NEMA Win for Zych at Groveton
Groveton, NH –- Northeastern Midget Association point leader John Zych is now two-for-two on a track he’s seen for the first time. Starting 10th, Zych won the 25-lap NEMA feature Saturday night at Riverside Speedway. It was the fourth win of the season for Zych who also “first-timed” Airborne Speedway.
Zych took the lead on a restart following a lap 17 incident that sent Anthony Marvuglio (Bertrand 74) to the hospital with a puncture to his leg and undiagnosed shoulder issues. Jim Chambers (Chambers 21), Randy Cabral (Bertrand 47), Ian Cumens (Seymour 29) and Paul Scally (Scally 30) completed the top five.
Coming from the seventh starting spot, Marvuglio took the lead from Scally on a lap-four restart. Running laps in the high 10s, Marvuglio had a half lap lead on Zych coming up to lap teammate Todd Bertrand and Russ Stoehr. Bertrand cut a tire down shooting up the track. Marvuglio caught his right rear wheel and hit the wall violently.
The car, which carried both Modified star Doug Coby and Marvuglio to victory this year, was “destroyed” according to owner Tim Bertrand.
Zych, who called the track “scary fast,” moved into second on lap eight but clearly had nothing for Marvuglio. The final laps were uneventful, Zych opening up a commanding lead over rookie Chambers, who collected his second runner-up finish of the season and Cabral.
The first caution flew when Seth Carlson and Bethany Stoehr got together. Carlson came back to finish sixth.
Russ Stoehr and Marvuglio were the heat winners.
NEMA returned to Groveton for the first time since 1996.
Zych will take a 33-point lead over Cabral heading into NEMA’s Sept. 14 visit to Oswego Speedway.
RESULTS: 1. John Zych, 2. Jim Chambers, 3. Randy Cabral, 4. Ian Cumens, 5. Paul Scally, 6. Seth Carlson, 7. Todd Bertrand, 8. Russ Stoehr, 9. Ian Cumens, 10. Danny Cugini, 11. Anthony Marvuglio, 12. Bethany Stoehr. DNF –Doug Cleveland.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR