Scarborough, ME – When Pete Pernesiglio got under Bobby Santos III, the latter in the Cabral #35, coming out of four, his father/car owner “Mazda Pete” Pernesiglio thought “it looks like it’s going to be our night.”

His son made that premonition look good Saturday night winning the 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association feature at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. It was the third career win for the father/son team.

Starting fifth, Pernesiglio tucked inside Santos exiting four and established control down the straightaway. He survived a pair of restarts and went on to finish five car lengths in front of Ryan Dolan and Randy Cabral.

The last caution flew with seven remaining. Shortly after Pernesiglio cleared traffic Santos made contact with a lapped car and bounced off the wall amidst sparks. Although Santos recovered, he was judged to have brought out the yellow and sent to the back.

On the restart, Pernesiglio got away from Dolan while Randy Cabral took third away from Drew Fornoro. They finished that way with Tim Heath fifth and Joey Payne Jr. sixth.

Santos, who wound up 13th, jumped into second Cabral car after losing the motor in the Seymour 29 (he usual ride) in the second practice session.

Payne and owner Gene Angelillo take the respective NEMA/Wirtgen America point leads into Saturday’s Boston Louie Memorial at Waterford Speedbowl. Payne and Angelillo lead Fornoro and the Campanale Brothers by 84. Santos is the defending “Louie” champion.

Pernesiglio, whose last win came at the Speedbowl, is the fifth different NEMA winner his year joining Fornoro, Payne, Cantor, and Santos.

NEMA Returns to Beech Ridge