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Randy Cabral, 2nd place
finisher and winner Lou Cicconi |
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Cicconi
Back on Top at Seekonk in Team Bertrand NEMA Sweep |
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by
Dale Wolbrink |
Seekonk, MA (August 29,
2007): Open-wheel ace “Liquid” Lou Cicconi of Aston, PA, scored
his second Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) victory of the
season in dominating fashion on Wednesday night at Seekonk
Speedway in Seekonk, MA. This was the second race for the
Midgets at Seekonk in the last five days. The event, which was
postponed due to inclement weather back on July 18, 2007, was
worth the wait for Cicconi and his Bertrand Racing teammate
Randy Cabral, who chased Cicconi to the checkers. Cicconi took
advantage of his front row starting position and went on to wire
the field for the victory.
The one-two finish was a much-needed boost for the race team and
the Bertrand family. Since an opening day win at the Waterford
Speedbowl in April, Cicconi has seen his fair share of
adversity. Mechanical woes have sidelined Cicconi twice in the
last four races.
“I really wanted to beat Lou tonight,” said Cabral in a post
race interview, “but a 1-2 finish is good for Bertrand
Motorsports. It’s great for Gil (Bertrand). His wife has some
health issues.”
In the face of adversity the team has stuck together to perform
valiantly, as evidenced at Seekonk. This is the second time this
season that Cicconi and Cabral have completed the sweep. The
other came on April 1 at the Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford,
CT.
This was also the second time this season that the talented
Northeastern Midget Association competitors treated the fans to
an exciting green-to-checker event.
Cicconi immediately rocketed out to the lead while Cabral, Bobby
Santos and Paul Scally went three-wide for the second position
to start the 25-lap main event. With Cicconi as the leader,
Cabral got the better of the battle to post the second position
to complete lap one. Santos took chase from the third position.
While Cicconi continued to build his lead on Cabral; B. Santos
and Greg Stoehr, a fair distance behind second, ran in close
quarters for third. Shane Hammond and Jeff Horn locked horns
just outside the top-five. Hammond would later advance to as
high as the fourth position before mechanical troubles forced
him to retire from the event.
By lap 10, the lead pack was entering considerable lapped
traffic. At halfway, Cicconi showed the way over Cabral and
Santos. Santos made a bid on Cabral for the runner-up spot but
it was cut short by a lapped car. The battle for the second spot
allowed Cicconi to further build his lead, leaving the duo a
half-straightaway behind. Saturday night’s winner, also at
Seekonk, Ben Seitz was making up ground from his 12th-place
starting spot and headed for the top five.
Once free of Santos, Cabral started to chip away on Cicconi’s
lead as they maneuvered through the slower cars.
“I like that kind of heavy traffic,” said Cabral. “My car got
tight but it came to me.”
With two laps to go Cabral was making progress; however, he ran
out of time, leaving his teammate to head to the checkers
unchallenged. Santos joined the teammates on the podium with his
third-place finish.
“Lapped traffic is tough here,” said Cicconi, happy with his win
but happier to be sharing the spotlight with Cabral.
“Randy is tough competition and a true professional,” added the
winner with open admiration for his teammate.
Stoehr held on for fourth while Seitz quietly came home in the
fifth position. Nokie Fornoro, Joey Payne, Adam Cantor, Jeff
Horn, and Erica Santos rounded out the top ten.
The competitors do not have much time to catch their breath. The
whirlwind schedule, courtesy of Mother Nature, rolls right along
this Saturday night, September 1st. This holiday weekend, the
Northeastern Midget Association will head to Winchester, NH to
make-up the Monadnock Speedway event originally rained out on
June 9, 2007. |
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Seekonk Speedway -
August 29th
OPEN
WHEEL WEDNESDAY |
| Pos. |
# |
Driver |
Hometown |
Owner |
|
1 |
47b |
Lou
Ciconni Jr. |
Aston,
PA |
Tim
Bertrand |
| 2 |
47 |
Randy Cabral |
Plymouth, MA |
Tim Bertrand |
| 3 |
29 |
Bobby Santos III |
Franklin, MA |
Bobby Seymour |
| 4 |
26b |
Greg Stoehr |
Bridgewater, MA |
Greg Stoehr |
| 5 |
17 |
Ben Seitz |
Pocasset, MA |
Pete Valeri |
| 6 |
4 |
Nokie
Fornoro |
Stroudsburg,
PA |
Mike
Jarret |
| 7 |
45 |
Joey Payne |
Fairlawn, NJ |
Gene Angellilo |
| 8 |
7ny |
Adam Cantor |
Dix Hills, NY |
Cantor Racing |
| 9 |
A1 |
Jeff Horn |
Ashland,
MA |
Jeff Horn |
| 10 |
44 |
Erica Santos |
Franklin, MA |
Ed Breault |
| 11 |
99 |
Jeremy Frankoski |
Newark Valley, NY |
Power Point
Racing |
| 12 |
80 |
Doug Cleveland |
Sudbury, MA |
Peter Pernesiglio |
|
13 |
P30 |
Mike
Horn |
Ashland,
MA |
Mike
Horn |
|
14 |
30 |
Paul
Scally |
Raynham,
MA |
Paul
Scally |
|
15 |
9 |
John Zych
Jr. |
Mendon,
MA |
John Zych |
|
16 |
35 |
Cory Cleary |
Plymouth, MA |
Glen Cabral |
| 17 |
48 |
Ryan
Preece |
- |
Tim
Bertrand |
|
18 |
77 |
Mike Lugelle |
Hull, MA |
Mike Lugelle |
| 19 |
33 |
Shawn Torrey |
Marshfield, MA |
Shawn Torrey |
|
20 |
78 |
Steve
Powers |
N.
Andover, MA |
Linda
Cleveland |
|
21 |
28l |
Paul Luggelle |
Holbrook, MA |
Paul Luggelle |
22
DNF |
37g |
Shane Hammond |
E. Bridgewater, MA |
Jack
Glockner |
23
DNF |
11 |
Mark Irving |
Bellingham, MA |
Charles Camosse |
24
DNS |
52 |
Kevin Park |
Foxboro, MA |
Kevin Park |
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Driver Spotlight Page
by Todd Baptista
now featuring
NEMA
ACE RANDY CABRAL
"Hard-charging Plymouth, MA
native Randy Cabral is unquestionably one of the most exciting
and popular drivers in New England’s open wheel ranks today,
having emerged as a threat to win each time he takes to the
track in the Bertrand Motorsports #47 Northeastern Midget
Association ride. At 28, the second-generation star can boast
five years of top three finishes in the NEMA championship
standings. Those who know and respect Randy, however, know that
boasting isn’t a part of his makeup. A sense of pride in his
accomplishments, a dedication to his craft and team, and a
sincere appreciation for his backers, family, crew members, and
supporters are key elements to Cabral’s composition, and have a
lot to do with the degree of success and respect he’s earned.
Randy’s uncle, Alan Cabral was the first member of the clan to
compete, running a VW at Norwood Arena. His dad, Glen, served as
a crew member on Bob Cadarette’s Mini-Modified Volkswagen in the
early 1970s and eventually decided to try his luck in Norwood’s
Hobby class in 1972. After Norwood closed its doors, Glen built
a 1965 Mustang Late Model which he rode to a second place points
finish at Lakeville Speedway."
Full Page HERE |
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WEDS August 29th @ 7pm
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Seekonk’s Open
Wheel Wednesday Rescheduled For August 29 |
by Todd Baptista
Seekonk Speedway assistant manager David Alburn announced today that the
1/3-mile Bay State oval’s Open Wheel Wednesday program which fell victim
to rain on July 18, has been rescheduled in its entirety for Wednesday
evening, August 29, at 7 PM. “We’ve heard from people from all over the
Northeast, fans and competitors alike, in the week since the event was
rained out,” Alburn explains. “The overwhelming consensus was that they
wanted the show to go on exactly the way it had been planned on a future
Wednesday night.” After meeting with officials from the True Value
Modified Racing Series, Northeastern Midget Association, and Pro Four
Modified Series, a deal was finalized late Wednesday.
The fastest and fiercest competitors in northeastern Modified racing
circles are expected to converge upon the Route 6 facility for the third
annual Open Wheel Wednesday program, featuring the Viveiros
Insurance-sponsored 100 green flag lap Modified Madness event, an open
competition race paying $10,000 to the winner. Last July, forty-two
competitors from nine states attempted to qualify for the 26-car race,
which carries a purse in excess of $31,000.
Among the drivers who have pre-registered for this year’s Modified
Madness show are former NASCAR weekly series national champion Ted
Christopher, veteran front-runner Jerry Marquis, third generation ace
Bobby Santos III, Mike Stefanik, Matt Hirschman, Tommy Cravenho, Vinnie
Annarummo, and Dick Houlihan. Others who have pre-registered include
Eric Beers, Richard Savary, former Seekonk winners Louie Mechalides and
Andy Seuss, Chris and Carl Pasteryak, Jimmy Kuhn, Jr., and defending
race winner Kirk Alexander of West Swanzey, NH. Qualifying heats and a
B-main will set the lineup for the 100 lap affair.
The Northeastern Midget Association and Pro Four Modified Racing Series
will also compete in qualifying heats and 25-lap features. The pit area
will open at 1 PM on race day with Modified inspections beginning at
1:30 and practice for all divisions running from 2 to 6 PM. Qualifying
begins at 7 PM. Grandstand admission is $18 for adults, $5 for juniors
ages 13 through 15, and free for children 12 and under. Pit admission is
$30. The speedway campgrounds will be open for overnight campers
beginning on Tuesday evening, August 28. For more information, contact
the speedway office at (508)-336-9959 or visit online at
www.seekonkspeedway.com |
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