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Motivated Cabral Romps At The ‘Bowl

Randy Cabral may have missed his calling. Now two-for-two after a dominating performance in the Northeastern Midget Association 25-lap feature Saturday night at Waterford Speedbowl, he should consider motivational speaking. He’s good at finding reasons to win.

Grabbing the lead from Joey Payne Jr. on a lap two restart, Cabral absolutely ran away in the Bertrand #47. Only a yellow with 12 to go delayed Cabral’s rush to victory. He again powered away from Payne. His time for lap 16 was a sizzling 12.742 seconds.

“Pretty good,” understated Cabral who had a half straightaway on Bobby Santos III at the checkered. Santos cleared sister Erica on the last restart and took second from Payne in the backstretch with three left. Erica Santos and Greg Stoehr completed the top five.

“I hope I didn’t stink up the show,” said Cabral, insisting he did not know just how far back Payne and Santos were. “You don’t give those guys anything,” he said. “You run every lap like it was the last one.”

Aware it was Mothers Day eve, Cabral “really wanted to win for [owner} Tim. His mother Marilyn passed away over the winter. He was so strong through that ordeal and I wanted this for Tim, for Gil and for Marilyn.”

He “wanted it” as well for Deb Marvuglio, the late Shane Hammond’s mother, and for his own mom Marie “who has put up with a lot from me.”

It was the 15th career win for Cabral, tying him with Joey Coy, one of his “all-time heroes. I grew up watching Joey Coy. I idolized Joey Coy and to tie him is unbelievable.” It was also his sixth Speedbowl, tying him in that category with Drew Fornoro.

Starting 10th, Bertrand told Cabral he would be “ecstatic” with a top five. Payne, who started sixth, and Cabral moved through a second lap scramble to first and third respectively with Erica Santos second.

The car, Cabral said, “went away in the heat” and Bertrand made two “very small changes (he put some air pressure in the right rear and took a tiny bit of rebound out of the left rear) for the feature." Late in the race, he “thought my right rear was going away because the car was skating around on me. I think it was actually my not driving it in hard enough. The harder I drove it in, the better it handled."

Monadnock Speedway is the next stop for NEMA on Saturday night, May 24.

Due to weather, the Seekonk Opener on
Sunday, May 4th has been Canceled
NEMA will be meeting with Seekonk to reschedule.

In lieu of flowers, Shane's family has asked that contributions be
made in Shane's name c/o NEMA. All contributions can be sent to
NEMA at 266 Kelly Rd, Middlebury CT 06762.

Rules for the Lite Series and the full 13 race
Lite Series Schedule are now posted on
the Lite Series Page Here

Greg Stoehr has been driving race cars for over 30 years. He’s been a Northeastern Midget Association competitor since the mid 1980s. After all that time he’s going after a championship.

The quest continues May 3-4 when NEMA takes on Seekonk Speedway, helping the “Cement Palace” open its season.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever really wanted a championship,” says Stoehr. He feels he owes the effort to the people who have helped him, notably Bruce Beane and John Andruk of Circle Performance Motors. They are the masterminds behind the unique Mazda engine that powers the Stoehr 26b.

He is not exactly a stranger to championships. Older brother (by 11 months) Russ has five NEMA crowns. “Russ knows how to win championships,” understates Stoehr. “He knows how to get it done.” The run, he adds, “is the culmination of a lot of trial and error.”

Stoehr joins two other veterans who have lofty intentions – Joe Payne Jr. and Nokie Fornoro also know how to win championships. “You need a lot of reliable equipment, you need good people and you have to be smart on the track,” says Stoehr.

The Stoehrs have a combined eight NEMA wins at Seekonk, five for Russ. Only Nokie (8) and Drew (2) Fornoro have more. Stoehr comes to Seekonk off a strong third place at Waterford Speedbowl’s Modified Nationals. Greg has a first and a second in heat action.

“[Seekonk] has to smile at you,” says Stoehr who sees the historic quarter-mile in contradictory terms. “It is,” he continues, “a rhythm track as opposed to a gas and brake track. You smoother you are the more Seekonk rewards you because if you slow down, a lot of cars are going to pass you. And you have to be good in traffic because you are in it almost immediately.”

Stoehr, who spent 10 years driving fendered cars at the ‘Konk, believes it’s a place where experience counts. There are exceptions (Randy Cabral and Bobby Santos III) but “some guys never get it,” says Stoehr.

The Stoehrs and Fornoros are both sons of drivers – Paul Stoehr and Nicky Fornoro respectively. Nicky Fornoro actually won a AAA race at Seekonk in 1952.

“You’ve got to let the car run free at Seekonk,” says Nokie Fornoro. “You can’t hold it down. You’ve got to let it go.” He claims he often “gets into such a rhythm there that the right rear actually ticks the wall in the front stretch.” Nokie, who uses no brake, says he learned a lot about driving Seekonk from Mike Scrivani Jr. and Modified Hall of Famer Leo Cleary.

SEEKONK/NEMA NOTES:

Among active drivers, Randy Cabral (3), Jeff Horn (3), Joey Payne Jr. (2) and Bobby Santos III (1) join Fornoro and Stoehr on the Seekonk/NEMA win list… Stoehr and Fornoro agree it will take laps in the low 11 seconds to win a Midget race at Seekonk. That compares with laps in the mid 15 seconds back in the early 1950s … NEMA’s first race was at Seekonk on May 30, 1953, the late Fred Meeker beating Al Pillion and Cliff Riggott. The next NEMA feature will be the 71st at Seekonk … The legendary Oscar Ridlon won the first-ever event at Seekonk, a Midget race, on Memorial Day in 1946. Through the years Seekonk has run events sanctioned by many sanctioning bodies including Bay State, Triple A, ARDC and USAC. The win list is extraordinary and includes the likes of Bill Schindler, Joe Sostillio, Johnny Thomson, Len Duncan, Billy Randall, Joe Csiki, Mel Kenyon, Johnny Mann and Dutch Schaefer.

Erica Santos wants, make that needs, another victory. The sooner it comes the better it will be for Santos who made Northeastern Midget Association history last year when she won at Stafford Motor Speedway, the first female in the club’s history to do so.

NEMA’s busy ’08 campaign continues May 3-4, helping Seekonk Speedway open its season. You can bet on folks talking about Erica at Stafford.

“They can stop with Stafford,” says Santos. “They don’t need to keep talking about it. It’s time [for me] to back it up. I want to win other races.”

In her second season in the Ed Breault-owned #44, she is cautiously optimistic heading into Seekonk. Admitting she “hasn’t run great there in the past,” Santos returns believing “we might have found something the last time we were there. I think we should be pretty good.”

“If they know nothing else, people go home knowing how Erica did,” explains NEMA president Mike Scrivani Jr. Within the club, she is treated as any other potential winner.

“When I do pretty good or OK people make such a big deal about it,” she continues. She understands “there are not too many girls racing midgets” but sees herself “as another race driver. I’ve been driving longer than a lot of the people out there so I should be doing what I’m doing.”

The #44 team will come to Seekonk with a fast car. “We’ve had good cars on both weekends,” said Santos who captured heats at both Waterford and Thompson. “We are ahead of last year and last year was good. We have to keep doing what we’re doing.” Santos and Breault wound up fifth in their respective standings in ’07.

At Waterford’s Modified Nationals she was ahead when the rain came. “Had the rain not come, had it stayed green, I probably would have been OK,” she says. “After the long delay [winner] Randy Cabral’s car was better; mine was a little worse.” Admitting to a mistake, she wound up fifth.

“I need to be fast, consistent,” she says. “I need to be in a position where we can win.”

She shares the spotlight with heralded brother Bobby III who often pilots the family-owned #98. Although the #44 is maintained by Lou Breault, Erica’s father and brother “put the set up in it.”

As much as possible, Erica tries to follow her brother in practice. “First,” she explains, “I know that’s he is usually one of the fastest cars. If I can keep up with him I know I’m in pretty good shape. And, it’s easier for my dad. He doesn’t have to watch two cars on opposite sides of the track.”

Seekonk, she says, is “definitely a handling race track” and having a car that’s “comfortable” is key “because you are always turning there. If I’m not in a good handling car I’m going to get tired quickly.”

Strength is one of the things that, Santos believes, puts girls at a disadvantage in auto racing. “We are not as strong and we not as aggressive, things you need to be a good race driver. Guys are just so naturally competitive and really aggressive,” she offers.

She sees herself as “really competitive” and “pretty aggressive for a girl.”

Pernesiglio to Make Speed Channel Debut
Former NEMA Driver, Turned Broadcaster, Get’s Big Break

Memberships and Car Registration Information
WILL NOT be accepted at the track.
(meaning no points for cars or drivers!).
AND DRIVERS NEED TO SIGN UP AT THE FAST TRACK SITE FOR THE REQUIRED MEDICAL
INFORMATION BRACELETS >> SEE BELOW
and have physical forms completed for NEMA

Thank You - Laura Kibbe & Beth Chandler

NEMA Mailing Address:
266 Kelly Rd.
Middlebury, CT 06762

secretary@nemaracing.com

2008 NEMA Membership Form HERE

2008 NEMA Rulebook HERE
 

Fast Track   MEDICAL RESPONSE SYSTEMS, LLC The long awaited answer to the unpredictable environment of a race track Computer chip with vital medical information in a lightweight bracelet

REQUIRED for All NEMA & NEMA Lites Drivers in 2008. Recommended for all NEMA members. SEEKONK SPEEDWAY HAS REQUIRED THE BRACELETS FOR ALL DRIVERS FOR 2008 PLUS THE SYSTEM IS IN PLACE AT OTHER TRACKS ALSO

The Fast Track system is designed around a lightweight bracelet that contains a tiny computer chip. This computer chip contains vital medical information on the person wearing it. In the event that medical assistance is needed, a quick scan of the bracelet provides first responders with valuable medical information in seconds. If the patient is transported to a medical facility, this same information is immediately available to the medical staff at the receiving facility. Having emergency contact and medical history information at their fingertips will greatly enhance the ability of your medical personnel to provide treatment from the time your first emergency crew arrives on the scene until you are in a medical facility. This kind of information can be invaluable in cases ranging from known allergies to potentially serious medical conditions. Each Fast Track System participant is asked to complete a simple form containing important medical and contact information. NEMA SIGNUP HERE Start at Not a member?  Register Here >> That data is then burned into the encrypted computer chip that is placed inside the bracelet and given to the participant. The information in the bracelet can only be read by certified track personnel. Once the form is filled out the program is fully functional and you will be able to purchase your Fast Track Bracelet for $39.95. The personal and medical information may be updated through this online program at anytime during the season. The home page of FAST TRACK MRS is www.fasttrackmrs.com

Randy Cabral's Win at Waterford - for Shane

Emotional Speedbowl Win For Cabral
Randy Cabral went into Sunday’s Northeastern Midget Association feature at Waterford Speedbowl’s Budweiser Modified Nationals “racing” for Shane Hammond. It was a week to the day that Hammond died as a result of injuries suffered at Thompson Speedway’s Icebreaker. After a long rain delay, Randy took the lead at the resumption of the race with 21 laps remaining and went on to post his fifth career and second-straight win at the Speedbowl. “I told [Shane] I was going to race for him,” said Cabral, who held off a determined challenge from Joey Payne Jr. “I had to make it count. To win was unbelievable.” He said up until Friday night he was not going to race. At Shane’s wake, “I saw him there and realized ‘man, he ain’t going to be happy if I don’t go racing.’” When the rain came three laps in, Cabral, riding second, “was kind of mad at Shane. I said why did you do this to me?” He had charged from fourth to second on the first lap. When the race resumed an hour and half later (officials decided to run another feature extending the interruption), Cabral’s attitude changed. “My car wasn’t handling that great before the rain,” he explained. “I think Shane helped me out because we came back and the [Bertrand 47] was unbelievable.” When Erica Santos, the leader when the rains came, bobbled in turn one on the restart, Cabral blasted into the lead. Payne, Greg Stoehr and Adam Cantor followed. Clearly in control, Cabral turned an electrifying 12.848 seconds lap. A green white checker finish gave Payne a final shot. “I thought he was going to go when I did but he went a couple feet before me,” Cabral said. “It made it exciting for the fans.” Following runner-up Payne was Stoehr, Cantor and Erica Santos. “It was a hard race,” said Payne. “If anybody deserved this race it was Randy. I’m glad to see him win it in Shane’s’ memory. They were such close friends.” He talked to Hammond’s mother Deb on a cell phone in Victory Lane. “She called [club president] Mike Scrivani during the race,” Cabral explained. “Mike said ‘I can’t talk right now’ and put the phone down without hanging up.” Cabral then asked the crowd to yell out “Shane.” The final yellow came when a car spun in turn one, forcing Cabral to go through the wet infield. “I hit something slippery on the track and just started sliding,” he said. “I told myself ‘I’m not stalling this car out. I just kept it going until I got back on the track.” Overheating knocked Nokie Fornoro out shortly after the race resumed. A last lap bid for third sent Bobby Santos III through the wet off turn four. He held on to finish seventh, a spot behind William Wall. NEMA is now idle until May 3-4 when it helps Seekonk Speedway open its season. 2008 POINTS HERE
Photos by NormMarx.com
Waterford Speedbowl Nationals - 4/13/08
Pos.	#	Driver	Hometown	Owner
1	47	Randy Cabral	Plymouth, MA	Tim Bertrand
2	45	Joey Payne	Fairlawn, NJ	Gene Angellilo
3	26b	Greg Stoehr	Bridgewater, MA	Greg Stoehr
4	7ny	Adam Cantor	Dix Hills, NY	Cantor Racing
5	44	Erica Santos	Franklin, MA	Ed Breault
6	5	William Wall	Shrewsbury, MA	Steve Wall
7	98	Bobby Santos III	Franklin, MA	Robert Santos Jr.
8	30	Paul Scally	Raynham, MA	Paul Scally
9	87	Doug Cleveland	Sudbury, MA	Doug Cleveland
10	22	Chris Leonard	Pelham, NH	Dave Leonard
11	77	Andy Shlatz	Enfield, CT	Mike Luggelle
12	28	Paul Luggelle	Holbrook, MA	Paul Luggelle
13 DNF	2	Lee Bundy	Kennebunkport, ME	Lee Bundy
14 DNF	9	John Zych Jr.	Mendon, MA	John Zych
15 DNF	4	Nokie Fornoro	Stroudsburg, PA	Mike Jarret
16 DNF	33	Shawn Torrey	Marshfield, MA	Shawn Torrey
17 DNF	63	Jeremy Frankoski	Huntingon Station, NY	Jon Seaman Sr.
18 DNF	99	Aaron Wall	Shrewsbury, MA	Power Point Race Cars
19 DNF	78	Brian Cleveland	Billerica, MA	Linda Cleveland
20 DNS	11	Mark Irving	Worcester, MA	Charles Camosse