From NEMA
Lee, NH – (July 12, 2013) — In what amounted to a runaway, Bobby Santos III returned to Northeastern Midget Association action Friday night, driving the IGA-sponsored, Cantor-family 7ny to a dominating victory at Lee USA Speedway. Only a brief caution on lap eight interrupted Santos’ ride that finished five and half seconds ahead of the field.
Santos, who arrived from New Hampshire International Speedway just as the heats began, started fifth. Taking the lead from pole sitter Jim Chambers with an outside move through one and two four laps in, he had a straightaway lead when the only yellow showed.
Chambers (Chambers 21), the only other leader, survived a last lap challenge from Ian Cumens (Seymour 29s) to claim second. Lou Cicconi (Bertrand 74) was fourth and Todd Bertrand (Bertrand 39 fifth). It was the best finish yet for Chambers and the second straight podium for Cumens.
The point leader going in, Randy Cabral brought out the caution, coming to a stop in turn four, the victim of a broken shock bolt.
“I had the easy job,” insisted Santos, who spent the afternoon qualifying a Modified at NHIS. “The credit goes to Allan and Adam [Cantor]. After a struggle on “old tires” in his heat, Santos “knew right off the bat I had a really good car” although it “was a little loose” over the last five laps.
It was Santos’ first winged Midget ride in almost two years. His best lap, a sizzling 13.018 (103.703 mph), was almost half a second better than a 13.516 effort by Chambers.
It ended a tough streak for the Cantor team – “we blew up three motors and we wrecked,” said Allan Cantor.
The “deal” was been made during the winter. Adam Cantor, who wanted out of the seat, checked on the availability of a number of drivers for specific dates. No stranger to Lee’s victory lane, Adam shook the car down. “It felt like it did last year and I figured it would be even better with a real driver in it,” he said.
Cumens chasing down Chambers was the only action over the second half of the race. “I just flat footed it out of four and got lucky” he said of the final result. Cumens was a wheel back in third.
Checking out after a lengthy clean up delay, Carl Medeiros Jr. won the Northeastern Midget Association’s 20-lap Lites feature Friday night at Lee USA Speedway. The victory, the second of the season, put Medeiros back in the point lead.