10 Winners Back in NEMA Fold; Cabral, Russ Stoehr Head List
Brockton, MA – The Northeastern Midget Association had 11 different winners in 2012, making it one of the most competitive campaigns in club history. Expect to see 10 of them back as NEMA begins its 61st season April 6-7 at Waterford Speedbowl’s Budweiser Blast Off.
Defending champion Randy Cabral moved into the top-five on NEMA’s all-time win list a year ago. Cabral, the only multiple winner last year, returns with car owner Tim Bertrand. He and Russ Stoehr, a six-time champion who sits third on the all-time list, head up the list of returnees. Stoehr is back in the Dumo’s Desire car.
The returning winners include Greg Stoehr, Jim Miller, Todd Bertrand, Anthony Marvuglio, Seth Carlson, Anthony Nocella and John Zych Jr. Adam Cantor will not drive but will return as part of the Cantor No. 33 crew.
Although he insists “I don’t see myself in that category,” Cabral, who has won four of the last five driving titles, loves being in the company of Drew and Fornoro and Dave Humphrey, “guys who did a lot of winning without power steering and with a lot more cars on the track.”
Cabral crashed at the USAC show at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway. While the Bertrand team did “amaze” the USAC folks by repairing the car, the damage was bad enough to demand “bringing it back down to the frame,” according to Tim Bertrand.
Title defenses are not to be discussed. “We never go into the year thinking about points,” Bertrand insists. We only focus on the points if and when we are “in it” and typically that comes with about 3 races to go. Otherwise, we’re going to try and have some fun.”
“It is business as usual,” says Dumo’s Desire team crew chief Joe Fiori, about to start his 18th season with what is the continuation of late Gene Angelillo operation. Part of a crash in last year’s final event, the Beast Chassis is “ready to go,” says Fiori who actually joined the Angelillo team in 1991 after ending a long stint with the URC Sprint Cars. It will be the fourth season owner Laura Kibbe will continue her father’s passion. Stoehr has won at least once in each of the three previous seasons.
Only Drew Fornoro and Dave Humphrey have more NEMA wins than Stoehr. The Angelillo/Dumo’s Desire team is NEMA’s all-time most successful team.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR