Bethany Stoehr Grabs Historic Northeastern Midget Association Win At Waterford Speedbowl

WATERFORD – The Waterford Speedbowl has been the epicenter of historic performances  for female drivers over the last few weeks.

Bethany Stoehr is hugged by her father Greg after winning Sunday’s NEMA Midget feature Sunday at the Waterford Speedbowl

On Sept. 21 Victoria Bergenty won her first SK Light Modified feature at the track, becoming the first female driver ever to win in a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series sanctioned event at the track.

Hours later that night Nichole Morgillo won the SK Modified feature at the track, becoming the first female in Speedbowl history to win a feature in the track’s premier division.

Sunday the trend of history making continued, this time it was Northeastern Midget Association driver Bethany Stoehr being showcased.

Stoeher, of Bridgewater, Mass., held off her uncle Russ Stoehr to win the 25-lap NEMA Midget feature Sunday at Waterford.

“I don’t even know what to say right now,” Bethany Stoehr said. “I knew he was right behind me and I just kept telling myself to hold it together. It’s amazing.”

Russ Stoeher, of Bridgewater, Mass., was second and and John Zych of Mendon, Mass. third.

Bethany Stoeher is the daughter of NEMA Midget regular Greg Stoehr, who had mechanical issues in Sunday’s event and was 11th.

It was the first career victory in the divison for Bethany Stoehr. She became the first female driver to win a NEMA Midget event at Waterford and only the second female driver ever to win in the division. Erica Santos is the only other female to win in the division. Santos accomplished the feat on July 10, 2007 at Stafford Motor Speedway.

Bethany Stoehr said she didn’t expect a free pass from her uncle in second and she certainly didn’t get that. She held off numerous attempts by her uncle to go past her.

“Once we put our helmets on it’s all on the track,” the 18-year old Bethany Stoehr said.

Said Russ Stoehr: “She was going really good. She didn’t fall and I gave her everything I had. She was just better than we were today.”