Long Island Motorsports News - Columns by Dave Meredith

Randy Cabral Wins the Northeastern Midget Association 25-Lap Event at the Waterford Speedbowl

June 24, Stratford, CT--- Saturday night, the Waterford Speedbowl hosted the NEMA Midgets in addition to it’s regular slate of competitors. Erica Santos of Franklin, MA, drove the #44 Beast Chassis to an impressive heat race win over Randy Cabral of Plymouth, MA, in the #47. Santos led all ten laps of the heat race. The #21 of Barry Kittridge of Marlborough, MA, was third.

Adam Cantor in the #7NY won his heat as well. Cantor, who hails from Dix Hills, NY, kept Nokie Fonoro of Stroudsburg, PA, at bay for 7 laps. Bobby Santos III of Franklin, MA, was third. Santos drove to a third place finish in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Thompson this past Thursday night. He is also is competing in some Busch and ARCA series races for Bill Davis Racing, as well as driving a USAC Silver Crown car on a limited basis. He has shown talent for driving almost anything.

Erica Santos (Bobby’s younger sister), started on the pole and led the first lap before Randy Cabral took the lead with Adam Cantor in third. The first caution flew as the #35 of Glen Cabral stopped on the front stretch (he is Randy’s Dad). Randy Cabral took off from the restart and never looked back, however, Bobby Santos in the #98 is closing in on lap 13. Caution for the #11 spinning in the infield on lap 16. The #7 of Adam Cantor pitted under caution, and Erica Santos pitted for a flat right rear under caution (she was running fifth at the time).

The caution set up a nine lap chase to the checkers as Santos pressured Cabral as they sailed through lapped traffic. Cabral was able to fend off two strong challenges from Santos to hold on for the win. The fans certainly seemed to enjoy the race, as they cheered and clapped for the three podium finishers.

Saturday night’s win was Cabral’s third a NEMA midget at the Speedbowl. In April, Cabral was credited with a second place finish (he crossed the stripe in third) after the winner was DQed for being too wide. “It was kind of poetic justice,” Cabral said. “I lost a race the same way. I really like this place. I’ve had a few really good runs, only to have something happen. I really enjoy the fans here they have always supported me and all the other NEMA drivers.” It was the7^th overall win for Cabral in NEMA competition.

Randy Cabral, who took the win for Bertrand Racing, said in his post-race interview, “I love the Waterford Speedbowl. I had real bad luck here last time, though I had a good finish -- I finished second. I had a tire going away from running outside so long. This win goes out to Grandma Bertrand who passed away a couple weeks ago and Mike Scrivani (President of NEMA) who was in an accident Friday night. I really wanted to get a win for her. Car owner, Gil Bertrand, was looking at both rear tires as both were blistered. “I like Bobby Santos and Nokie. When I saw them behind me I really didn’t care if won or finished third. Bobby Santos and Nokie Fonoro are two of the best drivers in the country.”

He continued, “I felt the tires start going away four laps into the race so I had to take it easy. I didn’t really think I would have all that much to win -- I guess had enough to win! I couldn’t see going into turn one (sun glare). My guys were telling me Santos was really catching me. I kept missing my marks. The caution helped me take it easy on the tires. I lost side bite two or three times.”

Bobby Santos: ‘Bobby you were coming on strong at the end, did you need a couple more laps or what?’ “I didn’t need the yellow to come out. We were good on the long runs. Maybe if we had a few more laps at the end I might have done something. I had a lot of fun racing Randy and Nokie – they’re always good to race with. We’ve had a good weekend so far.”

Nokie Fonoro expressed his thanks the fans and the Speedbowl. Nokie told the fan to continue supporting your Saturday night tracks. “So we can race at facilities like the Speedbowl.”

The Northeastern Midget Association is sponsored by the Helping Hands of America Foundation, a private corporation that solicits tangible goods (autos, trucks, boats, etc.) for donation, with portions of all proceeds directly helping their associated charities. http://www.helpinghandsofamerica.org.

NEMA is also proudly sponsored by the Wirtgen Group Today, Wirtgen America, Inc., Nashville, which is the North American arm of the Wirtgen Group, the single-source marketer of the world's most technologically advanced lines of asphalt reclaiming and recycling equipment from Wirtgen (Germany), asphalt and soil compactors from Hamm Compaction Division, and U.S.-sourced asphalt pavers from Vögele America Inc.

NEMA Results: 1) #47 Randy Cabral; 2) #98 Bobby Santos; 3) #4 Nokie Fonoro; 4) #17 Ben Sietz; 5) #15 Sean Dolan; 6) #29 Aaron Wall; 7) #80 Pete Pernesiglio; 8) #45 Joey Payne; 9) #49 B.J. MacDonald; 10) #37 Shane Hammond; 11) #81 Tim Heath; 12) #7NY Adam Cantor; 13) #21 Barry Kittridge; 14) #16 Matt O’Brien; 15) #44 Erica Santos; 16) #77 Mike Luggelle; 17) #20 Andy Shlatz; 18) #30 Paul Scally; 19) #33 Shawn Torrey; 20) #12 Kyle Carpenter; 21) #11 Mark Irvine; 22) #28 Paul Luggelle; 23) #8 Rich Gerbe; 24) #52 Kevin Park; 25) #87k Bobby Kuiken; and 26) #35 Glen Cabral.

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THE MEREDITH REPORT

by Dave Meredith