NEMA Champ Zych Always Knew Where He Stood
Northeastern Midget Association driver champion John Zych Jr. admits he looked at the standings. “I always had a pretty good idea where we stood,” he says. “I knew we had a shot at it and that made me drive harder.” John and his dad, the owner champion, showed up expecting to win.
They needed a victory at the season-ending World Series at Thompson. They went into the race five points behind two-time defending champion Randy Cabral. He actually battled Cabral for much of the 25 lapper before claiming his fifth victory.
Ironically, the Zychs, both Mendon, Ma residents, won with a Drinan chassis purchased from the Cabral’s owner Bertrand Racing two years ago.
It was hardly an inspiring start, a broken motor at Waterford Speedbowl actually resulting in a “Did Not Start.” But there was a month until the second race, time for the Esslinger motor to be shipped to California and back. He was third at Seekonk and a winner at Star Speedway. “We worked for that win,” Junior says. “We didn’t start on the front row. We passed some cars early and we beat some good guys. When you do that, you get some confidence.”
Overcoming a “downer” at Monadnock (spinning while leading to avoid a lapped car), he won at Stafford and, four races later, conquered New York’s Airborne Speedway. “While I can’t point to a definite time when I was totally comfortable, I did think three wins at the halfway point in the season was a really good place to be,” he says.
He won again at Riverside Speedway in Groveton, NH but could not get away from Cabral whose win at Lee put Zych in second heading into Thompson. He says he appreciates winning the title under those challenging circumstances. Cabral and car owner Tim Bertrand have both been very helpful to the Zych since they came to NEMA in 2007 after a couple of Mini Sprint campaigns.
“This year we figured more things out for ourselves,” Zych claims, but quickly acknowledges the help of Midget maestros Bobby Santos III and Lou Cicconi at the World Series.
Competition has always been part of Zych’s existence, the father of two daughters with wife Liz, was a high school basketball sensation who went on to play at LeMoyne College in New York. John Sr. has the same resume. Also like his dad was, Junior is employed by the Hershey Corporation.
Zych’s first NEMA win came in the 2012 opener at Waterford and five races in, he was the point leader. He was, however, based in Louisville, KY then and business commitments and rain-outs got in the way. He found motivation in that. “Back in New England, I looked at this year as an opportunity,” he says. “Taking in account 2012, I thought this could be our year.”
They will be back in 2014.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR