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Bethany Stoehr NEMA’s Best
At Speedbowl Finale
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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.
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NEMA MIDGETS - WATERFORD
- 10/5/13
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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
|
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11
DNF
|
26b
|
Greg
Stoehr
|
Bridgewater, MA
|
Greg
Stoehr
|
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12
DNF
|
71
|
Seth
Carlson
|
Brimfield, CT
|
Gene
Feigel
|
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13
DNF
|
50
|
Barry
Cannon
|
Bridgewater, MA
|
Peter
Pernisiglio Sr.
|
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14
DNF
|
99
|
Paul Bigelow
|
Kensington, CT
|
Susan
Santa Maria
|
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15
DNF
|
35
|
Anthony
Marvuglio
|
E. Bridgewater, MA
|
Glen
Cabral
|
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16
DNS
|
77
|
Doug
Cleveland
|
Sudbury, MA
|
Mike
Luggelle
|
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17
DNS
|
96
|
Jim
Jackson
|
Avoca, PA
|
Jim
Jackson
|
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18
DNS
|
21
|
Jim
Chambers
|
Atkinson, NH
|
Mike
Chambers
|
|
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Johnson Gets First At Finale
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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.
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NEMA LITES - WATERFORD
- 10/5/13
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Pos.
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#
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Driver
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Hometown
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
46
|
Kenney
Johnson
|
Bethany, CT
|
Jeff
Johnson
|
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2
|
11
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PJ
Stergios
|
Candia, NH
|
Bill
Stergios
|
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3
|
31
|
Ryan
Bigelow
|
Kensington, CT
|
Randy
Bigelow
|
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4
|
44
|
Christian
Briggs
|
Mattapoisett, MA
|
Christian
Briggs
|
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5
|
15a
|
Avery
Stoehr
|
Lakeville, MA
|
MCI
Racing LLC
|
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6
|
50
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Carl
Medeiros Jr.
|
Westport, MA
|
Carl
Medeiros Sr.
|
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7
|
51
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Danny
Cugini
|
Marshfield, MA
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D.
Cugini
|
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8
|
45
|
Brandon Igo
|
Wilbraham, MA
|
David
Igo
|
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9
|
94
|
Logan Rayvals
|
Brockville, ONT
|
Craig
Rayvals
|
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10
|
29
|
Ryan
Krachun
|
Neschanic Station, NJ
|
Mike
Krachun
|
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11
|
46x
|
Andy Barrows
|
New Ipswitch,
NH
|
Dustin Anderson
|
|
12
|
9
|
Alison
Cumens
|
Lydell, PA
|
Bobby
Seymour
|
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13
|
4
|
Jamie
Falconi
|
Southborough, MA
|
Paul
Scally
|
|
14
|
18
|
DJ
Moniz
|
Fairhaven, MA
|
David
Moniz
|
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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
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