Photos by Norm Marx

Bethany Stoehr NEMA’s Best 
At Speedbowl Finale

Waterford, CT – Bethany Stoehr, beating back continued challenges from her uncle Russ Stoehr, won the 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association feature Sunday at Waterford Speedbowl’s Finale. It was the first Midget win for Stoehr, 18, who is only the second female winner in NEMA’s 61-year old history.

Taking the lead three laps in, Bethany, the daughter of NEMA competitor Greg, survived a series of unusual restarts to finish a tick over a second in front of Russ. It was another chapter in the Stoehr vs. Stoehr wars that are part of NEMA’s story.

“I knew [Russ] was behind me,” she said. “I just kept telling myself to hold it together.”

John Zych Jr. was third and will take a slim point lead into next weekend’s Ocktoberfest at Lee USA Speedway. Randy Cabral and Todd Bertrand completed the top five.

The final restart came with 11 laps remaining when Avery Stoehr, the fourth family member in the race, spun. Zych grabbed second on the restart but Russ quickly went around him to regain second and resumed the challenge. “I gave her everything the car had,” said Russ following his best finish of the year. “She was just better than we were today.”

Following a caution on the initial lap, Joey Payne grabbed the lead. Bethany, who started third, cleared Payne down the backstretch with three gone and two laps later Russ caught her, the tussle for the lead running ahead of a battle for third between Payne and Cabral while Greg Stoehr and Zych fought for fifth.

With 13 laps left, Greg and Seth Carlson ran into fluid dropped by Payne, their day ending in the wall between one and two. Twice the ensuing restart was called back, Bethany, with Cabral behind her, jumping the first time and getting on it too slowly the second time.

“I knew [Russ] was really good on restarts,” Bethany explained. “My father always talks about it.” 

She got away on the third try with Russ again in pursuit. Two laps latter the yellow showed again.

“I was restarting off the leader,” said Zych, explaining his move on the last restart. “I saw [Bethany] go so I went.” Admitting he had nothing for Bethany, he did “protect the bottom” over the final circuits, “not wanting to go outside and leave it open.”


Bethany joins Erica Santos as the only NEMA female winners. Erica won at Stafford back in 2007.
A heat winner on Saturday as was Russ, Bethany had the fastest feature lap – a 13.119), faster than Russ’ Saturday best of 13.198.

NEMA MIDGETS - WATERFORD - 10/5/13

Pos.

#

Driver

 Hometown

Owner

1

5b

Bethany Stoehr

Bridgewater, MA

MCI Racing/
Greg Stoehr

2

45

Russ Stoehr

Bridgewater, MA

Dumo's Desire Racing

3

9

John Zych Jr.

Mendon, MA

John Zych Sr.

4

47

Randy Cabral

Plymouth, MA

Tim Bertrand

5

39

Todd Bertrand

Suffield, CT

Bertrand Motorsports

6

4

Ian Cumens

Lydell, PA

Bobby Seymour

7

80

Peter Pernisiglio

Lake Grove, NY

Peter Pernisiglio Sr.

8

44

Joey Payne

Fairlawn, NJ

Ed Breault

9

30

Paul Scally

Raynham, MA

Paul Scally

10
DNF

44x

Avery Stoehr

Lakeville, MA

Ed Breault

11
DNF

26b

Greg Stoehr

Bridgewater, MA

Greg Stoehr

12
DNF

71

Seth Carlson

Brimfield, CT

Gene Feigel

13
DNF

50

Barry Cannon

Bridgewater, MA

Peter Pernisiglio Sr.

14
DNF

99

Paul Bigelow

Kensington, CT

Susan Santa Maria

15
DNF

35

Anthony Marvuglio

E. Bridgewater, MA

Glen Cabral

16
DNS

77

Doug Cleveland

Sudbury, MA

Mike Luggelle

17
DNS

96

Jim Jackson

Avoca, PA

Jim Jackson

18
DNS

21

Jim Chambers

Atkinson, NH

Mike Chambers

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Photos by
Norm Marx

Johnson Gets First At Finale

Waterford, CT – Kenny Johnson left no doubt about his first-ever Midget victory, dominating the 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association Lites feature Saturday night at Waterford Speedbowl’s Finale.

Starting sixth, Johnson took the lead from Paul Bigelow on the front stretch with 16 laps remaining and went on to a 1.4 seconds victory over Jake Stergios. Johnson needed less than six minutes (5.57) to cover the distance, grabbing fastest lap honors (13.964-96.68 mph) as well.

Bigelow, the only other leader, held on for third. Christian Briggs passed Avery Stoehr just a few feet in front of the checker to claim fourth.

Settling into third at the start, Johnson took second from Stoehr coming out of two with five gone. He battled Bigelow for two laps, some of side-by-side, before the winning move down the front stretch. He then ran away.

Coming from the 12 starting spot, Stergios passed Stoehr for third with 13 left and a lap later Bigelow for second but was a straightaway behind the leader. “I was hoping for a caution,” Stergios told the crowd. “That was the only way I was going to catch Kenny today.”

Carl Mederios and Danny Cugini, running first and second in points, finished sixth and seventh. The championship battle will go right to the final race next weekend at Lee USA Speedway’s Ocktoberfest.


Johnson and Briggs were the heat winners, Briggs turning a 13.9 lap.
ISMA regular Alison Cumens spelled her brother Ian in the Seymour #9, finishing 12th.
Keith Rocco was a crash victim in the Manafort car.
Johnson was the eight different Lites winner of the season.

NEMA LITES - WATERFORD - 10/5/13

Pos.

#

Driver

 Hometown

Owner

1

46

Kenney Johnson

Bethany, CT

Jeff Johnson

2

11

PJ Stergios

Candia, NH

Bill Stergios

3

31

Ryan Bigelow

Kensington, CT

Randy Bigelow

4

44

Christian Briggs

Mattapoisett, MA

Christian Briggs

5

15a

Avery Stoehr

Lakeville, MA

MCI Racing LLC

6

50

Carl Medeiros Jr.

Westport, MA

Carl Medeiros Sr.

7

51

Danny Cugini

Marshfield, MA

D.  Cugini

8

45

Brandon Igo

Wilbraham, MA

David Igo

9

94

Logan Rayvals

Brockville, ONT

Craig Rayvals

10

29

Ryan Krachun

Neschanic Station, NJ

Mike Krachun

11

46x

Andy Barrows

New Ipswitch, NH

Dustin Anderson

12

9

Alison Cumens

Lydell, PA

Bobby Seymour

13

4

Jamie Falconi

Southborough, MA

Paul Scally

14

18

DJ Moniz

Fairhaven, MA

David Moniz

15

21

Anthony Payne

Fairlawn, NJ

Jennifer Scrivani

16

7

Randy Cabral

Plymouth, MA

Gregory Olson

17

41

Megan Cugini *

Marshfield, MA

D.  Cugini

18

52

Barry Cannon

Bridgewater, MA

Kevin Park

19
DNF

25

Richie Morocco *

Plainville, MA

Richard Morocco

20
DNF

39

RJ Tufano

West Haven, CT

RJ Tufano

21
DNS

93

Jake Smith

Stroudsburg, PA

Ted Smith

22
DNS

76

Keith Rocco

Wallingford, CT

Frank Manafort

* Rookie