Waterford Speedbowl on June 23rd: 1- 47 - Randy Cabral 2 - 98 - Bobby Santos III 3 - 4 - Nokie Fornoro - Photos by John DaDalt    johnd19@cox.net Photos by Howie Hodge  howieh43@snet.net

Cabral Storms to NEMA Checkers at Waterford Speedbowl on 6/23

By Dale Wolbrink Waterford, CT (June 23, 2007): It had been nine races since Randy Cabral of Plymouth, MA, last visited victory lane with the Northeastern Midget Association. That all changed on Saturday night at the Waterford Speedbowl when he proved that he had not lost his winning ways. Cabral topped one of the Nation’s hottest open-wheel stars, Bobby Santos III of Franklin, MA, in a duel that came down to the final laps. The victory was the second of the ‘07 season for car owner Tim Bertrand; making the Bertrand Motorsports team in the 2-3. Adam Cantor of Dix Hills, NY, and Erica Santos of Franklin, MA, brought the field down to the green flag. Santos quickly jumped out into the lead, while Randy Cabral made a daring three-wide move to the outside to advance from his sixth starting position to third within one lap. Cabral quickly made his way by Barry Kittredge for second, as Cantor began to fade. On lap four, Cabral began to pressure E. Santos for the lead, while Nokie Fornoro and Bobby Santos III lurked. Cabral would make his final advance for the lead on lap five when he drove to the outside of E. Santos entering turn three. Two laps later, both Fornoro and B. Santos had made their way into the top three to set up a fierce battle at the head of the field. B. Santos, in the Wirtgen America/BEAST #98 struck on lap eleven to advance into the second spot, diving to the bottom of Fornoro in the Helping Hands/BEAST #4. At this point, Cabral had stretched his lead to ten car-lengths over the field. Heavy lapped traffic began to play a part in the action. With Cabral out front, Santos had his work cut out in order to set chase. Lap by lap, Santos edged slightly closer to Cabral. “I knew that I had used the car up a bit to get to the front,” said Cabral, “and with the likes of Nokie (Fornoro), Bobby (Santos), (Ben) Seitz and others in the top five, I’d have to save some for the end.” Cabral’s strategy worked to his advantage when a caution on lap 19 pitted the leader against the hard-charging Santos. On the restart, both Cabral and Santos launched at the same time coming to the stripe dead-even heat. Entering turn one, still even, Santos’ car slipped up a bit, allowing Cabral to rocket into the lead. Over the closing laps, Cabral was able to stretch out his lead considerably. “My car was getting loose toward the end,” said Santos, “by that point, we had nothing left to challenge (Cabral) for the win.” Cabral cruised to the win with a comfortable margin as Santos III settled for second followed by Nokie Fornoro, Ben Seitz and Ryan Dolan. Rookie contender Aaron Wall finished sixth followed by Pete Pernesiglio, Joey Payne, Lou Cicconi, in the MacDonald owned #49 after a heat race incident. Shane Hammond rounded out the top ten. NEMA resumes its schedule with two exciting events with the July 5th event at Thompson International Speedway and then at Stafford Motor Speedway for “Extreme Tuesday” on July 10th. Cabral heads the Club into Thompson with the points lead, followed by a close battle for second between Payne, Seitz and Cicconi.

Feature - Waterford Speedbowl- 6/23/07 Pos. # Driver Hometown Owner 1 47 Randy Cabral Plymouth, MA Tim Bertrand 2 98  Bobby Santos III Franklin, MA Robert Santos Jr 3 4 Nokie Fornoro  Stroudsburg, PA Mike Jarret 4 17 Ben Seitz Pocasset, MA Pete Valeri 5 15 Ryan Dolan Concord, MA Jay Dolan 6 29 Aaron Wall Shrewsbury, MA Bobby Seymour 7 80 Pete Pernesiglio Lake Grove, NY Peter Pernesiglio 8 45 Joey Payne Fairlawn, NJ Gene Angellilo 9 47b Lou Ciconni Jr. Aston, PA Tim Bertrand 10  37g Shane Hammond E. Bridgewater, MA Jack Glockner 11 81 Tim Heath Lebanon, CT Tim Heath 12 7ny Adam Cantor Dix Hills, NY Cantor Racing 13 21 Barry Kittredge Marlboro, MA Barry Kittredge 14 26b Greg Stoehr Bridgewater, MA Greg Stoehr 15 44 Erica Santos Franklin, MA Ed Breault 16 77 Mike Lugelle Hull, MA Mike Lugelle 17 20 Andy Shlatz Enfield, CT Alex Shlatz 18 30 Paul Scally Raynham, MA Paul Scally 19 33 Shawn Torrey Marshfield, MA Shawn Torrey 20 12 Kyle Carpenter Gloucester, MA Brad Carpenter 21 11 Mark Irving Bellingham, MA Charles Camosse 22 28L Paul Luggelle Holbrook, MA Paul Luggelle 23 18 Rich Gerbe Franklin Sq., NY Lee Gerbe 24 52 Kevin Park Foxboro, MA Kevin Park 25 87k Bobby Kuiken Prompton Lakes, NJ Robert Kuiken 26 35 Cory Cleary Plymouth, MA Glen Cabral

NEMA Sure to Excite at Waterford This Saturday

By Dale Wolbrink

Groton, CT (June 17, 2007): This Saturday, June 23, 2007, the Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) heads to the Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford, CT, for the second of four visits scheduled at the facility for the 2007 season. In the season opener, the Bertrand Motorsports team dominated with a one-two punch by winner Lou Cicconi, Jr. of Aston, PA, and runner-up Randy Cabral of Plymouth, MA. The Club hopes to avoid another knock-out punch by Mother Nature and run the Speedbowl race on schedule. The 2007 season has been plagued by rain and the Club is hoping for a sunny weekend when they head to one of the most competitive facilities on their schedule.

For many years, the historic shoreline oval has been the site of many exciting Midget races. In recent years, the likes of Cabral, Joey Payne, Ben Seitz and Bobby Santos have provided the thrills. Veteran Nokie Fornoro has been outstanding in recent visits to the Speedbowl but have had to chase the Club’s young lions.

The Bertrand Motorsports Team would like nothing more than a repeat of their April feat; however, Payne has proved to be a worthy opponent for the “Super Team” with a podium finish in the opener and a victory at All-Star Speedway last month. Defending Series Champion, Ben Seitz was a three-time race winner at Waterford in 2005 but was shut out of victory lane at the Speedbowl in 2006. Without a win to his credit in the short season thus far, the ultra-competitive Seitz is undoubtedly very hungry for a win this weekend.

Pete Pernesiglio of Lake Grove, NY, cannot be counted out either. This former NEMA winner has put together two very strong runs this season and looks poised to make his return to victory lane. Adam Cantor and Ryan Dolan are looking to end winless streaks as well.

In 2006, Mike Keeler scored his first career win at the Speedbowl. Other likely candidates to score their first victory at the shoreline oval include Shane Hammond and Erica Santos. The famous #29 of the Seymour Family has visited victory lane a number of times at the Speedbowl in recent years with the likes of Randy Cabral and Bobby Santos at the helm. Rookie contender Aaron Wall could join the ranks of both categories.

On Saturday, the Northeastern Midget Association will join a full-slate of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series competition featuring SK Modifieds, Late Models, Sportsman and Mini Stocks. All the action gets underway on Saturday with practice at 2:30 PM. (Pit gates open at 1:00 PM).

Grandstands open at 3:00 PM with general admission for adults at $14.00. Children are admitted for $5.00. Qualifying begins at 5:00 PM and includes 10-lap heat races for the NEMA Midgets. Features will go green at 7:00 PM.

For more information on the Waterford Speedbowl visit www.speedbowl.com.

Speedbowl and Midgets Have Long Relationship

By Pete Zanardi - Speedbowl PR

Midget racing in general and the Northeastern Midget Association in particular has enjoyed a long and eventful relationship with Waterford Speedbowl. Winning a Midget feature at the ‘Bowl puts a driver on a list that starts with Johnny Thomson, considered the best open-cockpit driver
New England has produced.

Thomson, who went on to national fame (an Indianapolis
500 pole part of resume) won twice in 1951 (the Speedbowl’s initial season). Lou Cicconi Jr., successful at this year’s Modified Nationals, is the latest member of the list.

Three-time NEMA champion Ben Seitz, 2003 king Joey Payne, Randy Cabral, Pete Pernesiglio, Barry Kittredge and Nokie Fornoro are also on the list. All are expected when NEMA makes its second 2006 visit Saturday night.

Speeds will be in the 12 seconds bracket, meaning straightaway speeds in excess of 110 mph. That is a far cry from George Tichenor’s 17.92 seconds qualifying run for an American Automobile Association 100 lapper in the fall of 1951. Tichenor’s speed was considered “extraordinary.”

The ‘Bowl’s geography – surface, width, length (just enough straightaway) – make the three/eights oval a near-perfect Midget facility.

There have 70 NEMA features at the Speedbowl dating from the first one – a Bill Eldridge win on May 31, 1953. It was NEMA’s first season. Drew Fornoro is the all-time Speedbowl Midget winner with six features, one better than Bobby Seymour.

Seitz and Bobby Santos III share the lead among active drivers with four each. Both scored their first-ever wins at the Speedbowl. Santos’ 2002 Boston Louie is among the high points in Speedbowl Midget history.