Stafford Speedway’s CARQUEST Champions for Charities Currently at Over $12,000 in Donations
Stafford Springs, CT — After raising over $44,000 for charity last season, Stafford Speedway’s CARQUEST Champions For Charities is well on its way to surpassing that total this year with over $12,000 in donations collected thusfar. CARQUEST Champions For Charities pairs current and former open wheel champions with a charity of their choice to raise money for. The driver who raises the most money for their charity will start the 15-lap Senior Outlaw Kart feature event from pole position. Last year’s polesitter was Frank Ruocco, who raised $18,885 for his charity, The Lustgarten Foundation.
Currently leading the way in the 13-driver CARQUEST Champions For Charities field is Richie Pallai, Jr., driver of the #39 CARQUEST Filters / Bosch Spark Plugs Chevrolet on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Pallai is raising money for the Danbury Animal Welfare Society (DAWS), and his total currently sits at $3,300 after a successful CARQUEST Belts and Hose Pit Party where Pallai was selling tee shirts and hats for a $5 donation to DAWS.
“We sold a lot of shirts and hats, and we had some cash donations, so we’re doing really well so far,” said Pallai. “We’re already ahead of our total from last year and we’re looking to keep raising money. We’re redoing our website right now and we’ll have a link on there and we’ll continue to sell tee shirts and hats at the Modified Tour races and when we go to Riverhead, and I’m going to keep on promoting on my Facebook and Twitter. I don’t think that $3,300 is going to win the pole for the race, but it’s pretty cool to be in the lead with a local charity like DAWS. Some of the charities that guys are racing for are much larger than DAWS and are nationwide, so it’s good to be leading for now and we’ll able to give DAWS a big donation, which is the main thing.”
Ryan Preece is another driver participating in the CARQUEST Champions For Charities event, and he is raising money for the Connecticut chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“I think we’re doing ok so far,” said Preece. “We’ve raised almost $1,000 so far, so we’re moving right along. Compared with Richie, he’s way up there, but we have a few ideas we’re working on to get us up to his level. We’re going to be offering raffle tickets where the winner will race with me at On-Track Carting, have a personal tour of the #40 SK and #16 Whelen Modified Tour shops, have lunch at Red Robin, and get an autographed tee-shirt.”
In addition to his raffle, Preece will also benefit from Missy Pearl’s PartyLite sales. To order from Missy Pearl’s page and help support Preece’s fundraising efforts, please visit http://www.partylite.biz/sites/melissapearl/productcatalog.
Pallai and Preece aren’t the only drivers with special ideas for their charities. Chris Pasteryak, who is racing for David’s House, will host an ice cream social at the Tolland Xtra Mart in the near future; and Woody Pitkat will be hosting a bowling event to benefit Victory Junction Gang Camp on May 19th at Spare Time in Vernon. There will also be two fundraising events taking place the morning of the race as Russ Wood, who is racing for Racing Against Cancer, will have a track walk at Stafford Motor Speedway, and Ron Midford, Jr., who is racing for the Greg Caron Family Fund, will be part of the Greg Caron Poker Run from TSI Harley-Davidson in Ellington, CT to Stafford Speedway.
The starting lineup for the CARQUEST Champions For Charities feature event will be determined by how much money each driver raises for their selected charity. The starting grid will be set with the drivers who have raised the most money starting up front. Fans are encouraged to get involved in the event by donating to their favorite driver or favorite charity. For more details on the various events that CARQUEST Champions For Charities drivers will be taking part in, or to donate to their charities, please refer to the CARQUEST Champions for Charities donation page located at www.staffordspeedway.com.
CARQUEST Super Saturday will take place on Saturday, June 30, 2012 and will feature the ISMA Super Modifieds, NEMA Midgets, and Pro-4 Modifieds in addition to the Senior Outlaw Wild Thing Karts. Tickets for CARQUEST Super Saturday are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office and are priced at $33.00 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating is priced at $35.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available.
For more information, or to order tickets to the 9th Annual CARQUEST Super Saturday event, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR