Points Tight as NEMA Heads for Lee
Brockton, MA — Two-time defending Northeastern Midget Association champion Randy Cabral insists he doesn’t look at the point standings, not this early in the season anyway. He might not be looking but others are and that includes two-time winner John Zych Jr.
Only 13 points separate leader Cabral and Zych as NEMA visits Lee USA Speedway Friday night. Fact is, Todd Bertrand (-26), Russ Stoehr (-38) and Ian Cumens (-45) are locked into a tight battle atop the standings. .
Andy Barrows takes a 51-point bulge into the accompanying NEMA Lites event. Carl Medeiros Jr., who won twice at Lee last year, is determined to cut into that gap. Dan Cugini, Avery Stoehr and P.J. Stergois hold down spots three through five.
There are hardly any secrets left at Lee, a NEMA mainstay for many years. Adam Cantor had the best lap (13.307) a year ago but speeds have been up everywhere this season. Expect that to happen at Lee as well.
Zych, who admits to wanting to know just where he stands, comes to Lee off an impressive victory two weeks ago at Stafford Speedway in the family No. 9. He’ll be after his third 2013 win.
Meanwhile Cabral (Bertrand 47), who maintained the point lead with a third at Stafford, will be seeking two in a row at Lee. He won last year at Ocktoberfest. Stoehr has won twice at Lee, but not since 1991. Greg Stoehr (2011) and Joey Payne (2003) also have Lee checkereds.
Cumens, third at Ocktoberfest last fall, was second at Stafford and rates among the prime contenders along with Bertrand, Anthony Marvuglio, Seth Carlson, Paul Scally and Bethany Stoehr.
Lee has been on the NEMA Lites agenda since the division’s inception. In addition to Medeiros, Jake Stergois, Paul Bigelow, Cugini and Avery Stoehr have all scored Lites wins at Lee, Stergois grabbing his third triumph earlier this year. Stoehr, Bigelow and Cugini were one-two-three at Stafford. Cabral, Logan Ravels, David Moniz and Ken Johnson are other contenders.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR