Randy Cabral Looks to Rebound from DNF at Monadnock with Top-3 Finish at CARQUEST Super Saturday
Stafford Springs, CT — For Randy Cabral, driver of the #47 K & N Filters NEMA Midget, the 2013 season kicked off with three podium finishes, increasing his streak of consecutive podium finishes to 9, only 4 short of the record held by Joe Csiki, which was set back in 1963. Cabral’s streak came to an end last weekend at Monadnock where two spins relegated him to a last place finish. Despite ending his podium streak and losing the NEMA Midget points lead, Cabral is eager to come to Stafford for this weekend’s CARQUEST Super Saturday program and start anew.
“We got into two accidents at Monadnock and we finished last,” said Cabral. “We’ve been having a great season and we had a real good car at Monadnock. We had to start out back because we were the highest handicapped car and we got into trouble, which was disappointing because I know better as an experienced race car driver. But I’m looking forward to coming to Stafford. Stafford can be great to me and it can be hard on me. I’ve had days where I’ve gone from last to second, and I’ve had days where I’ve gone from last to second and back to last. I think we’ll be in good shape, we have a good piece and we have a good car. I’ve run well in the Pro-4’s and the NEMA Midgets and hopefully we can rebound with a good finish at Stafford. Last week at Monadnock was a tough pill to swallow so a top-3 at Stafford would be a big boost for the team. Stafford is one of our best shows of the year, so I’m hoping to be in the top-3 so I get to talk to the fans.”
Cabral was the NEMA winner in 2010 at Stafford for CARQUEST Super Saturday, and with his three podium finishes in the first 4 races of this season, he feels confident that he will once again have a car to be a contender with the checkered flag on Saturday night.
“I know the team will give me a winning car, I just have to hope the driver gets the job done,” said Cabral. “It’s been a long time, so I have to step my game up, keep my head, and try to get to the front. It’s going to be up to me to get it done. I had 9 top-3 finishes in a row, and the car was good enough to have won a couple of those races and I didn’t. So as a driver, you’re a bit disappointed in yourself knowing that the crew is doing what they’re supposed to be doing and you’re not getting it done. You have to end something to start something better so hopefully we can start a new streak at Stafford.”
Cabral will have no shortage of competition for the checkered flag this Saturday night. The NEMA Midget season thus far has seen four winners in each of the first four races with Todd Bertrand, Doug Coby, John Zych, Jr., and Joey Payne taking checkered flags. Cabral is hoping to be the fifth different winner in as many races and he knows the competition will be tight.
“There’s awesome competition in the NEMA Midgets this year, I think it’s going to be a great race,” said Cabral. “Last year, Mike Horn was an underdog and he won the race. Anthony Marvuglio was fast last year and had problems, Russ Stoehr has won at Stafford, John Zych is a rocketship right now, Greg Stoehr is always fast at Stafford, and Joey Payne is coming off a win. Right now there are about 12 cars that can win at Stafford.”
Tickets for the June 29th CARQUEST Super Saturday event are available and on sale now at the Speedway Box Office. Tickets are priced at $33.00 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating will be priced at $35.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax.
For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR