. Bethany had the fastest times two weeks ago at Waterford.
Medeiros is the only multiple winner in the Lites. Ryan Bigelow, Brandon Igo, Avery Stoehr, Ian Cumens, Alan Chambers and Ryan Duhaime will be looking to join the list. It will be the last opportunity for Danny Cugini, Ken Johnson, Bethany Stoehr and R.J.Tufano, all with seconds this year, to collect a checkered.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR