Monadnock’s “Iron Mike” Memorial NEMA Midget Feature to Randy Cabral
Winchester, N.H. – After 30 laps of tight racing on the banks of Monadnock Speedway, Kingston, MA resident Randy Cabral, (#47), claimed the Northeastern Midget Association’s checkers in a race slowed by four cautions on a loose race track. This race makes it two in a row for the #47. Jim Chambers, (#21), was second with 2013 NEMA champ John Zych, (#9), third.
This event was to honor and remember “Iron Mike” Scrivani, the legendary car owner from NEMA’s past who claimed feature wins and championships during his time with the club.
The special evening kicked off with a unique driver introduction as the top ten starters presented select fans with a souvenir gift bag filled with an official NEMA fan tee shirt and other gifts.
At the drop of the green, Chambers let his presence be known as he jumped out to a early lead followed by Ryan Bigelow, (#13), Bethany Stoehr, (#5b), Todd Bertrand, (#39), and Avery Stoehr, (#15a). Chambers would stay in the top two all day with an impressive run.
Winner Cabral would break into the top five on lap seven after starting tenth, picking his line carefully through traffic. Bethany Stoehr would run in the top three until lap eleven when both Bertrand and Cabral would move her back to the fifth spot. Bethany would then become the first caution on lap eighteen with a spin in turn four. The running order at the caution was Chambers, Bigelow, Bertrand, Cabral and Zych, who quietly moved into the top five from his ninth stating spot.
A shuffle occurred on the restart as Cabral powered past Bigelow for second and Avery Stoehr moved by Zych for fifth.
Cabral was then able to get past Chambers for the lead with Bigelow, Bertrand and A. Stoehr in the top five.
Bethany again lost the handle on the 5b in turn four with a second spin bringing out the yellow on lap twenty two.
On the restart, Cabral held point and soon after, defending NEMA champ Zych, made his move to once again enter the five on lap twenty four, moving to forth on lap 26, and break the top three on lap twenty eight where he would finish.
It was at this late stage of the race that Long Island driver Pete Pernesiglio spun on lap twenty four and twenty six for caution number three and four.
At the checkers, it was Chamber’s strong run that netted him second, then Zych; and Bigelow just able to hold off Bertrand for fourth by a bumper.
During the trackside interview, winner Cabral thanked the enthusiastic crowd for their support, and with friend and son of “Iron Mike”, Mike Jr., by his side, thanked young Mike for all his help over the years and for being a mentor.
Cabral went on to say after the race, “I was able to pass high and low, but the car worked best on the bottom, I was just careful where to pick my lines.”
Second place Chambers thoughts post race. “Everyone was loose as the race went on but at the green I just stuck it down low and went on from there.”
John Zych Jr., after his third place finish, “Car was loose at the end and could not make up any more ground.”
NEMA’s next stop on the 2014 tour will stay in N.H., at the Twin State Speedway in Claremont. On June 28th, it’s the “Whelen Engineering Family Night” featuring the NEMA and NEMA Lites, along with the Wild Cats, Sportsman, Super Streets and Late Models. The track and NEMA have partnered to display a number of midgets race cars in the Claremont area for the fans to sit in and also receive give-a-ways. See the NEMA and Twin State web sites for info.
The 26th lap:
– Long Island veteran hot shoe, Pernesiglio, recently rebuilt the brake system on the #80 Beast and vowed to solve the handling issues for his next race.
– Car owner Ed Breault made available his #44 Beast for past champion Russ Stoehr to drive; early brake issues were corrected in time for the feature resulting in a 9th place finish.
– #13 NEMA racer Ryan Bigelow also had major brake problems just before feature time, but two other race teams jumped in to help make repairs just prior to taking the feature green flag.
Sources: Bill Van Slyke/ NEMA PR