Cumens, Carlson Among NEMA Waterford Picks
Brockton, MA — Ian Cumens definitely believes he’s closing in on that first Northeastern Association victory. Given the fact that Waterford Speedbowl specializes in first-time winners, he is a definite possibility Saturday night at NEMA’s Angelillo Memorial.
NEMA is part of Waterford’s Wings & Wheels, joining the ISMA Supermodifieds, Valenti Modifieds and the SK-Modifieds in the annual bonanza of speed.
A NEMA rookie with a couple of NEMA Lites wins under his belt, Cumens, who drives for the Seymour family, comes to Waterford off a strong second (to John Zych) at Airborne Speedway. It was the second runner-up finish for the Pennsylvania driver who sits third in points, 85 behind leader Zych.
If the “youth shall be served” line is followed, Seth Carlson also demands attention, the driver of the Gene Feigel 71 who claimed third at Airborne following a battle with Russ Stoehr. Last year’s Rookie of the Year, Carlson, who has a couple of top fives at Waterford, is sixth in points.
Three-time winner Zych, one of 18 to notch his first NEMA win at Waterford, has a slim 43 point edge on Randy Cabral, an eight-time Speedbowl winner. Todd Bertrand, who’ll be looking for a third straight Angelillo Memorial victory, is fourth (-110) in points with Russ Stoehr fifth (142). Stoehr also has eight career Waterford wins.
Cabral stayed in the point race with a hard-earned fifth (without power steering) at Airborne. He has been second to Bertrand in the past two Angelillo races.
Stoehr would like nothing better than winning the race that honors the memory of the founder of the team (Dumo’s Desire) he continues to drive for.
Expect NEMA to uphold its image speed wise, Anthony Marvuglio’s 12.933 (104.384) lap at the Hammond Memorial two weeks back the target. Zych, Bertrand, Phil Dimario (Cantor 7ny), Carlson, Bethany Stoehr and Russ Stoehr all posited consistent 100 mph-plus laps.
NEMA NUGGETS – Paul “Dangerous” Scally has a fifth and sixth in the past two Angelillo races…It took Bertrand 5:46.76 (97.33 mph) to win the caution free 2011 Angelillo race…Three of the top five cars in the car standings belong to Bertrand Motorsports – the Cabral driven 47, the Bertrand driven and the 74. The John Zych Sr. 9 tops the standings.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR