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| Saturday, July 2nd,
2016 |
NEMA LITES
ONLY |
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| CUGINI - LOCKE - PAYNE |
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NEMA LITES - NL-W SPEEDBOWL - 7/2/16 |
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Pos.
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#
|
Driver |
Hometown
|
Owner |
|
1 |
38 |
Ryan Locke |
Raymond, NH |
Ken Locke |
|
2 |
21 |
Anthony Payne |
Fairlawn, NJ |
Mike Scrivani |
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3 |
41 |
Megan CuginI |
Marshfield, MA |
Glenn Cugini |
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4 |
51 |
Danny Cugini |
Marshfield, MA |
D. Cugini |
|
5 |
84 |
Joe Ciprianno III |
- |
Joe Ciprianno III |
|
6 |
9 |
Ben Mikitarian |
Northborough, MA |
John Mikitarian |
|
7 |
11 |
PJ Stergios |
Candia, NH |
Bill Stergios |
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8 |
30 |
Paul Scally |
Raynham,
MA |
Paul Scally |
|
9 |
35 |
Randy Cabral |
Plymouth, MA |
Glen Cabral |
|
10 |
24 |
Nikki Carroll |
Andover, NJ |
Nikki
Carroll |
|
11 |
2 |
Jim Cataldo |
Sterling, MA |
Jim Cataldo |
|
12 |
5 |
Jessica Bean |
Farmland, IN |
Jessica Bean |
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13 |
14 |
Chad Labastie |
Uxbridge, MA |
Chad Labastie |
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14 |
35L |
Andrew Layser |
Collegeville, PA |
Andrew Layser |
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15 |
00 |
Jake Nelke |
- |
Jake Nelke |
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16 |
16 |
Dennis O'Brien |
Deerfield, NH |
Chris O'Brien |
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17 |
39d |
Nic Davidson |
- |
Nic Davidson |
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18 |
17 |
Jim Chambers |
Atkinson, NH |
Mike Chambers |
|
19 |
39 |
RJ Trufano |
West Haven, CT |
RJ Trufano |
20
DNS |
98 |
Jeff Schechter |
Mohegan Lake, NY |
Jeff
Schechter |
21
DNS |
6 |
Eric Ploskonka |
- |
Chris Lamb |
22
DNS |
12 |
Alan Chambers |
Atkinson, NH |
Jim Chambers |
|
Ryan Locke Captures
Historic
First NEMA Win at NL-W Speedbowl |
A storybook ending was the scene for thirteen year
old Ryan Locke, as he captured his first ever NEMA Lite win,
becoming the youngest driver to ever win in NEMA's sixty
three year history. Locke bested a strong field of twenty
two competitors, ranging from Indiana to North Carolina, to
Pennsylvania at New England's premier 3/8 mile oval, the New
London Waterford Speedbowl.
Although Locke may be
unfamiliar with victory lane as a driver, the thirteen year
old's family is not. His father, Jeff, operator at Locke
Crane Services, a fierce ISMA Super Modified competitor, and
grandfather, Ken, a long time, winning Oswego Super Modified
car owner, are no strangers to the podium.
The
evening started strong for the young Locke as he jumped out
into the lead from the front of the pack. The win would not
come easy, however, as the likes of 2015 Lites Champion,
Anthony Payne, and up & comer Meg Cugini were running some
lightening fast times as they worked their way through the
pack. Further behind them, multi feature winner, Danny
Cugini was also working his way to the front as was Modified
standout, Joey Cipriano, who started in eighteenth position.
As the laps wound down, the Locke, Payne, and Meg Cugini
trio staged an epic battle, with the three exchanging the
lead four times in the last three laps of the event. Locke
would cement his spot in victory lane with a pass for the
lead, and he went on to take down and exciting victory by a
narrow margin. Payne and Cugini would follow him, followed
by Danny Cugini, Joey Cipriano, Ben Mikitarian, PJ Stergios,
Paul Scally, Randy Cabral and Nikki Carroll.
"I
started racing in the tiger sprint go carts 3 just years
ago. I raced tiger sprints for 2 years before getting the
NEMA lite last year. I practiced at Star last year because I
was too young to race, but all the practice paid off," said
the young Locke. I think the key to winning the race was
having a good race car and starting with good track
position.
I never could have imagined winning this
early. I still can't believe it. The first thing I said when
I saw my dad in victory lane was, "did that just
happen?",said an elated Locke.
NEMA and the NEMA
Lites pick back up their schedule at Star Speedway this
coming weekend. |
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