NEMA Season Filled With Historic Victories
Already rich in history, the Northeastern Midget Association added another chapter in 2013. Led by champion John Zych Jr.’s five triumphs, there were nine different winners, some with historical significance.
Zych’s fifth win at the Thompson’s World Series gave him and his dad the drivers and owners championship respectively. It was the only way he could have accomplished it because Randy Cabral’s second win of the season (and the 37th of his career) came at Lee USA Speedway’s Oktoberfest. It gave Cabral, a four-time champ, a five-point lead heading into the World Series.
A Hollywood script writer couldn’t have done it better. Zych’s dramatic win added a fitting chapter to a season that also saw Todd Bertrand (2), Seth Carlson, Modified star Doug Coby, Anthony Marvuglio, veterans Bobby Santos and Bobby Santos III and Bethany Stoehr visit victory lane.
Zych and the Cabral/Bertrand Motorsports 47 combination waged an enticing points war over the second half of the season. Cabral had a 12-9 edge in top-five finishes including the last seven races. He was third in four of Zych’s wins and fifth in the other.
Both Bertrand wins came at Waterford Speedbowl where Marvuglio, in Tim Bertrand’s ill-fated No. 74, scored an emotional win in the event that memorialized his brother Shane Hammond. And, it was at Waterford where Bethany Stoehr became only the second female winner in club history (Erica Santos was the first) but only after a race-long tussle with her uncle Russ Stoehr.
Coby, also in the Bertrand 74, joined a very select group of primarily Modified drivers (Gene Bergin, Ted Christopher) with a NEMA win at Seekonk’s Boston Louie Memorial. A couple of weeks later he returned in the same car and finished a few inches behind Cabral, turning a sizzling 11.149 lap en route. With Marvuglio aboard, the 74 was destroyed at New Hampshire’s Riverside Speedway.
Carlson tamed Oswego Speedway and in impressive style. Payne won for Ed Breault at Monandock, his 20th career NEMA victory which put him in a tie for 20th on the all-time win list with Johnny Coy and Jeff Horn. Santos moved up into a three way tie for 14th with Walter Galen and Ben Seitz when he drove the Cantor car to his 14th career win at Monadnock.
Two Zych’s win came at tracks NEMA hadn’t visited in a number of years – New York’s Airborne Speedway and New Hampshire’s Riverside Speedway. He also prevailed at Star and Stafford Speedways before the final win.
It was the 14th straight season Cabral had at least one victory. Only the legendary Dave Humphrey’s 16 is better.
Ian Cumens, who scored three seconds in his first full season in NEMA, was second in points followed by Todd Bertrand and Russ Stoehr.
NEMA 2013 POINTS
Drivers (wins): 1. John Zych Jr. (5), 039 ; 2. Randy Cabral (2) 2022; 3. Ian Cumens, 1824; 4. Todd Bertrand (2), 1807; 5.Russ Stoehr, 1787; 6. Seth Carlson (1), 1630; 7.Paul Scally, 1489; 8. Bethany Stoehr (1), 1398 ; 9. Jim Chambers, 1343 ; 10. Joey Payne (1), 1210; 11. Anthony Marvuglio (1), 1129; 12. Greg Stoehr, 1166; 13. Doug Cleveland, 1051; 14. James Santa Maria, 650; 15. Phil DiMario, 494. Doug Coby and Bobby Santos III were also winners..
Owners: 1 #9 John Zych Sr., 2039; 2 #49 Tim Bertrand, 2022; 3. #39 Bertrand Motorsports, 1087; 4 #45 Dumo’s Desire, 1681; 5. #71 Gene Feigel, 1630; 6. #30 Paul Scally, 1489; 7. #26b Greg Stoehr, 1442; 8. 5b MCI Racing, 1398; 9. #21 Mike Chambers, 1343; 10. 29s Bob Seymour, 1293; 11. #7ny Allan Cantor, 1178; 12. #74 Tim Bertrand, 1126; 13.# 44Ed Breault, 1100; 14. #77 Mike Luggelle, 1051; 15. #99 Susan Saint Marie, 1022.
Came down to a broken shock bolt at Lee – Zych broke the motor at Waterford opener and Cabral being blacked flag for two spin rule sport ofcancelled each other out…..other than that Cabral had two dnfs including the broken shock bolt and Zych had one…
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR