Bigelow Leads NEMA Lites to Speedbowl
Waterford, CT – There are no secrets left for the Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) at the New London Waterford Speedbowl. A tight points race amongst the Lites between Scott Bigelow, Danny Cugini and Anthony Payne will highlight the night as NEMA’s Lite class performs a solo show back at the ‘Bowl Saturday night, the 25-lap feature part of the traditional Saturday evening program.
Bigelow, who won at Thompson earlier this year, knows that there are not many secrets left amongst the competitors at the Speedbowl. Between open practices, and many years of history between the Speedbowl and NEMA, it tends to be a place where most of the competition run their best.
“It is a pedal to the metal place,” says long time NEMA member Joey Payne, father of last week’s winner – Anthony Payne, who has run many laps in the high 12 seconds bracket at the Speedbowl. “You don’t get to relax at the Speedbowl.”
Payne’s son, Anthony, took down his first NEMA Lite win at Evans Mills Speedway, the last time the Lites took the track. He drives for the famed Scrivani family, with help from long time NEMA supporters Mike and Lu Jarrett.
“The Speedbowl’s geography makes it one of the best Midget tracks in the East,” says NEMA President Russ Stoehr. “The surface is great and there’s just enough straightaway. You can go three, four wide no problem.”
Danny Cugini, regular NEMA competitor, has produced some strong runs so far, and only trails Bigelow by 30 points, or roughly four spots in a NEMA Lite feature. He comes prepared to win this Saturday night, similar to Paul Scally with his new Lites ride, Cugini’s sister Meg, and Bigelow’s brother, Paul.
Randy Cabral, who ranks amongst the top of NEMA’s all time winners at the Bowl also plans to attend Saturday night. Cabral has not visited victory lane in a long time at the Speedbowl, and a victory there is high on his priority list.
The Lites will run a 25 lap feature, as a compliment to the Mini Stock’s, SK Lights, Late Models, SK Modifieds, the NEMST and the Limited Sportsman.
Sources: Tim Bertrand/NEMA PR