Santos Wins for Cantor at Lee
Lee, NH — In what amounted to a runaway, Bobby Santos III returned to Northeastern Midget Association action Friday night, driving the IGA-sponsored, Cantor-family 7ny to a dominating victory at Lee USA Speedway. Only a brief caution on lap eight interrupted Santos’ ride that finished five and half seconds ahead of the field.
Santos, who arrived from New Hampshire International Speedway just as the heats began, started fifth. Taking the lead from pole sitter Jim Chambers with an outside move through one and two four laps in, he had a straightaway lead when the only yellow showed.
Chambers (Chambers 21), the only other leader, survived a last lap challenge from Ian Cumens (Seymour 29s) to claim second. Lou Cicconi (Bertrand 74) was fourth and Todd Bertrand (Bertrand 39 fifth). It was the best finish yet for Chambers and the second straight podium for Cumens.
[Photo Gallery] by Crystal Snape
The point leader going in, Randy Cabral brought out the caution, coming to a stop in turn four, the victim of a broken shock bolt.
“I had the easy job,” insisted Santos, who spent the afternoon qualifying a Modified at NHIS. “The credit goes to Allan and Adam [Cantor]. After a struggle on “old tires” in his heat, Santos “knew right off the bat I had a really good car” although it “was a little loose” over the last five laps.
It was Santos’ first winged Midget ride in almost two years. His best lap, a sizzling 13.018 (103.703 mph), was almost half a second better than a 13.516 effort by Chambers.
It ended a tough streak for the Cantor team – “we blew up three motors and we wrecked,” said Allan Cantor.
The “deal” was been made during the winter. Adam Cantor, who wanted out of the seat, checked on the availability of a number of drivers for specific dates. No stranger to Lee’s victory lane, Adam shook the car down. “It felt like it did last year and I figured it would be even better with a real driver in it,” he said.
Cumens chasing down Chambers was the only action over the second half of the race. “I just flat footed it out of four and got lucky” he said of the final result. Cumens was a wheel back in third.
NEMA Nuggets:
Lou Cicconi will drive for the Cantors Wednesday at Seekonk’s midweek open wheel event while modified star Doug Coby returns to the Bertrand No. 47. Coby was a winner at Seekonk’s Boston Louie earlier this season.
On Thursday at Waterford Speedbowl weekly practice session, Joey Payne’s son Anthony, 14, begins a training regimen that will see him make his NEMA Lites debut on July 27. Anthony will drive the Scravani #21.
The Bertrand 47 was using a motor on loan from Paul Scally at Monadnock. Bertrand’s regular Esslinger is being repaired.
NEMA MIDGETS – LEE – 7/12/13
Pos. # Driver Hometown Owner
1 7ny Bobby Santos III Franklin, MA Allan Cantor
2 21 Jim Chambers Atkinson, NH Mike Chambers
3 29s Ian Cumens Lydell, PA Bobby Seymour
4 74 Lou Cicconi Aston, PA Bertrand Motorsports
5 39 Todd Bertrand Suffield, CT Bertrand Motorsports
6 9 John Zych Jr. Mendon, MA John Zych Sr.
7 26b Greg Stoehr Bridgewater, MA Greg Stoehr
8 44 Joey Payne Fairlawn, NJ Ed Breault
9 99 Jim Santa Maria Burlington, CT Susan Santa Maria
10 5b Bethany Stoehr Bridgewater, MA MCI Racing/
Greg Stoehr
11 45 Russ Stoehr Bridgewater, MA Dumo’s Desire Racing
12 30 Paul Scally Raynham, MA Paul Scally
13 77 Doug Cleveland Sudbury, MA Mike Luggelle
14 DNF 47 Randy Cabral Plymouth, MA Tim Bertrand
14 DNS 71 Seth Carlson Brimfield, CT Gene Feigel