Epping, NH – Taking off from the outside front row spot, Howie Bumpus scored his eighth career Northeastern Midget Association victory Saturday night at Star Speedway. Bumpus covered the caution-free 25 laps in five minutes and 25 seconds. The win came almost a day to the last victory for Bumpus/Don Berrio team, also at Star.

Bumpus ran in front of a torrid battle for second, much of it in heavy traffic, between rookie Sean Caisse and veteran Joey Payne Jr. Caisse claimed runner-up honors by a couple feet as they went under the checkered side-by-side three lengths behind Bumpus.

Caisse, who trailed by 10 car lengths at one point, began closing as the leaders moved into lapped traffic with 10 laps gone. Point leader Payne, who came from 12th, reached third at the halfway point and quickly began to challenge for second.

With 20 laps remaining, Bumpus, Caisse and Payne were in a group several car lengths in front of fourth place Randy Cabral. Bobby Santos, who started ninth, claimed fifth.

Payne was the hard charger for the second straight race and the fourth time overall. Adam Cantor and Ryan Dolan were the heat winners, Dolan and Cabral running side-by-side for seven laps.

It was a happy victory lane, the Bumpus-Berrio crew experiencing a host of mechanical woes this year. It is the sixth winner in 10 races with six remaining.