'Ladies Challenge for Charities Race" at Stafford Speedway this weekend

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Ladies Challenge for Charities Race at Stafford This Weekend

(Stafford Springs, CT)---The NAPA Auto Parts Fall Weekend has an added twist this year.  Twelve ladies will take to the track in Street Stock rides on Saturday, September 29 all in the interest of charitable giving.  Thirteen different charities will reap the benefits of this special event, thanks to the hard work of these amazing ladies and car owners in the Street Stock division.

Last year it was Cassie Rocco, wife of SK Modified® driver Keith Rocco, along with Maina Rufrano, car owner and proud mom of SK Light driver Marcello Rufrano, that hit the track to raise money for charity.  The pair accumulated nearly $6,000 in donations from the racing community for the American Cancer Society last year.  Fast forward one year and event has grown into its own Ladies Challenge feature event in Street Stocks with over $18,000 raised to date.  

The ladies will take to the track with limited racing experience.  The starting order is determined by the amount of money raised.  The participant that raises the greatest amount of money will be awarded the pole position for the feature event and bragging rights for such a great accomplishment. 

Below are the participants with the cars they are associated with and links to the each participant’s charity of choice.  The current order is based on the money raised to date with Nicole LaRose in the #11 Travis Hydar Racing car with a commanding lead over by Mary Ann Gambacorta in the #23 Gambacorta Motorsports Car and Debbie DeSanctis in the #01 Johnny Wicker Walker ride.  If you would like to see your favorite driver move up in the starting field, click on the link and make a donation.  

Driver	Associated Street Stock Team	Charity Link for Online Donations
Nicole LaRose	#11 – Travis Hydar	Catherine V. Hubbard Animal Sanctuary
Mary Ann Gambacorta	#23 – Vince Gambacorta	Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
Debbie DeSanctis	#01 – Johnny “Wicker” Walker	Honor and Remember
Lianna Berndt	#89 – Samantha Anderson	CT Humane Society
Megan Surdell	#16 – Nicole Chambrello	Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
Gail McClain	#21 – Jason Lafayette	Alzheimer’s Associtation Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
Maina Rufrano	#2 – Meghan Fuller	American Cancer Society
Cassie Rocco	#39 – George Bessette, Jr.	Mike Tidabeck Medical Expenses
Elizabeth Vassar	#33 – Rent A Racecar	Ronald McDonald House
Tiffany Spinnato	#22 – Rent A Racecar	Disabled American Veterans
Shannon DiConstanzo	#78 – Mike Hopkins	American Lung Association
Amber Larsen	#68 – Greg DeMone	Shriner’s Children’s Hospital