Stoehr Tops NEMA Lites at Waterford
Waterford — Avery Stoehr made it two straight Northeastern Midget Association Hammond Memorial Lites wins Saturday night at Waterford Speedbowl. It was the second win of the season for the third generation racer who came from the ninth starting spot.
Taking the lead with an inside move on Scott Bigelow with 14 left, Stoehr survived a restart challenge from Kenny Johnson five laps later and went on to a .730 margin of victory. Johnson (Johnson 46) and Ian Cumens (Seymour 9), both fighting tight race cars, completed the podium. Point leader Carl Mederios (Mederios 50) and Brandon Igo (Igo 45) completed the top five.
Stoehr and Johnson, the latter starting eighth, battled most of the night. A lap after Stoehr assumed command, Johnson passed Bigelow in the back for second and was well within striking distance when the final yellow showed. Unfortunately Bigelow, who ran well all night was involved.
While Stoehr “didn’t want to see the caution,” he was confident. The car, he said, “got really good” especially on the bottom. Johnson’s car “got tighter as the race went on.” Cumens, who started 10th, was also in the restart battle briefly.
Bigelow, who started second, grabbed the immediate lead with Richie Morocco on his tail right away. They dueled for 10 laps, each leading, while Stoehr and Johnson moved forward. When the first yellow showed with 22 remaining, Stoehr was fourth and Johnson fifth. Three laps later they were third and fourth.
The Lites will join NEMA Saturday night at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY.
NEMA NUGGETS –Johnson took fast lap honors with a 14.151 (95.400 mph)… A former NEMA car-owner champion, Carl Kibbe wrenches the 15a for the Stoehr family. He says Avery has the same smoothness that his father Russ has shown in NEMA for decades…Logan Rayvals and Scott Bigelow were the heat winners… Joey Payne’s son Anthony made his full midget debut with a 10th in the Scrivani 21…Thirteen cars finished all 27 laps…Rookie Richie Morocco, who also fell victim to ill fortune, continued to impress.
Results: 1. Avery Stoehr, 2.Kenny Johnson, 3. Ian Cumens, 4. Carl Mederios, 5. Brandon Igo, 6. Danny Cugini, 7. Logan Rayvals, 8. Ryan Bigelow,, 9. Paul Bigelow, 10. Anthony Payne, 11. Dana Shaw, `12. DJ Moniz, 13. Meg Cugini, 14. Richie Morrocco, 15. Kelly Ferrell, 16. Jake Smith, 17. Scott Bigelow, 18. Randy Cabral, 19. Kevin Park.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR