Zych Dominates Stafford NEMA Visit
Stafford, CT — A week after a disappointing near miss, John Zych Jr. left no doubt Saturday night with a dominating victory in the Northeastern Midget Association’s 30-lap feature at Stafford Motor Speedway’s Carquest Super Saturday. Zych is NEMA’s first-double winner of the year.
Grabbing the lead from Ian Cumens, the only other leader, on a restart with 10 laps left, Zych (Zych 9) went on to a 3.3 second victory. Cumens (Seymour 29s) held on for second ahead of Randy Cabral (Bertrand 47), Greg Stoehr (Stoehr 26b) and Russ Stoehr (Dumo’s Desire 45).
The weekend before, Zych lost a wide lead with four laps left in a confrontation with a lapped car at Monadnock. “That didn’t sit well all week,” he said. “I guess that provided some motivation.” The track, however, was the real motivation: “I’ve always wanted to run well here.”
Coming from second, Zych made a couple of challenges for the lead before the first yellow showed. After a red flag (oil on the track), he beat Cumens into one and had a three car advantage exiting two.
Yellow flew again a lap later and this time Cumens was ready, getting the lead back. “I was a little surprised. It actually shocked me,” said Zych. “At that point I was a little more motivated.” He got the lead back with an inside move (“I was pretty confident down there”) in one and proceeded to run away.
The quickest laps for both Zych (17.3119) and Cumens (17.521) came on the 29th circuit. “I was taking cross weight out as we went,” explained Zych. Speeds were faster in the closing laps.
Starting second Cumens took the immediate lead. Zych was third by lap four and six laps later went under Anthony Marvuglio in two to claim second.
Cabral, who had a streak of podium finishes snapped at nine at Monadnock, started a new one but not before a spirited battle with Russ Stoehr. It ended with Cabral grabbing third with 12 laps remaining. Greg Stoehr caught and took fourth from brother Russ on the 23rd circuit.
NEMA’s next stop is Friday night, July 12 at Lee USA Speedway.
NEMA NUGGETS – A broken caliper was actually discovered when Cabral was heading out for the feature…Cumens and Russ Stoehr were the heat winners, Cumens just nipping Phil Dimario in the Cantor 7ny car, the latter posting a 17.524 lap…Joey Mucciacciaro, in the Bertrand 74, faced mechanical problems throughout the day and evening.
RESULTS: 1. John Zych Jr., 2. Ian Cumens, 3. Randy Cabral, 4. Greg Stoehr, 5. Russ Stoehr, 6. Seth Carlson, 7. Todd Bertrand, 8. Joey Payne, 9. Anthony Marvuglio, 10. Paul Scally, 11. Phil Dimario, 12. Jim Chambers, 13. Joey Mucciacciaro, DNS-Doug Cleveland, Bethany Stoehr.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR