NEMA 2009 BANQUET - WHITE'S OF WESTPORT -
NOV. 21st
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THE 2009 CHAMPIONS
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Champs Honored At NEMA Banquet
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NEMA Press Release - Westport, MA - Repeat
champions Tim Bertrand (owner) and Randy Cabral
(driver) topped the award winners Saturday night
at the Northeastern Midget
Association’s Awards Banquet at White’s of
Westport.
Cabral, noting the “crazy changes” his life has
taken over the past two years, dedicated his
championship to Marvin Rifchin and his
grandfather Henry, both of whom passed away in
2009, and to the soldiers “fighting the wars.”
“I go to the races not to win races or
championships but to hang out with people, with
my friends,” said Cabral who thanked a number of
people including his and the Bertrand family.
“My biggest secret is my crew,” added Bertrand,
adding, “we’ll definitely be back next year.”
2009 Banquet on the NEMA
site HERE |
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Bertrand, Carter Team at Phoenix for Copper
World Classic Nov. 12th |
Bertrand
Motorsports, the 2009 Northeastern Midget
Association owner champion, and driver Cole
Carter will team up for next Thursday’s 25-lap
USAC Midget race at Phoenix International
Speedway’s Copper World Classic. Carter’s Beast
will be powered by Bertrand’s Circle Performance
built Esslinger motor. Bertrand and his wife
Cara will be providing some sponsorship as well.
The Carters took the motor out of Bertrand’s
#47 after the NEMA final race at Thompson
Speedway. The motor, which carried both driver
Randy Cabral and Bertrand to their second
straight respective championships, did not
suffer a single breakdown throughout the season.
“Cole qualified sixth and finished third in
last year’s race and he did that with average
equipment from an engine perspective,” said
Bertrand. ”We are excited about being with the
Carter family again especially on this level.”
Carter was part of the Bertrand’s “guest
driver” program in 2009 earning two top fives,
including a second, in three starts. Sprint Cup
star Ryan Newman and NASCAR Modified standout
Ted Christopher also drove for Bertrand over the
season.
RACE UPDATE: Cole in
his #7 qualified 19th & finished 27th, forced to
pull off the track on lap 16 with overheating. |
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THE 2009 NEMA DRIVER
& OWNER CHAMPIONS |
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Cabral,
Bertrand are 2009 NEMA
Driver and Owner
Champions
Since the 2009 Drivers Championship was won just
by passing under the green at the NEWA season
finale at Thompson World Series, Randy was now
focused on securing the Owners Championship for
Bertrand Motorsports over the 25 lap feature.
With the Mike Jarret Motorsports #4 trailing by
only 26 going into Thompson, Randy could only
finish two positions back if Nokie Fornoro took
the win for Jarret.
When a lap 16 yellow for the #44 of Erica Santos
eliminated the large lead that the #A1 of Jeff
Horn held over the field, Nokie ran hard into
turn one on the restart and took the lead from
Horn. Randy used that restart to move around the #3m
of Jim Miller to take 3rd. Cole Carter in the
Bertrand #39 took over 4th place.
“It was the
only time I went into one and the car actually
stuck,” said Cabral on the pass for third that
wound up giving Bertrand the owner crown. “Once
I realized how bad my car was and how good he
was, I knew I had to keep Nokie in view.”
That 3rd gave the Bertrand Team a super slim 4
point margin for the
Owners Championship and captured both
titles for the second time in the last two
seasons. |
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Cole Carter Back
in the #39 for Thompson
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Cole Carter, a
USAC Midget, Sprint Car & Silver Crown driver
and part of one of American's greatest auto
racing families, will return to the Northeastern
Midget Association at Thompson Speedway's World
Series (Oct. 24-25).
Carter, the son of Midget legend Pancho Carter,
will again be part of the Bertrand Motorsports
stable. He had a second at Seekonk Speedway's
Boston Louie in August. This time he will drive
the No. 39 car that Ryan Newman drove to a
second place at Lee earlier this year.
"He was really impressed with the winged Midgets
and told us he would like to return," said owner
Tim Bertrand. "We've been working on it ever
sense." Carter led the first half of the Seekonk
race.
The Carter and Bertrand families will "team up"
for a trip to Phoenix International Speedway's
Copper Classic in November. Carter, who finished
third in Phoenix a year ago, will drive his own
Beast chassis powered by one of Bertrand's
engines.
The team, currently ahead in both the driver
(Randy Cabral) and owner standings, has been
busy throughout the season with "guest" drivers,
the list also including Pete Skias and Teddy
Christopher. |
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The
2009 DAV Fall Classic
Sat.-Sun. October 10th-11th |
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Seekonk,
MA - The two days at Seekonk for the annual DAV
Memorial saw some cool morning temps and some
slippery track conditions for the Lites and and
the NEMA Midgets. A change of oil brand took
care of a problem with
oil in the catch tank of the #47 in the Saturday
morning sessions.
Randy raced to a 4th place finish in the first
heat for the Midgets on Saturday afternoon.
Guest driver Peter Skias gave the #48 a run to a
7th in the Lites race held after dark on
Saturday after rain in the morning delayed the
day's program by a couple of hours.
Starting from 8th for the 25 lap feature on
Sunday afternoon, Randy faced a heavy mid-pack
battle with the #47 setup not at it's best.
While the Wall brothers diced with Adam Cantor
for the win, Randy advanced to a 6th place
finishing spot.
The Thompson World Series is the only race left
on the NEMA Schedule since rain forced its
rescheduling to Oct. 24-25 so NEMA cannot run at
the Lee USA Speedway Octoberfest being held on
the same weekend. With only one two-day, extra
points event remaining, the #47 holds a 26
marker lead in the Owner's points after the Mike
Jarret #4 closed up by 14 points with a 4th
place. In the Driver's Standings, Randy holds a
comfortable 106 point margin. |
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Skias Guest In
Bertrand Lites Car
Brockton, MA – Tim
Bertrand calls Pennsylvania Mini Sprint legend
Pete Skias “an old fashioned, follow-the-action
racer. He’s the kind of racer who comes to the
front no matter where you start him.”
Skias, a veteran dirt tracker, will try the
asphalt this weekend when he drives Bertrand’s
No. 48 in the Northeastern Midget Association
20-lap “Lites” feature at Seekonk Speedway’s DA
Memorial.. “It has long been his goal to drive a
midget on asphalt,” continues Bertrand.
Seekonk has become “home ground” for the “Lites,”
series, now in its second season. Nationally
known in Mini Stock ranks, Skias, is a long-time
friend of the Bertrand family.
“We’re excited and happy to do this,” continued
Bertrand. “We’re convinced Pete will provide
plenty of excitement.”
The Bertrand team has brought a number of guest
drivers to NEMA this season including Ryan
Newman, Cole Carter and Ted Christopher. |
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TTwin State - Sat. Oct.
4 |
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Two-for-Two
at Twin State
Claremont, NH – Randy Cabral made it two-for-two at Twin
State Speedway, taking his K&N Engineering, Bertrand
Motorsports #47 machine on to win the rain-shortened
19-lap Northeastern Midget Association segment of Open
Wheel Sunday. It was the fifth win of the season for
defending champion and current point leader.
Coming from fifth, Cabral took the lead after a
three-lap side-by-side battle with eventual runner-up
Adam Cantor.
The duel followed a lap 13 restart. The win keeps
Tim Bertrand in the owner’s point lead over Mike Jarret,
Nokie Fornoro driving the latter’s car to a third. Jim
Miller and Jeff Horn completed the top five.
The
race, ended on a red-flag situation, Mike Horn, Greg
Stoehr and Lee Bundy involved in an altercation. A
sudden rainstorm appeared before the cleanup was
complete.
Cantor, who started third, had the lead immediately,
also lost a restart challenge to Cabral on lap five. He
immediately got the lead back, however, and was in
control when the second yellow flew.
“My
car started to get a little tight and that was good for
me,” said Cabral, who moved ahead out of turn four. “I
was getting faster and faster and he appeared to be
getting loose.”
Cantor was “loose off by then,” and “just couldn’t get
wide open fast enough” on the restart.
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LLee USA - Fri. Sept. 18th |
4th for Randy at Lee USA
Speedway
The return to Lee USA Speedway
again saw a multi-lap battle between Randy in the #47
and Nokie Fornoro in the #4. But this time they were
fighting for 4th spot since they had both started in
mid-pack and others who had started up front had jumped
into the lead. Nokie grabbed fourth and Randy finished
in fifth.
Mike Ordway Jr. was the team guest driver for the
night. In the NEMA Midgets, Mike had the #74 DNF for a
20th place finish. In the NEMA Lite #48 Mike raced to a
7th place.
< Photo by John DaDalt |
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Twin State Fri. Sept. 4th -- Monadnock Sat.
Sept 5th. |
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Cabral Wins Twin State &
Is Runner Up at Marilyn's Passion Memorial
at Monadnock |
Greg
Stoehr needed only five minutes and 46 seconds
to capture the Northeastern Midget Association’s
25-lap Marilyn’s Passion Memorial Midget Race
Saturday night at Monadnock Speedway. Starting
fifth, Stoehr passed brother Russ on lap 13 and
went on to beat Randy Cabral in the K&N
Engineering #47 by five car lengths in the
caution-free battle. Cabral came from tenth
spot, while Stoehr started fifth.
It capped a busy weekend for NEMA, Cabral
claiming Friday night’s 25-lapper at Twin State
Speedway after a torrid battle with Nokie
Fornoro.
Backed by the Angelillo family, The Marilyn’s
Passion event memorialized long-time NEMA
stalwart and official Marilyn Angelillo.
Cabral, looking for a weekend sweep, took second
from Russ Stoehr in turn two on lap 18. Although
he was two tenths of a second faster over the
closing laps, he fell short by five carlengths.
Drew Fornoro (Seymour #29) celebrated his return
with a resounding fourth followed by Jeff Horn
(Horn #A1), Nokie Fornoro (Jarret #4), and Ted
Christopher (Bertrand #74). Ten cars finished on
the same lap.
“The car was never better,” said the defending
champion who started 10th. “I wanted so badly to
catch Greg, not so much to pass him but to just
race with him.”
Fast lap honors actually went to Cabral (a
12.022) on the eighth circuit. Greg Stoehr
turned lap six in 12:036.
A lap 18 restart set up the classic Cabral-Fornoro
duel at Twin State, the two running side-by side
for four laps. They actually changed lanes at
least once but Cabral, on the outside, finally
got away exiting two just before the two-lap
signal.
“I see Nokie outside of me,” said Cabral, “and
then I see him on the inside of me. It was
pretty exciting.” He said he watched the NEMA
Lites RACE (the family had three car involved)
and came away with a good idea of “where the
best lane was.”
Cabral, who had the fastest lap at Twin State
(12.389), and Fornoro, were followed by Greg
Stoehr, Adam Cantor (Cantor #7ny) and Erica
Santos (Breault #44). |
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Twin State |
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With Randy still on the way from
his job in Plymouth, MA, Nokie Fornoro
took the #47 out in the first practice
session only to have the right front hub
come apart at the end of the back
straight (above). The car slid onto the
grass and into the dirt banking in the
middle of turns 3 and 4 doing no further
damage. With some spares from the #4
Jarret team, the #47 was back in racing
shape for the heat. (First shot
below) Anthony Marvuglio took the #74
for a few laps in the feature to give it
a warm up for Ted Christopher who raced
in the following night at Monadnock. |
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Monadnock |
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Monadnock
Speedway
Sat. September 5th |
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TC/Bertrand Team Up For Marilyn’s Passion |
Brockton, MA – Ted
Christopher is looking forward to driving the
Bertrand #74 at the Northeastern Midget
Association’s Marilyn’s Passion Race at
Monadnock Speedway on Saturday night, Sept. 5.
The race memorializes long-time NEMA stalwart
Marilyn Angelillo.
The versatile Christopher, who opened the season
with TQ wins at Atlantic City and Providence,
RI, will be a teammate with Randy Cabral in the
$11,000-plus event.
“First, I’m excited about driving in an event
that honors Marilyn Angelillo,” says
Christopher. “Marilyn was such a big part of the
game for so many years.”
Marilyn Angelillo was listed as the owner of the
Midget Christopher, the 2008 National NASCAR
Modified champion, drove to victory at Waterford
Speedbowl’s 1998 Modified Nationals. It was one
of over 100 wins Marilyn was part of.
“Second, I’m going to be in great equipment on a
track that everybody says suits my style,”
continues the busy Christopher. He’ll be in the
car that Jeff Horn and Cole Carter have driven
to a fifth and a second this year. Christopher
has been in Bertrand equipment before.
“No question Monadnock is a place where you’ve
got to pony up,” says owner Tim Bertrand. “It is
a track where the veterans, guys like Nokie
Fornoro, Jeff Horn and the Stoehr brothers, seem
to do well. Those are the guys who drove before
the extraordinary equipment we have today, the
guys who really work the car. Ted is in that
category too. He can get up on the wheel.”
Horn, Fornoro, Russ and Greg Stoehr will be part
of what’s expected to be a banner field.
Defending champion Randy Cabral and previous
2009 race winner at Monadnock, and Adam Cantor
will join a group of younger drivers that
includes Abby Martino, Erica Santos, John Zych
Jr. and Rookie of the Year candidate Chris
DeRitis.
“I’m going there to win it,” says Christopher
who has limited experience at Monadnock. He is
reminded, he says, of his first-ever Midget ride
when he finished third in an Angelillo Midget at
Hudson back in 1990.
Best known for Modifieds, Christopher, a
one-time go-kart sensation, has won in a
supermodified, in pro stocks, Busch Cars and,
super late models in addition to the TQs. |
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WINGS & WHEELS
AUGUST 15TH
WATERFORD SPEEDBOWL |
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2nd for Randy at W&W
Randy survived a night of major destruction to
score a second place in the feature. Only ten
cars were running at the end after a multi-car
crash in a heat for oil from a blown motor and
another multi-car wreck from impatience early in
the feature.
Randy challenged Russ Stoehr for the lead on lap
9 and lap 13 restarts but felt that Russ had
started early both times.
Cabral posted
the fastest race lap – a 13.075 on the 11th
circuit.
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BOSTON LOUIE MEMORIAL
AUGUST 8TH |
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Bertrand Motorsports
Finishes 2nd & 5th
in the Boston Louie Memorial
Classic
Jeff Abold, who set fast time with a blistering
10.859 seconds run, came from 16th to take the
lead away from Bertrand Motorsports driver Cole
Carter driving the #74 K&N Engineering/Esslinger
powered machine on an 18th lap restart. Carter
(Bertrand #74) was the only other leader in the
29-lap event.
Carter held for second. Nokie Fornoro (Jarret
#4), William Wall (Wall #5) and a fast closing
Randy Cabral driving the Bertrand/K&N
Engineering #47 filled out the top five. Adam
Cantor’s streak of top fives ran out with a
sixth.
The second and final restart was a rough one,
Carter and Abold “banging wheels” down the front
chute. “Just good close racing,” offered Abold
who admitted “we touched wheels a couple times.
We both wanted to win pretty bad.” |
“I pushed it as long as I could
without wrecking both of us,” said Carter, who
started on the front row and had a wide edge
when the first caution showed on lap 16. “It was
hard racing. I had just led 16 laps and I didn’t
want to give it away.”
Carter, who was in traffic by lap seven, had
several lapped cars between him and the rest of
the field. “In USAC they leave the lapped cars
where they are on restarts,” said Carter. “They
don’t do that in NEMA and that may have hurt
us.” Still, he was well aware “everybody was
coming.”
Going back a lap, Abold reverted back to third
on the restart. He quickly grabbed second on the
green and was still there when yellow showed
again two laps later.
Admitting “the cautions were my friends,” Abold
nonetheless believed he “may have caught him
[Carter] without them. We were fast all day. We
could run anywhere.”
In Lites competition, Todd started the #48 in
13th and raced up to an 11th place finish in a
29 laps feature that
went green to checkers without a caution. |
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AUGUST 1ST |
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Bertrand Motorsports
was back in action August 1st at Monadnock
Speedway in Mondanock, NH.
Todd Bertrand’s day ended early in the feature
when a multi-car wreck collected him on lap one,
taking out the car’s radiator. The team worked
through the night to fix the front end &
radiator, only to have Sunday’s race get rained
out at Claremont, NH.
There was limited passing in the NEMA Event and
Randy Cabral took his #47 K&N Engineering
machine from 9th place to 7th place. Randy
luckily missed a first lap, mainstright tangle
that saw cars scattered all over the track.
Cabral maintains the points lead in the series
over Adam Cantor. |
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NOSTALGIA WEEKEND
JULY 25TH |
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Guest driver for the #74 on July
25th at the Waterford Speedbowl was current USAC driver Cole
Carter, son of the legendary open wheel chauffeur Pancho Carter.
Cole, who will drive midgets, sprints and
silver crown cars this year, is the third
generation of Carter racers beginning with
grandfather Duane and his late uncle Dana. Father Pancho, a sprint and
champ car stalwart for many years, made 17
Indianapolis 500 starts. Cole will also race the
#74 on August 8th.
Unfortunately, the 25 lap feature was a disaster for both of the
Bertrand NEMA Midgets. The motor in Cole's #74 grenaded on
lap two. Shortly after the restart Randy Cabral in the #47 hit
the front stretch wall after losing the line out of four and
triggered a multi-car crash that eliminated five cars.
Todd Bertrand in the #48 NEMA Lite had a good run in the Lites
20 lap feature and scored a 4th place finish after a
battle with Bug Marvuglio in the Cabral #35 Lite. |
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OPEN WHEEL WEDNESDAY
JULY 15TH |
| THIRD WIN
FOR RANDY |
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Seekonk, MA -
Bertrand Motorsports headed to Seekonk for the second of
the mid-weeks specials on July 15th. Randy and
Jeff Horn again in the #74 recorded good times in
practice and good heat finishes - a win for Randy in
Heat 1.
With only three groups - Open Mods and Pro 4s - it was a
quick turn around from the heats to the 25 lap feature.
After the signature NEMA four-wide parade lap, at the
green the Midgets spread out FIVE-wide down the back
straight.
At the entry of turn three, that turned into a problem
with multiple car to car contacts and the #5 of Will
Wall turned sideways before being knocked back straight.
Jeff in the #74 slid into the mess with locked front
wheels and suffered front suspension damage. A wrecker
delivered the #74 back to the Bertrand trailer.
On the restart Randy needed only two laps to take the
lead with outside moves around the #22 of Chris Leonard,
the #99 of Chris Deritis, and the #26b of Greg Stoehr.
Randy set off to build his lead and quickly began to lap
traffic.
Nokie Fornoro in the Jarret #4 meanwhile was working his
way to the front from 11th. The #4 has broken a
rear axle in practice and had brushed the wall hard. A
massive rebuild effort with help from other teams got
the car back together just minutes before the heat.
Cautions on laps 15 and 16 put Nokie outside Randy on
the restarts.
Nokie tried in vain to keep beside Randy. From the
NEMA race report:
""My only choice was to
hold him down, keep his RPM down," said Fornoro. "I kept
him pinned for a couple laps but I knew I was way too
free to continue."
"I kept hearing Nokie and then I didn't hear him
anymore," said Cabral. "I didn't know where he was. It's
never easy with Nokie in there."
Fornoro explained "I had to slow a little bit to cool
down my right rear."
Cabral's fastest lap of the race - an 11.359 - came on
lap 18 as he began to pull away for the win.
Cabral moved past Bobby Seymour on the all-time win
list. "Yeah, I pay attention to that," he said. "Bobby
is another guy I grew up watching win races." |
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