Winchester, NH  -  This past Sunday, the NEMA Midgets and LITES rolled into Monadnock Speedway for JDV Productions’ Cheshire County Clash. Despite a day marked by scattered showers and weather delays, the skies eventually cleared—setting the stage for an exciting evening of racing. And once the green flag dropped, the action didn’t disappoint, as Zach Martinez captured his first-ever NEMA LITES victory—marking the second consecutive event with a first-time winner in the division.

With rain looming in the forecast, officials moved quickly to get the NEMA Midgets feature underway, making it the first main event of the day at Monadnock Speedway. Jack Dumas (#77) and Mike Horn (#93) led the field to the green flag, with Horn jumping out to an early lead. He was followed closely by teammate Joey Bailey (#A1) and Randy Cabral in the Bertrand Motorsports #74.

Horn began to build a slight cushion up front, but the pressure was on. By lap 5, Cabral had found his rhythm and made a clean move under Bailey exiting turn four to take over the second spot. From there, the veteran quickly closed the gap to Horn. Just two laps later, Cabral was on Horn’s rear bumper, searching for a way around. Coming out of turn four, he stuck to the low groove and pulled alongside Horn, setting up a side-by-side battle that lasted nearly a full lap before Cabral completed the pass on lap 9.

Horn didn’t let Cabral get away easily. He remained close behind, with Paul Scally (#30) now joining the fight in third. By the halfway point of the 25-lap feature, Cabral, Horn, and Scally had separated themselves from the rest of the field. As the leaders worked through lapped traffic, Horn was able to close back in, looking to retake the lead. But Cabral held his line and defended his position with precision.

With five laps to go, Scally made a bold move exiting turn four, diving low to go three-wide with a lapped car and Horn in a bid for second. The battle continued into turn one, but Horn held off the challenge and retained the position.

As the race wound down, Cabral maintained control and drove a flawless final stretch to claim his second NEMA win of the 2025 season. Horn and Scally completed the podium in second and third, respectively.

In a post race interview, Cabral commented on his win, “That was an awesome race, Mike and I were battling real hard there, great race by my crew, I didn’t think I would be standing here in victory lane, we made wholesale changes and came out on top. I have to thank Monadnock Speedway, JDV Productions, and Flo Racing, everyone that helps to put this race on. I love coming here and doing this, this is what it is all about. I want to dedicate this win to Cynthia Tebbetts who recently just passed away. She was a huge part of NEMA and my career.”

To round out the top 10 were strong finishes by: Randy Cabral #74, Mike Horn #93, Paul Scally #30, Brayden Egan #3M, Matt O’Brien #16, Lee Bundy #49, Avery Stoehr #39, E.J. Douville #55, Joey Bailey #A1, and Jack Dumas #77.

After a brief passing shower and a determined track-drying session, the NEMA LITES took to the track for the final event of Sunday’s program — a 40-lap feature that would deliver no shortage of action and emotion.

At the drop of the green flag, Trent Goodrow in the Keller Motorsports #44 jumped to the lead entering turn one, with Tiana Kibbe in the Kibbe Racing #94 and veteran Randy Cabral #47 battling side-by-side down the backstretch. As the field came through turn four, Kibbe tucked in behind Cabral to settle into third.

Zach Martinez, piloting the Cataldo Racing Group #7, wasted no time moving forward. On the same opening lap, he dove to the inside of Kibbe down the backstretch, challenging for third. Kibbe fended him off initially, but Martinez returned a lap later and successfully completed the pass in turn three.

With four laps in the books, Goodrow commanded the field, followed by Cabral, Martinez, Kibbe, and Joey Bailey #35. Bailey soon closed in on Kibbe, engaging in a tight battle for fourth. On lap nine, he got alongside her going into turn one and sealed the pass down the backstretch. The fight continued as Kibbe came under pressure from Mike Pernesiglio in the Ventotto Properties #28, who repeatedly looked to the inside. Despite his efforts, Kibbe held firm for several laps.

By lap 16, Goodrow had stretched his lead to nearly eight car lengths over Cabral and Martinez as they navigated lapped traffic. On lap 24, Martinez, now glued to Cabral’s bumper, made his move and took over second. With clean air ahead, he set his sights on closing the gap to teammate Goodrow.

With eight laps to go, Goodrow maintained a commanding lead — nearly a straightaway over Martinez — with Cabral still holding third. But the complexion of the race changed dramatically on lap 35 when a caution flew, wiping away Goodrow’s advantage. Worse yet, the leader was forced to pit, ending his shot at the win.

As the field lined up for the restart with five laps remaining, it was now Martinez leading Cabral to the green flag. Martinez surged ahead into turn one, while further back, the battle between Kibbe and Pernesiglio reignited. This time, Pernesiglio edged ahead, completing the pass for fourth coming out of turn four.

With two laps to go, Martinez had opened up a few car lengths over Cabral and Bailey. But just as the white flag was about to fly, another caution paused the action and set up a thrilling green–white–checkered finish.

On the final restart, Martinez once again powered into the lead with Cabral on his tail. Calm under pressure, Martinez never wavered, holding off the field to claim his first-ever NEMA LITES victory.

To round out the top 10 were strong finishes by: Zach Martinez #7, Randy Cabral #47, Mike Pernesiglio #28, Kyle Valeri #17, Joey Bailey #35, Tiana Kibbe #94, Paul Scally #30, Dennis Potter #03, Tyson Adamik #88, and Greg Klar #99.

Both the NEMA Midgets and LITES are back in action, this coming Saturday at the Seekonk Speedway for the Boston Louie Memorial. A race held for the past 29 years, in honor of the Massachusetts based car owner - "Boston Louie" Seymour, who campaigned his winning midgets, sprints and Silver Crown cars across America - has brought together the very best in open wheel Midget racing.