NEMA Points Tight Heading to Airborne
Brockton, MA – A mere five points separates point leader John Zych Jr. and defending champion Randy as the Northeastern Midget Association visits Airborne Speedway Saturday night. The championship battle is sizing up as one of the most intense in years.
Carl Medeiros Jr. has a comfortable but hardly insurmountable 131-point lead atop the Lites standings. There are only six points, however, between second and fourth place – Danny Cugini, Avery Stoehr and Andy Barrows.
Both NEMA and the Lites will challenge the Airborne Speedway half-mile for the first time since 1971 when Jerry Wall and the legendary “yellowjacket” prevailed.
Todd Bertrand (-34), rookie Ian Cumens (-73), Russ Stoehr (-112) hold spots three through five in NEMA points. The top five all have impressive big track resumes including Stafford winner Zych. Although NEMA has not run Airborne in 40-plus years, most competitors are comparing it to Stafford where Cabral and Stoehr have both won in the past.
With a win at Waterford last Saturday, Anthony Marvuglio has climbed to seventh in the driver standings. Marvuglio will again drive the Bertrand 74 which now sits fifth in owner points.
Two time winner Medeiros, who makes no pretense about his championship hopes, look to continue his run of consistent finishes. Avery Stoehr is also a two-time winner, the first coming at Stafford and the second last Saturday at Waterford. Some folks view Airborne as a cross between Stafford and Waterford.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR