Bethany Stoehr NEMA’s Best At Speedbowl
Waterford, CT – Bethany Stoehr, beating back continued challenges from her uncle Russ Stoehr, won the 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association feature Sunday at Waterford Speedbowl’s Finale. It was the first Midget win for Stoehr, 18, who is only the second female winner in NEMA’s 61-year old history.
Taking the lead three laps in, Bethany, the daughter of NEMA competitor Greg, survived a series of unusual restarts to finish a tick over a second in front of Russ.
“I knew [Russ] was behind me,” she said. “I just kept telling myself to hold it together.”
John Zych Jr. was third and will take a slim point lead into next weekend’s Ocktoberfest at Lee USA Speedway. Randy Cabral and Todd Bertrand completed the top five.
The final restart came with 11 laps remaining when Avery Stoehr, the fourth family member in the race, spun. Zych grabbed second on the restart but Russ quickly went around him to regain second and resumed the challenge. “I gave her everything the car had,” said Russ following his best finish of the year. “She was just better than we were today.”
Following a caution on the initial lap, Joey Payne grabbed the lead. Bethany, who started third, cleared Payne down the backstretch with three gone and two laps later Russ caught her, the tussle for the lead running ahead of a battle for third between Payne and Cabral while Greg Stoehr and Zych fought for fifth.
Kenny Johnson left no doubt about his first-ever Midget victory, dominating the 25-lap NEMA Lites feature Saturday night.
Starting sixth, Johnson took the lead from Paul Bigelow on the front stretch with 16 laps remaining and went on to a 1.4 seconds victory over P.J. Stergios.
Bigelow, the only other leader, held on for third. Christian Briggs passed Avery Stoehr just a few feet in front of the checker to claim fourth.
Settling into third at the start, Johnson took second from Stoehr coming out of two with five gone. He battled Bigelow for two laps, some of side-by-side, before the winning move down the front stretch. He then ran away.
RESULTS – 1. Bethany Stoehr (Stoehr 5b), 2. Russ Stoehr (Dumo’s Desire 45), 3. John Zych, (Zych 9) 4. Randy Cabral (Bertrand 47) , 5. Todd Bertrand (Bertrand 39), 6. Ian Cumens, 7. Pete Pernesiglio, 8. Joey Payne, 9. Paul Scally, 10. Avery Stoehr, 11. Greg Stoehr, 12. Seth Carlson, 13, Barry Cannon, 14. Ryan Bigelow, 15. Anthony Marvuglio, 16. Doug Cleveland.
Lites RESULTS: 1. Kenny Johnson, 2. P.J. Stergois, 3. Paul Bigelow, 4. Christian Briggs, 5. Avery Stoehr, 6. Carl Mederios Jr., 7. Danny Cugini, 8. Brandon Igo, 9. Logan Rayvals, 10. Ryan Krachun, 11. Andy Barrows, 12. Alison Cumens, 13. Jamie Falconi, 14. D.J. Moniz, 15. Anthony Payne, 16. Randy Cabral, 17. Meg Cugini, 18. Kevin Park, 19. Richie Morroco, 20. R.J. Tufano.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR