Joey Payne, Randy Cabral, and Adam Cantor

			Photos by John Barnes

Cabral Returns to NEMA Victory Lane in Seymour 29 at Waterford

Manchester, CT: This weekend the Northeastern Midget Association makes their first appearance of the 2005 season at the Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford, CT. Ben Seitz of Monument Beach, MA and Bobby Santos III of Franklin, MA have had a stronghold on the Waterford Speedbowl over the last two seasons. The two have combined to win six of the last seven races at the 1/3-mile shoreline oval.

Randy Cabral, no stranger to victory lane at Waterford himself, looks to dethrone Seitz, who won three in 2005 at the Speedbowl. Look for Joey Payne, and a red-hot Jeff Horn to be in contention when the checkered flag flies.

In 2004, Seitz earned his career first at the Speedbowl. History could repeat itself at Waterford as a win is surely in the making for rookie Mike Keeler of Danbury, CT. A host of other drivers will be ready and able to enjoy the spoils of victory on Saturday night. No matter who stands in victory lane at the Speedbowl, fans are almost assured to see an exciting race.

The high banks of the Waterford Speedbowl have often been the site of some of the most exciting races for the Northeastern Midget Association. Regarded as one of the best Midget tracks in the northeast, the Waterford Speedbowl has played host to 66 races dating back to 1953 when Bill Eldridge won the first NEMA Midget race at the Speedbowl.

“This is definitely one of the better Midget tracks that we go to,” says Adam Cantor, who has a career best finish of fourth at the Waterford Speedbowl.

Cantor of Dix Hills, NY is looking to get his season back on track at the Speedbowl. Despite a win at Adirondack, mechanical woes have plagued the Cantor Racing team this season. A pair of seventh place finishes at Thompson and Star Speedways have been the bright spots since the win back on June 4th. It is not for a lack of effort. The Cantor Racing team works hard behind to prepare for each event. Adam Cantor Racing gets financial support from long-time sponsors IGA-Fort Salonga Market, GR Auto Supply, Black Forest Auto Body, and Phil’s Machine Service.

During his short career in NEMA, he was part of the “young gun” class of 2001 when NEMA eased its age restriction, Cantor has visited victory lane at Adirondack and at Star. To Adam Cantor winning is not everything, it is the only thing. The young driver, who got his start in two-cycle road course go-karts, has 200 career victories to his credit. Every week, Cantor races to win.

“Ever since I started racing, I never got into winning championships, “said Cantor. “You go to win races. I think I got that from the Baldwins.”

Cantor carries the 7NY on his cars in reverence of his mentor, the late Tommy Baldwin, Sr. Allan, Adam’s father, worked on Tommy’s cars for over 30 years. Today, Adam is an employee of Baldwin Automotive.

“My dad worked on the racecars so I got to know both Tommy Sr. and Jr. very well,” continued Cantor. “I admire the Baldwins not only as racers but the kind of people they are.”

Cantor dreams of following in the footsteps of Tommy Baldwin, Jr. The 20-year old has aspirations of heading down south to compete in the Nextel Cup Series.

“I would like to think that I am a lot like Tom,” continued Cantor full of pride. “I guess that can get me in trouble sometimes. You always knew what he thought. Tom Baldwin was never fake. There are too many cookie cutter people in the sport today.”

Adam Cantor understands that Tom Baldwin, Sr. was a dying breed. Much like his mentor, Cantor will strive to reach his dream by racing hard and being true to himself and his roots.

Cantor heads to the Speedbowl on the heals of his participation in the Tom Baldwin Memorial event at the Riverhead Raceway where he joined his fellow employees, Tom Baldwin, Jr. and the Baldwin family along with a huge crowd of fans to help celebrate the life of the man they called the “Tiger”. Long-time friend Wayne Anderson scored the victory in the 77-lap Modified event.

You can bet that Adam Cantor would like to win one for Tiger Tom Baldwin as well this weekend when he visits the Speedbowl. And the Waterford just might owe him one. In 2004, mechanical failure sidelined Cantor’s 7NY while leading the race.

“We have had a couple of really good runs at Waterford,” said Cantor. “We broke while leading last season. We can never seem to get a good car and good luck at the same time.”

Or better yet, maybe Adam Cantor owes Waterford one.

Joey Payne Jr., the "Jersey Jet" will be making his second Waterford Speedbowl start of 2005 Saturday night when the Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) makes its first visit. Payne was seventh earlier this year in the IMSA race.

"Obviously, it is a relatively tight place for the Supers," explains Payne who drives the Gene Angelillo #45 and comes to the Speedbowl second in NEMA points. "You have three times as much horsepower in a Super. You have to be careful."

A Midget at the Speedbowl, however, is "a pedal to the metal thing" Payne, the 2003 NEMA champion, continues. "It is very fast and very wide and things happen very quickly. You carry nearly as much speed through the corners as you do in the straights. It is momentum track, like a ball on a string if it's going right."

A NEMA 25-lap feature is part of an agenda that includes the SK-Modifieds, Late Models, Mini Stocks and Sportsman. Qualifying begins at 5 PM. Point leader and defending champion Ben Seitz, who won three of NEMA's four Speedbowl visits last year, is the driver to watch.

The association with Midgets goes back to the Speedbowl's first season - 1951. It is a charter member of NEMA, hosting the club's second race in 1953. There are few secrets left. "You can't go there with a test set-up," says Payne. "You have to be right
on because there are 10-12 guys who can win every night."

Payne claims the "unofficial" Midget record at the Speedbowl, a 12.9 lap set during practice in June of 2004. "That is on the verge of being out of control," says Payne, pointing out the lap was measured by the track's electronic scoring system.

There is no time to relax in a Midget at the Speedbowl where Payne estimates "we probably hit speeds of 110 in back straight and 95 though corners." He will start ninth meaning he'll "have to make some moves to go the front right at the start."

The Speedbowl is a near-perfect Midget track and, Payne says, a favorite spot for most of NEMA. "With a stock car you have inside and outside grooves," he says. "With the Midgets you have three grooves. The grip is as good or better than any track we race on.
You have the car under you all the time which makes it a great passing track."

While the "the middle groove is the fastest way around" Payne says he has made moves "with my left front down in the dirt."

Payne, who has six podium finishes at the Speedbowl including a win in the 2003 Boston Louie, set fast time with a 13.380 run at the 2002 Louie. He has "always been fast at the Speedbowl but all too often ran into tire trouble and had to nurse the car home."

Angelillo has won at the Speedbowl with four different drivers - Drew Fornoro (6), Russ Stoehr (2), Payne and modified ace Ted Christopher.

A 12.2 lap was the fastest IMCA lap recorded but Payne in convinced "that is sure to come down when they come again." IMSA, Payne says, was "very happy with the  Speedbowl.

Speedbowl/Midget Notes: Ben Seitz and car owner Peter Valeri have a warm spot for the Speedbowl. There were very successful in Legends there. Seitz won his first-ever Midget feature in last year's NEMA opener at the Speedbowl.

- Johnny Thomson, long regarded as New England's greatest open-cockpit driver, won the first two Midget races at the Speedbowl in 1951. That same year George Tichenor set fast time with a 17.92 run, a far cry from the low 13 seconds circuits that are now commonplace.

- Drew Fornoro and Bobby Seymour, with six and five respectively, are the all-time Midget Speedbowl win leaders. Active drivers Mark Buonomo and Bobby Santos III have four apiece. Randy Cabral, currently running third in driver points, has eight podium finishes at the Speedbowl including one win and five thirds. Ageless Jeff Horn, the surprise winner at Stafford, was a Speedbowl winner over 25 years ago.