From Dick Jordan
Four-time Northeastern Midget Association Champion Randy Cabral of Plymouth, Mass. will lead a contingent of drivers expected to challenge the USAC National Midget regulars in the 2103 series debut February 17-18 at New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Cabral has won four of the past five NEMA titles (2008-09-11-12) and will pilot one of two cars entered by Tim Bertrand of Sturbridge, Conn., whose cars have been among the most proficient in Eastern midget racing history. The second car is targeted for Cole Carter of Brownsburg, Ind. Carter, a frequent USAC National Midget veteran, spent the 2012 season on the west coast, scoring two seconds and two thirds in the USAC Western Midget Series. Cole is the son of USAC Triple Crown Champion Pancho Carter.
Cabral earned four wins, four seconds and a third during the 2012 NEMA campaign. His wins came at Epping, N.H., Scarborough, Maine, Thompson, Conn. and Lee, N.H. He answers to the nickname “The Opportunity.”
When the snow is flying in New England we look forward to warmer weather and Florida is a great place to go in the wintertime,” says Bertrand. “My first non-wing appearance came this year at the Night Before the 500 and Randy has run the non-wings on three occasions. I’ve been to New Smyrna with the modifieds and it’s an awesome, super-fast, banked oval. The great racing there is always top-notch.” Cabral’s 35 career NEMA wins rank fifth all-time. Carter will pilot a car recently purchased by Bertarnd from Brad Loyet.
NEMA drivers Greg Stoehr of Bridgewater, Mass. and Seth Carlson of Brimfield, Mass. are also expected to compete at New Smyrna Beach. Stoehr, a former Johnny Thomson Award Winner and Mechanic of the Year, earned a 2012 victory win at Waterford, CT. Carlson, a 2012 NEMA rookie, surprised many with his victory at Seekonk, Mass.
The New Smyrna races usher in a new era of USAC National Midget racing which features separate National titles for pavement and dirt surfaces in 2013.