NEMA - NorthEastern Midget Association
















*Photos by Norm Marx*

Bethany Stoehr NEMA’s Best
At Speedbowl Finale

Waterford, CT – Bethany Stoehr, beating back continued challenges from her uncle Russ Stoehr, won the 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association feature Sunday at Waterford Speedbowl’s Finale. It was the first Midget win for Stoehr, 18, who is only the second female winner in NEMA’s 61-year old history.

Taking the lead three laps in, Bethany, the daughter of NEMA competitor Greg, survived a series of unusual restarts to finish a tick over a second in front of Russ. It was another chapter in the Stoehr vs. Stoehr wars that are part of NEMA’s story.

“I knew [Russ] was behind me,” she said. “I just kept telling myself to hold it together.”

John Zych Jr. was third and will take a slim point lead into next weekend’s Ocktoberfest at Lee USA Speedway. Randy Cabral and Todd Bertrand completed the top five.

The final restart came with 11 laps remaining when Avery Stoehr, the fourth family member in the race, spun. Zych grabbed second on the restart but Russ quickly went around him to regain second and resumed the challenge. “I gave her everything the car had,” said Russ following his best finish of the year. “She was just better than we were today.”

Following a caution on the initial lap, Joey Payne grabbed the lead. Bethany, who started third, cleared Payne down the backstretch with three gone and two laps later Russ caught her, the tussle for the lead running ahead of a battle for third between Payne and Cabral while Greg Stoehr and Zych fought for fifth.

With 13 laps left, Greg and Seth Carlson ran into fluid dropped by Payne, their day ending in the wall between one and two. Twice the ensuing restart was called back, Bethany, with Cabral behind her, jumping the first time and getting on it too slowly the second time.

“I knew [Russ] was really good on restarts,” Bethany explained. “My father always talks about it.”

She got away on the third try with Russ again in pursuit. Two laps latter the yellow showed again.

“I was restarting off the leader,” said Zych, explaining his move on the last restart. “I saw [Bethany] go so I went.” Admitting he had nothing for Bethany, he did “protect the bottom” over the final circuits, “not wanting to go outside and leave it open.”

Bethany joins Erica Santos as the only NEMA female winners. Erica won at Stafford back in 2007.
A heat winner on Saturday as was Russ, Bethany had the fastest feature lap – a 13.119), faster than Russ’ Saturday best of 13.198.

*NEMA MIDGETS - WATERFORD - 10/6/13*
Pos.	#	Driver	Hometown	Owner
1	5b	*Bethany Stoehr*	*Bridgewater, MA*	MCI Racing/ Greg Stoehr
2	45	*Russ Stoehr*	*Bridgewater, MA*	*Dumo's Desire Racing*
3	9	*John Zych Jr.*	Mendon, MA	*John Zych Sr.*
4	47	*Randy Cabral*	*Plymouth, MA*	*Tim Bertrand*
5	39	*Todd Bertrand*	Suffield, CT	*Bertrand Motorsports*
6	4	Ian Cumens	*Lydell, PA*	Bobby Seymour
7	80	Peter Pernisiglio	Lake Grove, NY	Peter Pernisiglio Sr.
8	44	Joey Payne	Fairlawn, NJ	*Ed Breault*
9	30	*Paul Scally*	*Raynham, MA*	*Paul Scally*
10 DNF	*44a*	*Avery Stoehr*	*Lakeville, MA*	*Ed Breault*
11 DNF	*26b*	*Greg Stoehr*	*Bridgewater, MA*	*Greg Stoehr*
12 DNF	71	*Seth Carlson*	*Brimfield, CT*	*Gene Feigel*
13 DNF	50	Barry Cannon	Bridgewater, MA	*Peter Pernisiglio Sr.*
14 DNF	99	Paul *Bigelow*	Kensington, CT	*Susan Santa Maria*
15 DNF	35	*Anthony Marvuglio*	*E. Bridgewater, MA*	*Glen Cabral*
16 DNS	77	Doug Cleveland	Sudbury, MA	Mike Luggelle
17 DNS	96	*Jim Jackson*	*Avoca, PA*	*Jim Jackson*
18 DNS	21	Jim Chambers	Atkinson, NH	Mike Chambers







			*Photos by* *Norm Marx*

Johnson Gets First At Finale

Waterford, CT – Kenny Johnson left no doubt about his first-ever Midget victory, dominating the 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association Lites feature Saturday night at Waterford Speedbowl’s Finale.

Starting sixth, Johnson took the lead from Paul Bigelow on the front stretch with 16 laps remaining and went on to a 1.4 seconds victory over Jake Stergios. Johnson needed less than six minutes (5.57) to cover the distance, grabbing fastest lap honors (13.964-96.68 mph) as well.

Bigelow, the only other leader, held on for third. Christian Briggs passed Avery Stoehr just a few feet in front of the checker to claim fourth.

Settling into third at the start, Johnson took second from Stoehr coming out of two with five gone. He battled Bigelow for two laps, some of side-by-side, before the winning move down the front stretch. He then ran away.

Coming from the 12 starting spot, Stergios passed Stoehr for third with 13 left and a lap later Bigelow for second but was a straightaway behind the leader. “I was hoping for a caution,” Stergios told the crowd. “That was the only way I was going to catch Kenny today.”

Carl Mederios and Danny Cugini, running first and second in points, finished sixth and seventh. The championship battle will go right to the final race next weekend at Lee USA Speedway’s Ocktoberfest.

Johnson and Briggs were the heat winners, Briggs turning a 13.9 lap.
ISMA regular Alison Cumens spelled her brother Ian in the Seymour #9, finishing 12th.
Keith Rocco was a crash victim in the Manafort car.
Johnson was the eight different Lites winner of the season.

NEMA LITES - WATERFORD - 10/5/13

Pos. # Driver Hometown Owner

1 46 Kenney Johnson Bethany, CT Jeff Johnson

2 11 PJ Stergios Candia, NH Bill Stergios

3 31 Ryan Bigelow Kensington, CT Randy Bigelow

4 44 Christian Briggs Mattapoisett, MA Christian Briggs

5 15a Avery Stoehr Lakeville, MA MCI Racing LLC

6 50 Carl Medeiros Jr. Westport, MA Carl Medeiros Sr.

7 51 Danny Cugini Marshfield, MA D. Cugini

8 45 Brandon Igo Wilbraham, MA David Igo

9 94 Logan Rayvals Brockville, ONT Craig Rayvals

10 29 Ryan Krachun Neschanic Station, NJ Mike Krachun

11 46x Andy Barrows New Ipswitch, NH Dustin Anderson

12 9 Alison Cumens Lydell, PA Bobby Seymour

13 4 Jamie Falconi Southborough, MA Paul Scally

14 18 DJ Moniz Fairhaven, MA David Moniz

15 21 Anthony Payne Fairlawn, NJ Jennifer Scrivani

16 7 Randy Cabral Plymouth, MA Gregory Olson

17 41 Megan Cugini * Marshfield, MA D. Cugini

18 52 Barry Cannon Bridgewater, MA Kevin Park

19
DNF 25 Richie Morocco * Plainville, MA Richard Morocco

20
DNF 39 RJ Tufano West Haven, CT RJ Tufano

21
DNS 93 Jake Smith Stroudsburg, PA Ted Smith

22
DNS 76 Keith Rocco Wallingford, CT Frank Manafort

* Rookie

NEMA Stretch Run
Begins at Waterford

Brockton, MA – Waterford Speedbowl’s Finale, Oct. 5-6, begins the traditional “stretch run” for the Northeastern Midget Association. Point races take center stage as both NEMA and the NEMA Lites have places on Waterford’s two-day season-ender.

John Zych Jr., a four-time winner this season, will take a 17-point edge on four-time and defending champion Randy Cabral in Sunday’s 25-lap feature. It is NEMA’s fourth visit to the Speedbowl this season.

The Lites point race - three-time winner Carl Mederios Jr. is 51 up on Danny Cugini – could well be decided in Saturday’s 25-lap Lites feature. Both NEMA and the Lites will qualify on Saturday.

The Zych- Cabral battle has raged throughout the season. Both have won at Waterford in the past and both were runners-up there this season. Getting to the front as quickly as possible could well be the secret at a facility where 12-seconds laps are no longer a rarity. Anthony Marvuglio turned a 12.933 en route to winning the Hammond Memorial earlier this summer.

The owners battle between John Zych Sr. and Tim Bertrand is equally close. Bertrand cars, in fact, will be seeking a Waterford sweep – Todd Bertrand winning twice and Marvuglio once.

It does not stop with the top two. Positions three through fifth are still in question among Todd Bertrand, rookie Ian Cumens and Russ Stoehr, the latter hoping Waterford provides an avenue out of the doldrums for himself and the Dumo’s Desire team. Russ Stoehr and Cabral each have eight Speedbowl wins.

Seth Carlson and Bethany Stoehr hope to prove their sterling performances at Owsego were not flukes. Greg Stoehr, third at Oswego and Joey Payne will be looking for a return to Waterford’s victory lane. Rookie Jim Chambers and Paul Scally are among the other contenders at a track that has a history of first-time winners.

Waterford, which hosted the first-ever Lites race back in 2008, now plays a major role in determining the division’s first “count all the races” champion. Mederios, the biggest winner over the past two seasons, hopes to move closer to the crown while the ever-consistent Cugini aims to stay in contention
.
Avery Stoehr, who sits third in points seeks a second Waterford victory this season while rookie Richie Morocco hopes to follow up Oswego with a second triumph. Ian Cumens, doing double duty all year for the Seymour family, Brandon Igo and rookie Kevin Hutchens are other favorites.

The stretch drive will continue with Lee USA Speedway’s Oktoberfest on Oct. 12-13 and Thompson Speedway’s World Series Oct. 19-20. The Lites finish the season at Lee.