John Zych of Mendon returned to his family home in NY State to win the NEMA Midget race at Evans Mills Speedway. (Credit: NEMA Midget photo.)
After exciting races at the Chemung Speedrome on Friday evening, claimed by Modified regulars Doug Coby (NEMA) and Jimmy Zacharias (Lites) , NEMA concluded its weekend at the 3/8 mile Evans Mills Speedway in NY. Known for its distinctive flat surface and round corners, the speedway proved challenging for many teams in terms of set up. One of the teams early in the day, who appeared to be struggling was the John Zych Racing team, who didn’t transfer through their heat race and winding up at the tail of the field.
Zych, starting scratch on the field had his work cut out for him. “We were terrible in the heat race. We threw a bunch of changes at the car for the feature, and were amazed at how well they worked,” the Mendon, MA driver said after the feature. When the green flag dropped, Bethany Stoehr of Bridgewater jumped out into the lead in the Breault 44 machine. She dominated the majority of the feature event while Zych was methodically working his way to the front using the high line. A caution was thrown with seven laps to go, when Zych made contact with NEMA regular Paul Scally of Raynham. The caution tightened up the field and Zych made his return to the front.
With two laps to go, it appeared that Stoehr would hold on for the victor but coming to the white flag, Zych darted to the outside of Stoehr and made a pass that stuck entering turn one. He went on to take down the victory and was followed by Stoehr, Jim Chambers, Todd Bertrand and Randy Cabral of Kingston.
“It’s kind of like an out of body experience,” said Zych. “We were so bad earlier today I just can’t believe we won. I feel really bad that I got into Paul, it was not intentional at all,” he went on to say. “It feels great to win up here in New York where a lot of my family grew up.”
In the Lites division, Anthony “the Tornado” Payne, son of legendary Joey “the Jersey Jet” Payne, looked very strong from the start of the day, winning his heat race. Payne, who drives for NEMA charter family, the Scrivani’s of Brockton, had come close previously but had not tasted his sweet first victory until this past Saturday. Payne started fourth in the feature event and quickly worked his way to the front of the field. He looked to have the dominant car as the feature went on despite the always strong Scott Bigelow, who came charging through the field, with NEMA regular Danny Cugini of Marshfield in tow.
Payne went on to cross the line victorious followed by Bigelow, Cugini, Meg Cugini, and Randy Cabral. Payne thanked his sponsors,the Jarrett family, crew, his parents and the Scrivani family in victory lane.
The Lites division resumes its schedule at the New London Waterford Speedbowl in Connecticut on June 6 and both divisions the following weekend at Wiscasset Speedway in Maine.
NEMA MIDGETS – EVAN MILLS – 5/23/15
Pos. # Driver Hometown Owner
1 9 John Zych Jr. Mendon,MA John Zych Sr.
2 44b Bethany Stoehr Bridgewater, MA Ed Breault
3 21 Jim Chambers Atkinson, NH Mike Chambers
4 39 Todd Bertrand Sufield, CT Todd Bertrand
5 47 Randy Cabral Plymouth, MA Tim Bertrand
6 51 Danny Cugini Marshfield, MA D. Cugini
7 74 Doug Coby Milford, CT Tim Bertrand
8 71 Seth Carlson Brimfield, CT Gene Feigel
9 15a Avery Stoehr Lakeville, MA Russ Stoehr
10 7 Alan Chambers Atkinson, NH Mike Chambers
11 30 Paul Scally Raynham, MA Paul Scally
12 32 Ryan Bigelow E. Hampton, CT Randy Bigelow
13 31 Jim Santa Maria Burlington, CT Susan Santa Maria
NEMA LITES – EVAN MILLS – 5/23/15
Pos. # Driver Hometown Owner
1 21 Anthony Payne Fairlawn, NJ Jennifer Scrivani
2 32 Scott Bigelow E. Hampton, CT Scott Bigelow
3 51 Danny CuginI Marshfield, MA D. Cugini
4 41 Megan CuginI Marseld, MA D. Cugini
5 35 Randy Cabral Plymouth, MA Glen Cabral
6 16 Dennis O’Brien Deerfield, NH Chris O’Brien
7 30b Paul Scally Raynham, MA Paul Scally
8 15a Randy Brunelle – Russ Stoehr
9 31 Paul Bigelow Kensington, CT Paul Bigelow
10 21c Jim Chambers Atkinson, NH Jim Chambers
Source: Tim Bertrand NEMA PR
