In the realm of weekly division short track racing, finding a $5,000 sponsorship for a season could mean the difference for many teams between competing and not competing.
And that difference for some local driver in 2019 could be decided by the efforts of a local teenage photographer and race fan.
For the second consecutive year, Nicole LaRose will be blessing a local racing team with a special sponsorship she has created through the sale of calendars featuring some of her best photographs of cars at various tracks in 2018.
“It’s sad to say, but you can see a lot of big time sponsors getting out of the sport,” said LaRose, who also serves as a multimedia pit reporter at Stafford Speedway. “Short track racing is kind of struggling at the moment and it’s sad to watch and I want to do everything I can to help. I like this. It’s a nice offseason activity to get everyone hyped about next season.”
During the 2017 season LaRose, the daughter of longtime local racer Ernie LaRose, began posting pictures of cars at the track and her dramatic photographs were getting plenty of attention on social media. A crew member on her fathers race team suggested she make a calendar.
And so was born the idea of putting together a calendar of her race car photographs, but doing something unique with the proceeds.
Last year LaRose, of Plainfield, was able to give a $2,500 sponsorship to NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Chase Dowling and a $1,000 sponsorship to Seekonk (Mass.) Speedway regular Ryan Flood through the calendar sales.
This year LaRose, 18, will give one driver a $5,000 sponsorship.
That driver will be chosen by a random draw to be held on Jan. 3 at 7 p.m.
LaRose began selling her 2019 calendars in September. Each person who bought a calendar was able to enter one name into the sponsorship drawing.
LaRose said 174 drivers from across more than 20 local divisions make up the names among the 600 tickets in the drawing.
“Basically it’s just a mixed bag,” LaRose said. “The driver with the most tickets is Gerry DeGasparre. He drives a Late Model at Seekonk and he has 34 tickets. But, there’s a lot of drivers with just one and that’s all it takes to win.”
The drawing for the sponsorship will be broadcast live on LaRose’s Nlarophoto Facebook page and Nlarophoto Instgram page.
The sport needs more young people like Nicole . Great work
Nice job Nicole!!! Happy New Year!
Elect, Absolutely!!!
Love Nicole’s pit reports.
You could argue there is more money then ever in racing it’s just more concentrated in specific teams that have resources to fund top notch programs on their own. Witness the wrath of teen drivers fielding superior equipment.
This is more a lottery isn’t it?
Could it be expanded?
What is racing fandom populated with………..older fans. What do we old people love……..gambling.
I always wished a tire club could be formed. Average fans contributing so much a month then voting to award tire money to teams based on money units contributed. Too many devils in those details for sure.
But if Ms LaRose can field a successful program on a limited scale is it possible to have a rolling lottery through the year? Incentives to the fan base at large to buy a ticket. A percentage to the organizer for running it and most of the pot going to race teams.
Would it be possible to incentivize it for none race fans to buy tickets?
Great job Nicole! As others have stated, the sport need more young people like you.The money your giving to a lucky racer may be just what is needed to bring that team to the next level, and may even produce a champion. How cool that would be. Thanks again.
wow!!
very very cool!!
what a great gesture by this young woman, a feel good story to say the least!!!!
There are race fans, and there are RACE FANS, and then… there’s Nicole LaRose!! What an amazing contribution to racing she is making! I do hope the lucky winner has “@nlarophoto” or equivalent signage on their car to promote their innovative sponsor!!
Does anyone know who the lucky recipient was? Drawing was Wednesday evening.
Humphry, the drawing was actually Thursday night. The winner was Seekonk Speedway Late Model driver Josh Hedges.
Great, according to the article the drawing was scheduled for the 3rd @7PM, that is why the info was late getting out. Thanks