Tag Archives: Danny Cugni

Cabral wins Thompson and takes his fifth NEMA championship

Kingston's Randy Cabral made up for his lack of another NEMA championship last year by an aggressive campaign in 2014. (Credit: tjs sideways.com photo)

Kingston’s Randy Cabral made up for his lack of another NEMA championship last year by an aggressive campaign in 2014. (Credit: tjs sideways.com photo)

By Lou Modestino

Randy Cabral of Kingston didn’t need to win on Sunday to notch another NEMA championship,
but you wouldn’t have guessed it the way he raced through the field and took the lead in the 25
lap feature at Thompson’s World Series. It was his sixth win of 2014. He also added to his
record 10 wins at the Connecticut oval, while winning his fifth championship in 7 years. Continue reading

Ryan Bigelow became a first time winner in the NEMA Midgets at Waterford Speedbowl

Ryan Bigelow put his name in the NEMA Midget history book by winning his first race at Waterford Speedbowl's finale.  (Credit: Ryan Bigelow photo)

Ryan Bigelow put his name in the NEMA Midget history book by winning his first race at Waterford Speedbowl’s finale. (Credit: Ryan Bigelow photo)

By Lou Modestino

Some lines were added to the NEMA history book on Sunday when the midgets ran at the Waterford Speedbowl’s Fall Finale. Ryan Bigelow of E. Hampton, CT. became a first time winner in the NEMA Midgets and Ryan Krachun of Neshanic Station, NJ became a first time champion in the Lites. Continue reading

Cabral didn’t disappoint the fans at Oswego Speedway

Kingston's Randy Cabral looks like he's on his way to another NEMA Midget Championship. (Credit: NEMA photo)

Kingston’s Randy Cabral looks like he’s on his way to his fifth NEMA Midget Championship. (Credit: NEMA photo)

By Lou Modestino

Randy Cabral is a one man thrill show. He didn’t disappoint the fans at Oswego Speedway on Sunday night with his demonstration of driving skills and speed on the way to his fifth win of the season. Continue reading

NEMA heads to Oswego Speedway in central NY State on Sept. 13-14

The NEMA Midgets head for Oswego Speedway in Central NY State this weekend, Sept. 13-14 (Credit: NEMA photo)

The NEMA Midgets head for Oswego Speedway in Central NY State this weekend, Sept. 13-14 (Credit: NEMA photo)

 

 

 

By Lou Modestino

The NEMA Midgets and the NEMA Lites will be making one of their longest tows of the season to one of most challenging tracks on the circuit tonight. NEMA returns to the Oswego Speedway in central New York State to be part of the track’s Race of Champions Weekend.

The midgets share the card with the Small Block Super-Modified Championship 50 and RoC Sportsman 100 on day 1 of the 2 day race weekend. The Super-Modified championship race and the RoC Modified 200 is on Sunday. The Race of Champions event is the second oldest consecutively run auto race in the country. Only the Indy 500 has been run longer.

The 5/8 mile oval provides for some fast laps for NEMA. Seth Carlson set a blistering pace on the way to his impressive win last year. But the fastest lap was turned in by Greg Stoehr of Lakeville, turning a 17.116 for an average of over 131 miles per hour.

All of the top 5 finishers in last year’s NEMA feature were cranking out laps in the low 17’s. None were faster than Jim Miller’s record setting lap of 16.94 during their 2012 visit to Oswego. Miller was also the feature winner.

Many of the experienced drivers consider Oswego to be a “rhythm track.” If you can set a pace, get out of the groove and do your passing on the outside you can really gain some ground.

Among those that have followed that philosophy is six time champion Russ Stoehr of Bridgewater.. Russ is an 8 time winner there. Joey Payne is a two time midget winner and multi-time Super-Modified victor at the “Steel Palace.” Payne just completed a super fast weekend at the famed Oswego Classic.

Another driver that knows the quick way around Oswego is Richie Morrocco of Plainville. He got his first ever NEMA Lite win in his rookie season last year.

Other past Oswego podium finishers are also threats to end up in victory lane this week including Danny Cugini of Marshfield, Christian Briggs of Mattapoisett, Paul Bigelow in the Lites, as well as Bridgewater’s Bethany Stoehr, Lakeville’s Avery Stoehr and Ian Cummens in the midgets.

Add in any of the other 10 winners from this season and it’s anyone’s guess as to who will bring home the trophy.

Points are in consideration for this race as well. Oswego is the first of the three remaining races of season for the NEMA midgets and next to last event for the Lites. There are even bonus points awarded for this race considering the distance of travel to the venue.

Randy Cabral of Kingston now has a satisfying lead over Avery Stoehr by virtue of his win in the most recent race at Star Speedway. It was Cabral’s fourth of the season. The separation is 73 points.

Ryan Krachun was able to regain the Lites point lead after his first Lites victory at Star Speedway in Epping, NH. He sits a comfortable 82 points ahead of 4 time winner PJ Stergios. The standings are extremely tight from second to fourth.

Practice for cars of Oswego’s day 1 Race of Champions event is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. this afternoon with qualifying at 5 p.m.

NEMA Lites will be in action at Waterford this Saturday night

 

 

 

Marshfield's Danny Cugni hopes to turn things around in his NEMA Lites effort at Waterford after a DNF at Star Speedway. (Credit:NEMA photo)

Marshfield’s Danny Cugni hopes to turn things around in his NEMA Lites effort at Waterford after a DNF at Star Speedway. (Credit:NEMA photo)

By Lou Modestino

The NEMA Lites roll into the Waterford Speedbowl this Saturday night for their fifth of a half dozen appearances this season. There has been a different winner in each visit to the “Bowl.” There’s a good chance another new face will grace Waterford’s victory lane in this one, too. Continue reading

Kingston’s Randy Cabral showed his strength at Star Speedway

 

 

Kingston's Randy Cabral (center) showed that he still has the fortitude to win NEMA Midget features in spite of early season  problems. (Credit: NEMA photo )

Kingston’s Randy Cabral (center) showed that he still has the fortitude to win NEMA Midget features in spite of early season problems. (Credit: NEMA photo )

By Lou Modestino

Randy Cabral showcased his team’s strength of car and driver, Ryan Krachun picked up his first ever NEMA Lite win and Joey Payne bested some of his open-wheel contemporaries in midget action at Epping NH’s Star Speedway on Saturday night. Continue reading

Cugni and Zych score Angelillo Memorial wins at Waterford

Danni Cugni of Marshfield made it to victory lane in the Wings and Wheels NEMA Lites feature at Waterford Speedbowl. Credit: NEMA photo.)

Danni Cugni of Marshfield made it to victory lane in the Wings and Wheels NEMA Lites feature at Waterford Speedbowl. Credit: NEMA photo.)

By Lou Modestino

Reigning NEMA champion John Zych was starting to worry that he hadn’t visited victory lane in 2014. A couple of podium finishes was all he could muster more than halfway through the schedule. That stress was relieved Saturday night when Zych of Mendon, MA won the Angelillo Memorial at the Waterford Speedbowl.

Continue reading

Avery Stoehr takes Oxford 250 weekend NEMA feature at the western Maine oval

Avery Stoehr of Bridgewater (center) won the NEMA feature at Oxford Plains Speedway in ME. Sharing the podium was cousin Bethany Stoehr of Lakville (left) and Randy Cabral of KIingston (right). (Credit: NEMA photo)

Avery Stoehr of Bridgewater (center) won the NEMA feature at Oxford Plains Speedway in ME. Sharing the podium was cousin Bethany Stoehr of Lakville (left) and Randy Cabral of KIingston (right). (Credit: NEMA photo)

 

 

By Lou Modestino

The young talent of the Northeastern Midget Association were fast and in charge Saturday night at Oxford Plains Speedway. The NEMA midgets returned to the Maine oval for the first time in several years as part of the track’s historic “250 Weekend.” Continue reading