NEMA Moves On to Star
Brockton, MA — Star Speedway has hosted the Northeastern Midget Association more than any other facility. Saturday night’s 25-lapper Marvin Rifchin Trophy Race will be the 151st feature NEMA has run on the Granite State oval.
The NEMA Lites will be making their second 2013 appearance at Star, Carl Medeiros Jr. (Medeiros 51) looking to make it two straight.
Russ Stoehr (Dumo’s Desire 45) and Joey Payne Jr. (Breault 44) are the active win leaders at Star with 10 and eight respectively. Randy Cabral (Bertrand 47) has a couple including last year’s visit when he posted laps in the high 11s. Cabral rides a streak of two-straight seconds into Star chasing home Bertrand Motorsports teammates each time – Todd Bertrand at Waterford and Doug Coby last weekend at Seekonk.
Fifth at the Louie, Todd Bertrand (Bertrand 38) is a definite threat along with Greg Stoehr (Stoehr 26), John Zych Jr. (Zych 9) and Ian Cumens (Seymour), the latter two coming off strong efforts as well. Other threats include one-time Star winner Jim Miller (Miller 3m), Boston Louie Hard Charger Anthony Marvuglio (Bourbeau 380), Bethany Stoehr (Stoehr 5b) Seth Carlson (Feigel 710) and James Santa Maria (Santa Maria 99).
The Stergios family will be looking to make it three straight Lites wins, Jake winning at Lee and P.J. at Seekonk last weekend. With the brothers sharing the #11, the car has finished no worse than third. “We have no concern with points,” offers P.J. “We are just having fun.”
Paying points for the first time, the Lites will crown a champion this year. Several contenders have already emerged including Mederios, who also won at Star last year. Other threats are Boston Louie runner Andy Barrows (Anderson 81), hard charging Danny Cugini (Cugini 51), Brandon Igo (Igo 45), Christian Briggs (Briggs 44) and Avery Stoehr (Stoehr 15b). Cabral continues to run the family 35 with the Lites. Cumens and Anthony Nocella are also possibilities, the latter running when his busy schedule permits. Both Cumens and Nocella drive for the Seymour family.
Enjoying its best season yet, the Lites division features a strong rookie class that includes siblings Joe and Megan Cugini, Kevin Hutchens, Richie Morocco, Kelly Farrell and Jamie Falconi.
Ahead for NEMA in June is the Iron Mike (Scrivani) Memorial the 22nd at Monadnock Speedway and the Carquest Super Saturday at Stafford Motor Speedway on June 29.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR