Feature Stories 3-2003

New Car, New Challenge
For NEMA’s Cabrals

The Cabrals have been runners up in the Northeastern Midget Associations point standings twice in the past three years. Owner Glen and driver Randy, one of NEMA’s many father-son operations, have done it in a 25-year old chassis.

Over that span, the team, with AutoCraft power, has won five features starting with the 2000 Boston Louie Memorial and including the 2001 Thompson Icebreaker. “We have surprised ourselves as much as anybody else,” reports 23-year old Randy.

NEMA opens its 2003 schedule April 5-6 at the Icebreaker, the first of 19 events. The Plymouth, MA based Cabrals will be on hand with a “new” car and a new challenge. Randy will be driving a Fontana-powered, Chuck Wagon chassis purchased from Lee Bundy.

While pointing out “we are not totally stepping away from the old chassis,” Randy insists the 2003 team goal is “to prove we can make another car go as well.” The decision also reunites the Cabrals with Chuck Welling, the Chuck Wagon Chassis designer/builder.

“Without Chuck, I would not be where I am today,” insists Randy. The 19-year old Randy was NEMA’s co-rookie of the year in 1999 driving for Welling. He was, in fact, a teammate with Glen. Many see Randy’s quick rise to stardom as a major move in the “Youth Movement” that has brought new life to NEMA.

Randy won the “Louie” just a few days after his 20th birthday and recalls only two other drivers of comparable youth in that race – Mark Buonomo and Ryan King. “Things have changed some,” he understates.

The new ride has definite advantages – “a newer chassis and a little more horsepower. ” Still, the Cabrals are giving up a car that brought them success and notoriety.

Although Randy won three times in 2001, he believes last season was his best yet. He capped off six straight top-four finishes (he had nine overall) with a win at Waterford’s Finale. He was out of the top three only seven times.

There are a number of NEMA championship hopefuls in 2003. Don’t include the Cabrals.

“We have done as well as we could, a lot better than we ever expected,” Randy continues. “It is not just my father and myself, it is a five or six people. Nobody on the crew looks toward championships. We all look toward the next race, how well the car can do.”

Economics is a contributor to that outlook. “We look to the next race because if anything major happens, we’re going to be down for a while,” Randy explains. “My father says when we start racing for championships we’re done because that takes all the fun out of it.”

Glen, part of NEMA since the last 1980s, says success stems from “doing the homework” and believes that is the perfect approach to the task at hand as well.