|
|
|
 |
 |
| SATURDAY, AUGUST 26TH
- 7:00 PM |
| .::NEMA LITES ONLY::. |
 |
|
BEN MIKITARIAN #9 |
 |
NEMA LITES TOP THREE - L TO R:
PAUL SCALLY
#30, 3rd;
Winner BEN MIKITARIAN #9; &
JAKE STERGIOS
#11, 2nd. |
 |
|
|
|
NEMA LITES - WATERFORD - 8/26/17 |
|
Pos.
|
#
|
Driver |
Hometown
|
Owner |
|
1 |
9 |
Ben Mikitarian |
Northborough, MA |
John Mikitarian |
|
2 |
11 |
Jake Stergios |
Candia, NH |
Bill
Stergios |
|
3 |
30 |
Paul Scally |
Raynham,
MA |
Paul Scally |
|
4 |
51 |
Dan CuginI |
Marshfield, MA |
Dan Cugini |
|
5 |
12 |
Jim Chambers |
Atkinson, NH |
Jim Chambers |
|
6 |
38 |
Ryan Locke |
Raymond, NH |
Ken Locke |
|
7 |
35 |
Randy Cabral |
Kingston, MA |
Glen Cabral |
|
8 |
21 |
John Zych Jr. |
Mendon, MA |
Mike Scrivani |
|
9 |
7 |
Jim Cataldo |
Sterling, MA |
Jim Cataldo |
|
10 |
19 |
Richard Coy |
Haskell, NJ |
Richard Coy |
|
11 |
68 |
Danny Gamache |
No. Smithfield, RI |
Cheryl Gamache |
|
12 |
3 |
Chris Vose |
Gloversville, NY |
Chris Vose |
|
13 |
36 |
Jeremy Decourcy |
Rochester, NH |
Myles Devits |
|
14 |
16 |
Dennis O'Brien |
Deerfield, NH |
Chris O'Brien |
|
15 |
52 |
Kevin Park |
Foxboro, MA |
Kevin Park |
|
16 |
99 |
Jim Santa Maria |
Burlington, CT |
Jim Santa Maria |
|
17 |
95 |
Jeff Schechter |
Cortland Manor, NY |
Jeff Schechter |
|
|
Down to the Wire:
Mikitarian Captures
Speedbowl
NEMA Lites Victory |
Ben Mikitarian fended off fellow competitor Jake
Stergios in an epic battle that raged down to the final lap,
in a three wide battle, that saw Mikitarian crossing the
line first. It was the third straight race at the New London
Waterford Speedbowl that has come down to the winner being
decided on the final lap. It was Mikitarian's second career,
and also second win of the season, the first of which came
at Star Speedway earlier this season.
The evening
started with Mikitarian and five time NEMA champion, Randy
Cabral, taking down heat race wins. Ryan Locke, who finished
second to Cabral, turned in the fastest lap of the heat
events at 13.96 seconds. Mikitarian and points leader, Jim
Chambers, were also in the sub 14 second bracket,
particularly fast times for the Speedbowl.
When the
green flag flew in the feature, Chris Vose and Dennis
O'Brien brought the field to green. O'Brien quickly jumped
out into the lead, but further back, sixth place starter Ben
Mikitarian in the New England Truck Solutions #9, was using
the outside line to move to the front. By lap two,
Mikitarian was second, and by lap three, he used the outside
line in turn three to get by O'Brien.
As the laps
wound down, battles were happening throughout what would end
up being a green to checkered feature. Paul Scally, Dan
Cugini and points leader Chambers were all battling for a
spot on the podium, while Ryan Locke was moving through the
field toward the top five, fighting a loose race car.
At the front, Stergios began to close the gap, as
Mikitarian approached lapped traffic. With five to go,
Stergios looked low on Mikitarian, but Mikitarian got a
clean run off of the corner to maintain the lead. With two
to go, the duo approached a group of lapped cars, and by the
front stretch, Mikitarian went high, and Stergios low,
splitting Richie Coy, in a three wide battle. Mikitarian
would maintain the momentum and come out on top, beating
Stergios back to the line. Paul Scally would finish third,
followed by Dan Cugini, Jim Chambers, Ryan Locke, Randy
Cabral, John Zych, Jim Cataldo and Richie Coy.
"The
high side was working really good for me, and the car was
perfect up there. I knew we had to get to the front quickly,
as a number of the fast guys were starting behind me. As we
got into lapped traffic, Jake poked it in under me a couple
of times, and I had to really pour it all on. When we
approached the lap car on the final lap, I just drove it in
as hard as I could and we held on for the win," said
Mikitarian. "I really need to thank my Mom and Dad for all
they do for me, and also New England Truck Solutions," he
said.
"My car was coming in good at the end, and I
got a couple of good runs there at the end on Ben. He was
getting through lapped traffic really well, and I knew I had
to do something. I made it three wide, but Ben had the
momentum and came out on top. Great job to him and his
team," said Stergios.
NEMA and the NEMA Lites pick
back up this Saturday at the Iron Mike Scrivani Memorial at
Monadnock Speedway. |
|
|
|
|
|
