Cugini Nabs First NEMA Win; R. Bigelow Takes Down Big
Wiscasset Lites Victory
Bridgewater, MA - The Wiscasset Speedway put
together a blockbuster evening for NEMA this past Saturday night,
with packed stands, and fans eagerly awaiting the return of the
Winged Warriors. At the end of the evening, a very happy Danny
Cugini took down his first ever NEMA victory over five time champion
Randy Cabral, and Ryan Bigelow took down the Lites victory.
In the NEMA feature, veteran Paul Scally took off from the pole
position. Scally looked extremely strong, stretching his lead out to
ten carlengths over the first half of the race. Behind him, Danny
Cugini had worked his way up to second, but had not challenged
Scally at that point. Randy Cabral had worked his way by John Zych
for third, by the halfway point.
With eight laps remaining,
Scally, who was over heating at the time, had his worst nightmare
come true - a caution for a spin by Matt O'Brien. On the restart,
Cugini powered by Scally to take the lead, and Cabral quickly got by
for second.
"I had been trying to save my tires because it
was a 30 lap race and my motor lagged a little on the restart. I saw
Randy next to me (he restarted 3rd) and I knew the only way I was
going to stay in front of him was to sail it in on the outside. Once
we cleared Randy I figured I'd try for Scally in the same corner, I
never lifted and cleared them both by turn 3. After that, I just
tried to hit my marks," Said Cugini.
With three laps
remaining, Cabral appeared to narrow the distance between himself
and Cugini, and Seth Carlson slipped by Scally. With two laps to go,
Cabral had caught Cugini and slipped his nose under Cugini's left
rear. The last lap proved to be one of the most exciting in recent
NEMA history.
"The last lap was something else, I left a
little door open and Randy did what any other race car driver would
do and he stuck his car under me. I didn't want to give my first win
away so I was on it 100% coming off of turn 2. Randy and myself made
contact. Whether I pinched him off or he came into me, it was just
good hard racing. His right front tire ended up on my exhaust header
and we rode half the back stretch like that. The whole time he was
on me all that was going through my head was 'how can we finish the
race', I was turned right as hard as I could and I kept my foot in
it and Randy having all his experience wheeled his car off and we
made it through 3 and 4 for the finish, and I came out on top," said
an elated Cugini.
Cabral crossed the line in second, happy
with the finish, followed by Carlson, Paul Scally, John Zych, Jim
Chambers, Avery Stoehr, Jim SantaMaria, Bethany Stoehr, Todd
Bertrand, Alan Chambers, Steve Powers, Matt O'Brien and Ryan
Bigelow.
In the Lites Feature, Ryan Bigelow started fourth
and was able to get under Jim Chambers in the Chambers 21 going into
three on lap one. He survived two restarts on lap 6 and 16 and both
times was able to get a good jump and take down the win. Bigelow was
driving the 32 car, regularly driven by his brother Scott, and last
year's championship car.
"I would like to thank Scott
(Bigelow) for giving me such a good car and of course my father for
supporting my racing. Also have to thank my sponsors Bigelow
Electric, Royal Tire and Stewart race engines," said a happy
Bigelow.
He was followed across the line by Danny Cugini and
Randy Cabral, Meg Cugini, Joey Payne, Jim Cataldo, Jeremy Decourcey,
Dennis O'Brien, Jim Chambers, Anthony Payne, and Bethany Stoehr.
NEMA continues its run this week at Monadnock for the Iron Mike
Scrivani Memorial.
NEMA Midgets: L to R - Randy Cabral
#35, 2nd; Winner Danny
Cugini #51; & Seth Carlson #71, 3rd
Photos by John Dadalt
NEMA MIDGETS - WISCASSET -
6/14/15
Pos.
#
Driver
Hometown
Owner
1
51
Danny Cugini
Marshfield, MA
D. Cugini
2
47
Randy Cabral
Plymouth, MA
Tim
Bertrand
3
71
Seth Carlson
Brimfield, CT
Gene
Feigel
4
30
Paul Scally
Raynham,
MA
Paul Scally
5
9
John Zych Jr.
Mendon,MA
John Zych
Sr.
6
21
Jim Chambers
Atkinson, NH
Mike Chambers
7
15a
Avery Stoehr
Lakeville, MA
Russ Stoehr
8
99b
Jim Santa Maria
Burlington, CT
Susan Santa
Maria
9
44b
Bethany
Stoehr
Bridgewater,
MA
Ed Breault
10
39
Todd Bertrand
Sufield, CT
Todd Bertrand
11
7
Alan Chambers
Atkinson, NH
Mike Chambers
12
77
Steve Powers
-
Mike Luggelle
13
16
Matt O'Brien
Wilmington, MA
Matt O'Brien
14 DNF
13
Ryan Bigelow
E. Hampton, CT
Randy
Bigelow
NEMA LITES: L to R - Randy Cabral #35, 3rd; Winner
Ryan Bigelow #32; & Danny Cugini #51, 2nd
NEMA LITES - WISCASSET -
6/14/15
Pos.
#
Driver
Hometown
Owner
1
32
Ryan
Bigelow
E. Hampton, CT
Scott
Bigelow
2
51
Danny CuginI
Marshfield, MA
D. Cugini
3
35
Randy Cabral
Plymouth, MA
Glen Cabral
4
41
Megan CuginI
Marshfield, MA
Glen Cugini
5
76
Joey Payne
Fairlawn, NJ
Frank
Manafort
6
2
Jim Cataldo
Sterling, MA
Jim Cataldo
7
29d
Jeremy DeCourcey
-
Jeremy DeCourcey
8 DNF
16
Dennis O'Brien
Deerfield, NH
Chris O'Brien
9 DNF
21w
Jim Chambers
Atkinson, NH
Jim Chambers
10 DNF
21
Anthony Payne
Fairlawn, NJ
Jennifer Scrivani
11 DNS
15a
Bethany
Stoehr
Bridgewater,
MA
Russ Stoehr
Photos
by Tifanny Rose Payne
Photos by John Dadalt
Dillon was one of several kids who submitted posters in
the C&D Laundry Kids Club to be the VIP Fan of the Week for NEMA
Night. He drew a picture of his favorite car #77 Prostock Maggie
Ferland.
On the back Dillon wrote and inspiring account of
why he deserved it. Dillon had been struggling in school. His step
mom used his love of racing as motivation to improve in school,
telling him that he could go to the races if he worked hard and
brought his grades up. Dillon described how he worked really hard,
even staying inside during recess to bring his grades up. His hard
work paid off as he made the Honor Roll this past semester.
Probably the best part of his explanation was at the end, where he
said "even if i don't win, i'm proud of myself". Dillon's hard work
and inspiring words not only got him to the race track on the 13th,
but he and his step mom got to go in the pits for the day. Dillon
got to meet his favorite driver, Maggie Ferland, and was the NEMA
VIP fan of the Day. He spent the day with the NEMA teams, got
autographs and prizes, and got inside access to the race day
experience that few people get to enjoy.
