Last to First: Cugini Takes Thompson ICEBREAKER Win in NEMA Lites
The Northeastern Midget Association has long considered Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (TSMP) the ultimate “separate the men from the boys” facility. With times in the mid 19-second range, Saturday’s NEMA Lites appearance at the facility, taking place on a beautiful Spring day – left no doubts on the table. Dan Cugini in his #51 family owned Ford Focus powered entry, was victorious when it was all said and done, besting the fifteen NEMA Lites competitors in the pits. Dan Cugini in his #51 family owned Ford Focus powered entry, was victorious when it was all said and done, besting the fifteen NEMA Lites competitors in the pits.
The action started fast & furious right out of the gate. In the first heat, Ryan Bigelow in his SMG Motoring Chevy Ecotec powered entry jumped out into the lead from the pole, and dominated the event over brother Scott Bigelow. In heat 2, 2015 Champion Anthony “The Tornado” Payne scored an impressive victory running the fastest times of the qualifying events in the 19.60 range.
Ryan Bigelow led the field to green for the 20 lap feature. He quickly jumped out into the lead and stretched his lead to five car lengths. Behind him, Jim Chambers in his #21 family owned entry was closing the gap fast & furious, and within four laps he was on Bigelow’s tail. Chambers took the lead going down the backstretch on lap five, and Bigelow made a bid in turns three and four to take it back, but unfortunately the two made contact sending both hard into the turn four fence, collecting Anthony Nocella in the Seymour #29 along with them. All three drivers were OK, although Nocella was a bit bruised and shaken after a hard impact. All three cars retired to the pits.
On the restart, PJ Stergios quickly jumped out into the lead, and further back Danny Cugini had come from last starting spot, and overtook second ahead of Paul Scally, Anthony Payne, and Randy Cabral. After a close call between Cugini and Scally, Scally lost momentum and a number of spots.Once in the open, Cugini quickly ran down Stergios and after a brief
Once in the open, Cugini quickly ran down Stergios and after a brief battle, took over the lead and set sail, never seriously challenged from that point on for the victory.“We had struggled all morning with getting the motor running right, but just before the heat
“We had struggled all morning with getting the motor running right, but just before the heat race, Danny Cugini helped us get it running. I didn’t get any practice in before the heat and was just hoping to finish the race. I got lucky missing the crash in turn 3, and was kind of surprised to find myself leading. Cugini definitely had the better handling car, and I tried to put up a fight, which resulted in me getting into him off turn 2 which was totally my fault. I’m glad he held onto it there, and picked up the win after helping us get the car running so congrats to him,” said Stergios, satisfied with a second place run.
“I knew that I needed a caution, and after that, I needed to get to the front quickly,” said Cugini. “Once I took the lead, I knew we had the car to beat. Chris (Desrosiers) knows how to set the car up for the way I like to run at Thompson. You need to be able to drive the car in really deep here, and that’s what I was able to do,” he said. “I’m just really excited to be able to take down the first victory of the year here at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park,” he concluded.Cugini and Stergios were chased across the line by 2015 champion Anthony Payne, Randy Cabral, Avery Stoehr, Paul Scally, Jim Cataldo, Alan Chambers, Jeff Locke, and Scott Bigelow.
Cugini and Stergios were chased across the line by 2015 champion Anthony Payne, Randy Cabral, Avery Stoehr, Paul Scally, Jim Cataldo, Alan Chambers, Jeff Locke, and Scott Bigelow.
NEMA makes its next stop at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl for its first inaugural test & tune session on May 1.
Pos. # Driver Hometown Owner
1 51 Danny Cugini Marshfield, MA D. Cugini
2 11 PJ Stergios Candia, NH Bill Stergios
3 21 Anthony Payne Fairlawn, NJ Mike Scrivani
4 35 Randy Cabral Plymouth, MA Glen Cabral
5 15a Avery Stoehr Lakeville, MA Russ Stoehr
6 30b Paul Scally Raynham, MA Paul Scally
7 2 Jim Cataldo Sterling, MA Jim Cataldo
8 DNF 17 Alan Chambers Atkinson, NH Mike Chambers
9 DNF 38 Jeff Locke Raymond, NH Ken Locke
10 DNF 32 Scott Bigelow E. Hampton, CT Scott Bigelow
11 DNF 13 Ryan Bigelow E. Hampton, CT Ryan Bigelow
12 DNF 12 Jim Chambers Atkinson, NH Jim Chambers
13 DNF 29 Anthony Nocella Woburn, MA Matt Seymour
14 DNS 14 Chad Labastie Uxbridge, MA Chad Labastie
15 DNS 41 Megan Cugini Marshfield, MA D. Cugini
Sources: Tim Bertrand/NEMA PR