By Lou Modestino

“I just love these New York tracks” Brimfield, CT resident Seth Carlson (#71) stated after his second New York state win in as many years. Seth claimed the 2013 Oswego, NY feature last fall.

The record books will forever list Seth as the first Evans Mills NEMA feature winner. He accomplished that feat with a daring three wide move from third to first coming out of turn four. At the checkers he was followed by Jim Santa Maria (#99) and Todd Bertrand (#39).

Long time club member and veteran driver Doug Cleveland (#87) took the lead from the pole at starter Steve Grant’s green flag followed by Santa Maria, Carlson, Bertrand and Ian Cumens (#29).

On lap 9 down the back straight, Carlson saw the lead duo go high and drove his Drinan chassis low going into turn three. He came out of the three wide move with the lead at the line by a car length. Santa Maria also got past Cleveland, changing the running order to Carlson, Santa Maria, Cleveland, Bertrand, Cumens.

Soon after, Bertrand, Cumens and John Zych (#9) got by Cleveland, who eventually finish 9th. Zych had charged all the way up from his ninth starting spot to fifth by mid race and remain there until the checkers.

Some drama developed on lap 21 as new comer Joe Scanlin stalled on the front straight causing a yellow. With under five laps to go the field lined up single file.

On the restart there was no change in the running order and at the end it was Carlson, Santa Maria, Bertrand, Cumens, and Zych. Bertrand was hanging onto third by a bumper.

“The car had good balance all day,”, winner Carlson said after the race. “I was not concerned about the restart as I could keep my car low.”

“I just love these New York flat tracks,” Seth said with a chuckle.

After his second place finish, Jim Santa Maria stated, “I had a loose car all race, but a drivable loose. On the restart, I was confident I could pass Seth, but I’m happy with second. This is the best finish of my three years with the full NEMA cars.”

Third place finisher, Todd Bertrand said, “The track changed a lot and on the restart I thought I could pass Jim but happy with third.”

Maine is the next state on the NEMA schedule as Wiscasset Speedway will host “NEMA NIGHT” on Saturday June 7th. The track’s Late Models, Strictly Streets, Thunder 4s, and Trucks are on the racing card that night.

The 26th Lap
Joe Scanlin, a long time Chambers family friend, wheeled the former Adam Cantor Beast for the first time, placing twelfth.

The Bertrand #39 failed to fire for practice but an electrical issue was soon resolved for the heat race.

Doug Coby, Bertrand #74, was clocked at a 13.00 seconds lap early in the day.

Busy day for veteran Paul Scally who had a rear brake rotor problem but made repairs in time for the feature.

Bethany Stoehr, NEMA #5b, again sang the National Anthem right after mom Tara gave a touching invocation prior to the racing Saturday afternoon.

East Hampton, CT’s own Scott Bigelow made it two wins in as many races for the Bigelow family at the fast NY track Saturday. It was a popular win for the driver of the #32, chased across the line by Logan Rayvals (#94) and Matt Swanson (#9).

With brother Paul, the winner at Waterford two weeks ago, looking on, Scott, took the lead from the pole at the drop of the green. On lap two the yellow flew for a Randy Cabral (#35) spin in turn one. On the restart, Scott took off and was followed by Jake Smith (#93) and Rayvals.

Rayvals quickly overtook Smith for second. Lap six saw Swanson also get by Smith for third from his eighth starting spot. and Danny Cugini (#51) had moved up all the way from thirteenth to fifth.

The running order from the middle laps to the closing laps was Bigelow, Rayvals, Swanson, Smith, and Cugini.

The Cugini Hawk chassis was on rails as Danny was digging hard to run down Smith. Danny completed the pass in the closing laps to claim forth, placing Smith back to fifth.

Said Scott post race, “Everything was good until halfway, then I started losing my tires. After that I just concentrated on hitting my marks and hoped for the best. The motor was overheating all day, and I have dropped out of races because of that that problem. But today it all worked out.”

Second place Rayvals, “I Needed a caution, my car was a little loose, but happy with second.”

“Just ran out of laps,” Swanson said later. “I did gain some ground on him before the end.”

Star Speedway, Epping N.H., is next up on the Lites schedule on May 31st when they join the EKEYS MODS, LEGENDS, WOODY’S STRICTLYS and ROADRUNNERS.