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| CUMENS -
STOEHR - ZYCH |
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| Young
Avery Stoehr Tops NEMA Midgets Speedbowl Blastoff Field |
RACE REPORT BY BILL
VANSLYKE - Waterford CT - Two for two for a
rookie driver and new car. Avery Store (#15a) claimed his
heat race as well as his first NEMA Midget feature win as he
held off a strong restart challenge from Ian Cumens (#29).
A NEMA Lite standout for a number of years, this 17 year
old states, “I’ve always wanted to drive a full NEMA midget
my whole life after watching my father and uncle drive.” His
ride, a Beast chassis with Gaerte power, is a sister car to
cousin Bethany (#5b) who also won her first NEMA feature in
2013 at the Waterford Speedbowl.
At the start, the
field was slowed on lap one for a multi car spin in turn
three involving the #80 of Pete Pernesiglio, the #5b of
Bethany Stoehr, and the #9 of John Zych.
Restarting
in the original lineup, Ryan Bigelow, (#13), and Stoehr
(#15a) battled side by side into turn one and down the back
stretch, but Stoehr pulled ahead going into three.
Cumens raced into second from his fifth starting spot
followed by Paul Scally (#30), Seth Carlson (#71), and Jim
Chambers (#21).
Zych, from his ninth starting spot,
moved up into the top five by lap 6.
Caution again came
on lap 10 as Randy Cabral (#47) had his motor erupt in smoke
and flame ending his day. Randy had been bringing his
Bertrand owned ride steadily up through the field from his
eight starting spot when the engine let go.
This set
the stage for the most challenging restart as Cumens, from
the outside front row, threw his #29 deep into turn one in
an effort to show Stoehr his bumper and keep him low. Avery
proved to be strong as he jumped ahead in turn four and
pulled away from the #29 down the front straight.
A
handfull of laps later, Zych, a past Speedbowl winner, got
by Cumens for second. But his Drinan chassis had a worsening
push, and he soon lost second back to Cumens. Seth Carlson
stayed in the top five all day and finished forth. Coming
all the way from his deep starting spot of twelfth, Todd
Bertrand finished fifth in the family #74.
Ian would
later say about that all-or-nothing restart, “I made one
small adjustment from the cockpit to get it a little tighter
and hoped it would stick so I could keep him low, but he was
just too strong.”
John Zych said of his lap one spin,
“It was definitely to avoid the other cars that spun, and I
was not concerned about the car being hurt. The tight
condition just got worse as the race went along.”
-
“Awesome” was the word of the day in
the Stoehr camp post race.
- Fasted lap of the NEMA
feature was a 102.025 mph run by winner Stoehr.
-
Bertrand Motor sports brought three cars to Waterford, two
of which were brand new chassis designs (#74, #47).
- The
Bertrand #39, slated for Todd Bertrand to drive, developed
an engine problem, so Doug Coby, in the Bertrand #74, gave
up his ride to Todd for the feature.
- In a mad dash,
Randy Cabral (#47) did a 5 minute front spring change as the
car did not feel right after the 5 lap Sunday noon warm up.
- Veteran NEMA flagger Steve Grant, came to the Blastoff
clad in a pressed white shirt and red tie in remembrance of
his legendary father, the late Earl Grant. “This is what my
father wore back in the day,” Steve said with a heavy heart. |
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NEMA MIDGETS - WATERFORD - 4/13/14 |
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Pos.
|
#
|
Driver |
Hometown
|
Owner |
|
1 |
15a |
Avery Stoehr |
Lakeville, MA |
Russ Stoehr |
|
2 |
29 |
Ian Cumens |
Lydell, PA |
Bobby Seymour |
|
3 |
9 |
John Zych Jr. |
Mendon, MA |
John Zych Sr. |
|
4 |
71 |
Seth Carlson |
Brimfield, CT |
Gene
Feigel |
|
5 |
74 |
Todd Bertrand |
Suffield, CT |
Bertrand Motorsports |
|
6 |
13 |
Ryan
Bigelow |
E. Hampton, CT |
Randy
Bigelow |
|
7 |
99 |
Paul Bigelow |
Kensington, CT |
Susan Santa
Maria |
|
8 |
50L |
Carl Medeiros Jr. |
Westport, MA |
Carl Medeiros Sr. |
|
9 |
9L |
Matt Swanson |
Acton, MA |
Matt Seymour |
10
DNF |
21 |
Jim Chambers |
Atkinson, NH |
Mike Chambers |
11
DNF |
30 |
Paul Scally |
Raynham,
MA |
Paul Scally |
12
DNF |
5b |
Bethany
Stoehr |
Bridgewater,
MA |
MCI Racing/
Greg Stoehr |
13
DNF |
47 |
Randy Cabral |
Plymouth, MA |
Tim
Bertrand |
14
DNF |
80 |
Pete Pernesiglio Jr. |
Charlotte, NC |
Pete Pernesiglio Sr. |
15
DNS |
50 |
Kevin Park |
Foxboro, MA |
Peter Pernesiglio Sr. |
16
DNS |
77 |
Steve Powers |
- |
Mike Luggelle |
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NEMA MIDGETS HEATS - WATERFORD - 4/12/14 |
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Heat 1:
47 - 80 - 9 - 21 - 13 - 99 - (39 DNS) |
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Heat 2:
15a - 29 - 74 - 71 - 30 - 5b - (77 DNF) - (50
DNS) |
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| MEDEIROS -
STERGIOS - KRACHUN |
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P.J. Stergios Claims NEMA Lites
Waterford
2014 Blastoff |
Coming off a three win season in 2013, P.J. Stergios
(#11) took the NEMA Lites opener at the Waterford Speedbowl
2014 Blastoff. The Candia, NH native started deep in the
field, tenth, and was going away at the checkered over
second place finisher Ryan Krachun, (#29) and third place
finisher, Carl Medeiros Jr. (#50).
Despite losing his
power steering at the half way mark, PJ built a commanding
lead. “I needed a lot more muscle after that. The car worked
well on the outside. After a couple of second place finishes
late last year, I really wanted another win.”
Megan
Cugini (#41) took the lead at the green followed by Krachun
and Scott Bigelow (#32). Krachun than went on top on lap two
while Stergios moved from his tenth staring spot to second
on the 6th lap followed by Cugini, Andy Borrows (46x) and
Medeiros.
Krachun held the lead until a lap 10
caution triggered by a turn one spin by Richie Morrocco
(#25).
On the restart, Stergios took the lead from
Krachun followed by Cugini, Barrows and Medeiros. P.J. then
stayed on the point till the checkers, still fighting that
power steering issue, and was followed across the line by
Krachun, Medeiros, Barrows and Matt Swanson, (#9), who moved
up to claim fifth.
Krachun said in post race, “I wore
out my left rear and had no brakes, blew out my felt front
brake line.” He continued, “The car handled well, but would
have been a lot better with a left rear. The #11 was much
better.”
Medeiros, 2013 NEMA Lites Driver Champ,
reported the #50 was “bad tight but improved as the race
went on.” The crew had added extra fuel in anticipation of
multi yellows, and as the right front became worn on a track
“with lots of grip”, he knew third was his best shot.
The 20 car field enjoyed sunny skies and ideal track
conditions to give the crowd tight, side by side racing.
Next on the Lites schedule is May 10th right back at the
Waterford facility for another go at the shore line track.
- Christian Briggs (#44) had engine problems after practice.
Crew members from three teams and a NEMA official swarmed
over the motor and corrected the problem.
- Carl Medeiros
Jr. had no plans to run his Lites racer but motor problems
in his new modified changed his mind. The stout Lites
machine is for sale.
- After his first Lites division
feature race, newcomer Dennis O’Brien was all smiles after
he had some overheating problems and finishing 18th. “It
rolled into the trailer, I’m happy.” |
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NEMA LITES - WATERFORD -
4/12/14 |
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Pos.
|
#
|
Driver |
Hometown
|
Owner |
|
1 |
11 |
PJ Stergios |
Candia, NH |
Bill Stergios |
|
2 |
29 |
Ryan Krachun |
Neschanic Station, NJ |
Mike Krachun |
|
3 |
50 |
Carl Medeiros Jr. |
Westport, MA |
Carl Medeiros Sr. |
|
4 |
46x |
Andy Barrows |
New Ipswitch, NH |
Jeff Johnson |
|
5 |
9 |
Matt Swanson |
Acton, MA |
Matt Seymour |
|
6 |
41 |
Megan CuginI |
Marshfield, MA |
D. Cugini |
|
7 |
94 |
Logan Rayvals |
Brockville, ON, CA |
Craig Rayvals |
|
8 |
44 |
Christian Briggs |
Mattapoisett, MA |
Charles
Thomas Motorsports |
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9 |
51 |
Danny Cugini |
Marshfield, MA |
D. Cugini |
|
10 |
18 |
DJ Moniz |
Fairhaven, MA |
David Moniz |
|
11 |
21 |
Anthony Payne |
Fairlawn, NJ |
Jennifer Scrivani |
|
12 |
4 |
Jamie Falconi |
Southborough, MA |
Paul Scally |
|
13 |
42 |
Juris Kupris |
Williamsburg, NY |
Charles Thomas
Motorsports |
|
14 |
7 |
Todd Bertrand |
Suffield, CT |
Gregory Olson |
15
DNF |
13 |
Paul Bigelow |
Kensington, CT |
Randy Bigelow |
16
DNF |
25 |
Richie Morrocco |
Plainville, MA |
Richard Morrocco |
17
DNF |
39 |
RJ Tufano |
West Haven, CT |
RJ Tufano |
18
DNF |
16 |
Dennis O'Brien |
Deerfield, NH |
Chris O'Brien |
19
DNF |
45 |
Brandon Igo |
Wilbraham, MA |
David Igo |
20
DNF |
32 |
Scott Bigelow |
E. Hampton, CT |
Scott
Bigelow |
21
DNS |
35 |
Randy Cabral |
Plymouth, MA |
Glen Cabral |
22
DNS |
45m |
Joey
Mucciacciaro |
Wolcott, CT |
Frank
Mucciacciaro |
|
Heat 1:
94 - 46x - 51 - 7 - 21 - 16 - (45m DNS) |
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Heat 2:
32 - 41 - 25 - 9 - 44 - 18 - (13 DNF) |
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Heat 3:
11 - 29 - 39 - 45 - 42 - 4 - (35 DNS) |
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| NEMA’s first Green
Flag….Waterford “2014 Blastoff Weekend” |
At Thompson CT’s final
checkered flag last fall, all thoughts were on the off
season. As the month of March 2014 rolled around, thoughts
are now on the “new season.” The race fan’s hunger for the
first live event will soon be satisfied as the Waterford
Speedbowl and the Northeastern Midget Association will be on
the menu.
The March 28th, 29th and 30th “2014
Blastoff Weekend” will be held at “the perfect midget track.”
That’s a quote from many NEMA drivers over the years as the
speeds and competition continue to climb at the shoreline
speed plant. A year ago at the opener, Todd Bertrand turned
a lap of 12.619 seconds, 106.9 mph, on his way to winning his
heat race, compared to times in the 12.8’s and 12.9’s in
previous years.
Coming off a very competitive 2013
season with 9 different winners in 15 races led by John
Zych with 5 wins, this crop of drivers and teams preparing
for the opener are a good mix of experienced veterans and
talented rookies in both the NEAM and Lites divisions.
Zych, 2013 NEMA champ, claimed his first checkered at
the Waterford Blastoff opener in 2012, but will get pressure
from last year’s winner, Todd Bertrand wheeling the family
#39. Also out of the Bertrand stable is past Waterford
winner Randy Cabral and Whelen Modified Champ Doug Coby,
both in new Linblad / Drinan chassis cars.
Another
“Bowl” winner from 2013, Bethany Stoehr, will be joined this
year in the NEMA Midges division by cousin Avery Stoehr. Avery
campaigned the family #15a in the Lites for a number of
years but got some seat time in the big cars in 2013.
Other returnees looking for “Blastoff" success” are Ian
Cumens in the Seymour #29 and new NEMA division entrant
Ryan Bigelow in his #13 Honda powered racer. Long Island’s
Pete Pernesiglio (#80), Alan Chambers (#21), Seth Carlson
(#71), and veteran Paul Scally in his #30 Drinan Chassis
midget, are all opening day hopefuls.
Also on the
card for opening weekend will be the NEMA Lites division,
starting their seventh year of competition. Led by the only
returning 2013 multi- winner P.J. Stergois (#11), this ultra
competitive series had eleven winners in sixteen races for
2013. From top to bottom, the Lite’s roster is loaded with
youth and exuberance and promises not to disappoint the
fans.
Also expected are Lites competitors Andy Borrows (#81), Scott Bigelow (#33), and
Danny and Megan Cugini (#51 & #41). Winner at Oswego in
2013, Richie Morrocco, will run his #25. Other Lites entries
will be Brandon
Igo (#45), Logan Rayvals (#94), and a two car effort from
CTM Racing and Christian Briggs. Christian has teamed with
former go-kart racing buddy Juris Kupris, a Conn. native, to
run his old ride, now re-numbered to #42. Christian will drive
a newly acquired former USAC Spike chassis as the #44.
From the Jenifer Scrivani camp is the revamped chassis #21
driven by second generation driver Anthony Payne. With
limited exposure in 2013, this will be Anthony’s first
full season in the Lites.
With NEMA’s 2014 campaign
officially starting at the Blastoff’s first green flag, the
NEMA team’s off season preparation will surely be put to the
test. |
by Shaun
Courchesne
racedayct.com |
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Doug Coby To Add More Midget
Events
In 2014 With Bertrand Team;
Ready For NEMA Opener At Waterford |
For years Doug
Coby wanted to be part of the prestigious “guest driver”
program for the Bertrand Motorsports Northeastern Midget
Association team.
It’s a program with Bertrand
Motorsports that over the years has included the likes of
Ryan Newman, Cole Carter, Ted Christopher, Lou Cicconi and
Mike Stefanik to name a few.
Now guest who isn’t
leaving anytime soon might be the best way to categorize the
Milford driver’s place with the team.
After running
three NEMA events for Bertrand Motorsports in 2013, Coby
said he expects to expand that schedule for 2014.
FULL STORY HERE |
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