Coby, J. Chambers Take Down NEMA Wins in Bemer’s Big Show at Speedbowl
2016 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Doug Coby charged from the sixth starting position in his Bertrand Motorsports #74 entry, after a side by side battle with teammate Todd Bertrand en route to his second Northeastern Midget Association win of the season Sunday evening at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. In the Lites division, Jim Chambers sliced his way through the pack, and dominated the second half of the feature en route to victory and the 2016 Lites championship.
The story of the evening, however, revolved around the tight NEMA points battle between Randy Cabral and John Zych. Cabral came into the event with a thirteen point lead, and extended that to seventeen after NEMA’s time trial qualifying on Sunday afternoon. As the NEMA cars were staging, Cabral was participating in the Pro Four Modified feature event, as he also had at the Sunoco World Series, finishing second the previous weekend. Cabral’s car came to a stop in turn two with handling issues, and was unfortunately hit extremely hard in the driver’s door. After extricating him from the top of the vehicle, he was transported to a local hospital, later deemed to have broken ribs, a concussion, and bruising.
The NEMA feature would go on, with Zych locking up the Driver’s Championship by virtue of starting the feature. Joey Payne, who was quickly fitted into the Bertrand 47, would start at the tail of the field. When the green flag flew, Todd Bertrand would jump out into the lead from the pole, and was followed by Seth Carlson in the Feigel #71. Further back, teammate Doug Coby in the Bertrand #74, was using the high line to slice his way to the front. Coby was second by lap three when the caution flew for a Bethany Stoehr spin in turn four.
On the restart, Bertrand got the jump, but Coby was right on his tail. Coby both high and low, eventually drawing even with Bertrand in turn two on the outside. The duo ran side by side for three laps, with Coby coming out on top. He would go on to pull ahead by a straightaway and take down the victory over Bertrand, Carlson, Zych, and Avery Stoehr. Alan Chambers, Jim Chambers, Joey Payne, Jim Santa Maria, Paul Scally and Kevin Park rounded out the top ten. John Zych, and his father, John, locked up the 2016 Driver and Owner’s championships for the season.
“Tonight we are thinking about our teammate, Randy Cabral. We hope he’s OK and will be able to make a return to the driver’s seat soon,” Said Coby in victory lane. “I’m happy to be able to go out here and win for these guys in light of the circumstances. The car has never been as good at the Speedbowl as it was tonight,” said Coby.
In the NEMA Lites feature, Jim Chambers would win the 2016 Lites Championship by virtue of starting the feature event. In the feature, Jim Cataldo would jump out into the early lead. Behind Cataldo, Ben Mikitarian was making a charge, as the young Mikitarian has been finding himself at the front of the pack over the last five events. Also in the mix at the front of the field was Paul “Dangerous” Scally. Scally was right in the mix at the front of the field as the leaders battled lapped traffic in the first half of the race.
Further back, Chambers was slicing his way through the pack, along with PJ Stergios. Chambers would make a three-wide pass for the lead on lap twelve, and would quickly go to work pulling away from the field. He would go on to dominate the remainder of the feature event, winning over Stergios and Mikitarian. Behind them, 2015 Champion, Anthony Payne, made another great run from deep in the field in the Scrivani 21 to take down the fourth position. Joey Cipriano rounded out the top five, followed by Chad Labastie, Dan Cugini, Kevin Ianarelli, Nikki Carroll and Jim Cataldo.
“I knew we had to just start the feature to lock up the Championship. Once that happened, I just decided to go for it,” Said Chambers. “We have typically not been very good at Waterford, and tonight we just hit it right on the head. The car was amazing,” concluded Chambers.
NEMA
1 74 Doug Coby Wethersfield, CT Tim Bertrand
2 39 Todd Bertrand Danielson, CT Todd Bertrand
3 71 Seth Carlson Brimfield, CT Gene Feigel
4 9 John Zych Jr. Mendon, MA John Zych Sr.
5 15a Avery Stoehr Lakeville, MA Russ Stoehr
6 7 Alan Chambers Atkinson, NH Mike Chambers
7 21 Jim Chambers Atkinson, NH Mike Chambers
8 47 Joey Payne Fairlawn, NJ Tim Bertrand
9 99 Jim Santa Maria Burlington, CT Jim Santa Maria
10 30 Paul Scally Raynham, MA Paul Scally
11 28 Kevin Park Foxboro, MA Pete Pernisiglio Sr.
12 5b Bethany Stoehr Bridgewater, MA Greg Stoehr
13 77 Doug Cleveland Sudbury, MA Mike Luggelle
NEMA Lites Feature:
1. 12 – Jim Chambers
2. 11 – PJ Stergios
3. 9 – Ben Mikitarian
4. 21 – Anthony Payne
5. 84 – Joey Cipriano
6. 14 – Chad Labastie
7. 51 – Dan Cugini
8. 27 – Kevin Ianarelli
9. 24 – Nikki Carroll
10. 2 – Jim Cataldo
11. 94 – Logan Rayvals
12. 41 – Megan Cugini
13. 35 – Ryan Locke
14. 3 – Chris Vosey
15. 16 – Miles Devites
16. 52 – Neil Blatt
17. 30 – Paul Scally
Sources: Tim Bertrand/NEMA PR