Stafford Speedway Ladies Challenge Raises Over $18,000 for Charity

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

(Stafford Springs, CT)---After a successful debut at the 2018 NAPA Fall Final, the Ladies Challenge race returned to Stafford Speedway as part of 2019 NAPA Fall Final Weekend.  Eleven women associated with Stafford teams competed in Street Stocks and raised over $18,000 for various charities.  Combined with over $35,000 raised in 2018, the Ladies Challenge has raised over $53,000.  11 different charities were represented in the special event, thanks to the hard work of these amazing ladies and car owners in the Street Stock division.

The starting lineup for the Ladies Challenge was determined by the total donations raised for their selected foundation or charity.  Debbie DeSanctis, the winner of the 2018 Ladies Challenge race, once again teamed with Johnny Walker’s #01 car and raised funds for the Massachusetts chapter of Honor and Remember.  DeSanctis led all fundraisers with $3,805 to put her on the pole for the 8-lap race.  DeSanctis rebounded from a mid-race spin to charge back through the field and finish second.

Stafford Speedway Pit Reporter Nicole LaRose was the second leading fundraiser donating $3,368 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in honor of her Stafford TV Production colleague Heather Chaponis. Heather beat breast cancer after being diagnosed shortly after the 2018 NAPA Fall Final.  LaRose piloted the #11 Travis Hydar ride to victory by holding off the hard charging DeSanctis in the closing laps of the Ladies Challenge.

Ashley Bubna, girlfriend of Stafford SK Modified® regular Matt Galko, started third after raising $3,156 for the Catherine V. Hubbard Animal Sanctuary, located in Sandy Hook, CT.  Bubna teamed with Adrien Paradis, III and the #19 Street Stock machine and she finished 6^th.  

Dana Jannetty, girlfriend of Stafford SK Modified® regular Joey Cipriano, took the fourth starting position by raising $2,285 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  Jannetty drove Marvin Minkler’s #71 car and finished right where she started in fourth place. 

Allison Boyle, daughter of Stafford Limited Late Model driver Jim Boyle, started the race from 5^th after raising $1,501 for the Victory Junction Gang Camp.  Boyle drove the #53 car that is normally driven by Paul Bourdon, Jr. and she finished 9^th.

Racing for America’s Vet Dogs, Mary Ann Gambacorta, wife and car owner of Street Stock driver Vince Gambacorta, and mother to Late Model driver Kevin Gambacorta, started in the 6^th position by raising $1,139.  Gambacorta improved her starting position by one spot as she took the checkered flag in 5^th place.

Elizabeth Vassar, wife of SK Modified® regular Matt Vassar, raced for the Connecticut Humane Society.  Vassar raised $645 to start the race from 7^th and she finished the race in 10^th place.

Heather Varricchio, wife of Late Model regular Paul Varricchio, Jr., started in the 8^th position after raising $635 for the Kessler Foundation.  Varricchio drove the #94 Rent A Racecar machine that Chris Danielczuk piloted during the 2019 season to an 8^th place finish.

Brianna Macha, daughter of Street Stock regular David Macha, Sr., started in the 9^th position after raising $607 for the Connecticut chapter of Make A Wish.  Macha drove her father’s #37 car and came home with a 7^th place finish in her very first outing in a competitive race.

Tiffany Spinnato, wife of Rent A Racecar co-owner Gary Spinnato, was racing to raise money for Disabled American Veterans.  Spinnato raised $605 to claim the 10^th starting position and she drove the #22 Rent A Racecar machine to an 11^th place finish. 

Filling out the field was Laura Secore, wife of Stafford Street Stock driver Dave Secore.  Secore raised $560 for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and despite starting last, she drove through the field behind the wheel of her husband’s #38 car to finish on the podium in third place.  Source; Scott Running Stafford Speedway Media Press Release and Photo