Cabral Sweeps NEMA’s Return to Star Speedway
Epping, NH — Randy Cabral ended a victory lane dry spell in convincing fashion this past Saturday evening in NEMA’s triumphant return to the Webber family’s Star Speedway. Cabral won the NEMA Lites feature in dramatic fashion with two laps to go, and captured the NEMA feature in convincing fashion.
In the Lites race, a first lap altercation between Dennis O’Brien and Danny Cugini sent Cugini’s badly damaged race car off on the hook, and Cugini was badly bruised up in the incident. When the race resumed, Paul Scally, looking for his first Lites victory, stormed out into the lead. Scally would be hotly pursued by Cabral in his family owned #35.
As the laps wound down, and the duo approached lapped traffic, Cabral began to catch Scally, as they caught the #41 of Meg Cugini. With two laps to go, Scally looked high on Cugini, and Cabral stormed to the bottom, taking both Cugini and taking over the lead from Scally. Hard charger, Anthony Payne inserted into the mix, also getting by Scally for second. Cabral would take down the victory, and would be followed by new points leader Payne, Scally, Scott Bigelow and ISMA Super Modified Standout, Chris Perley.
[Photo Gallery] by Michael Rothwell
In the NEMA feature, Cabral, scheduled to start sixth, would end up starting in the fifth spot, after heat winner Avery Stoehr’s car would not fire prior to the initial green. When the green flag flew, Cabral wasted no time rocketing into the lead. Alan Chambers, in the Chambers #7, would pursue Cabral, but by the halfway point, Cabral had stretched his lead out to over a straightaway.
As the laps ticked down, NEMA competitors hoped for a caution, but the race went green to checkered, with Cabral taking down his first win of the season in convincing style. The Chambers family occupied the podium with Cabral, with Alan Chambers finishing second, followed by last week’s winner Jim Chambers in third. Seth Carlson finished fourth, followed by John Zych Jr., Paul Scally, Matt O’Brien, Pete Pernesiglio, Doug Cleveland and Jim Santa Maria.
Cabral’s win ties him with Dave Humphrey’s long standing record of sixteen consecutive seasons with a feature win, and also brings him to within twenty six points of current standings leader, John Zych Jr.
“I won this race last year, and on the way home, I found out that my uncle Bobby had passed away. He used to call me before and after every race. Tonight I felt like he was with him – and this one was for him,” said an elated Cabral. “We found some issues with the car that we think have been plaguing us all year, and hopefully we’ll have a good car for the rest of the season,” he said.
In NEMA’s Sundown Showdown, ISMA standout, Chris Perley, blasted out into the lead and never looked back. He took down the special event over Anthony Payne and Avery Stoehr.
“NEMA thanks the Webber family for having us back. We are very excited about our 2016 partnership and four dates at the race track,” said NEMA President Russ Stoehr.
NEMA returns to Monadnock Speedway for the Iron Mike Memorial this coming Saturday night.
Sources: Tim Bertrand/NEMA PR
NEMA MIDGETS – STAR – 8/29/15
1 47 Randy Cabral Pmouth, MA Tim Bertrand
2 7 Alan Chambers Atkinson, NH Mike Chambers
3 21 Jim Chambers Atkinson, NH Mike Chambers
4 71 Seth Carlson Brimfield, CT Gene Feigel
5 9 John Zych Jr. Mendon,MA John Zych Sr.
6 30 Paul Scally Raynham, MA Paul Scally
7 16 Matt O’Brien Wilmington, MA Matt O’Brien
8 28 Peter Pernisiglio Jr. Ronkonkoma, NY Peter Pernisiglio Sr.
9 87 Doug Cleveland Sudbury, MA Doug Cleveland
10 99 Jim Santa Maria Burlington, CT Jim Santa Maria
11 5b Bethany Stoehr Bridgewater,MA Greg Stoehr
12 15a Avery Stoehr Lakeville, MA Russ Stoehr DNS
13 77 Mike Luggelle Hull, MA Mike Luggelle DNS
NEMA LITES – STAR – 8/29/15
Pos. # Driver Hometown Owner
1 35 Randy Cabral Plymouth, MA Glen Cabral
2 21 Anthony Payne Fairlawn, NJ Jennifer Scrivani
3 30b Paul Scally Raynham, MA Paul Scally
4 32 Scott Bigelow E. Hampton, CT Scott Bigelow
5 76 Chris Perley Rowley, MA Fank Manafort
6 15a Avery Stoehr Lakeville, MA Russ Stoehr
7 13 Ryan Bigelow E. Hampton, CT Ryan Bigelow
8 2 Jim Cataldo Sterling, MA Jim Cataldo
9 9 Ben Mikitarian Northborough, MA John Mikitarian
10 16 Dennis O’Brien Deerfield, NH Chris O’Brien
11 41 Megan CuginI Marshfield, MA D. Cugini
12 51 Danny Cugini Marshfield, MA D. Cugini
13 36 Myles Devits – Myles Devits
14 31 Paul Bigelow Kensington, CT Paul Bigelow DNS
15 29d Jeremy Decourcey Rochester, NH Jeremy Decourcey DNS
16 21w Jim Chambers Atkinson, NH Jim Chambers DNS