(Press release from Stafford Speedway)
The 3rd Annual Ladies Challenge race joins the action packed NAPA Fall Final Weekend, scheduled for September 28-29. The 2018 edition of the Ladies Challenge paired 12 women associated with Stafford race teams with a car from Stafford’s Street Stock ranks. Thirteen different charities reaped the benefits put forth as over $35,000 was donated.
The starting lineup for the Ladies Challenge is determined by how much money each woman raises for their selected charity. The person raising the most money will be pole sitter for the feature event. The drivers entered at this time and their associated cars are listed below.
| Driver | Associated Street Stock Team | Charity Link for Online Donations |
| Debbie DeSanctis | #01 – Johnny Walker | Honor and Remember |
| Cassie Rocco | #2 – Meghan Fuller | National Pediatric Cancer Foundation |
| Nicole LaRose | #11 – Travis Hydar | T-B-A |
| Elizabeth Vassar | #16 – Nicole Chambrello | T-B-A |
| Tiffany Spinnato | #22 – Rent A Racecar | Disabled American Veterans |
| Mary Ann Gambacorta | #23 – Vince Gambacorta | T-B-A |
| Ashley Bubna | T-B-A | Catherine V. Hubbard Animal Sanctuary |
| Dana Jannetty | T-B-A | Muscular Dystrophy Association |
Race fans will be able to donate to the charity and driver combination of their choosing by visiting the 2019 Ladies Challenge page found at www.staffordspeedway.com. Check back to the page for updates.
“We’re looking forward to hosting our 3rd annual Ladies Challenge race,” said Stafford Speedway Vice President, Lisa Arute. “Last year’s event was a tremendous success thanks to the racing community as well as our Street Stock teams who were willing to lend their cars to this event. Our women drivers were able to raise over $35,000 for a wide variety of different charities and our goal this season is to surpass that $35,000 donation total. The race should be a lot of fun to watch and we’re all anxious to see who will come away with bragging rights as the winner of the Ladies Challenge.”
The Ladies Challenge began in 2017 with Cassie Rocco, wife of SK Modified® driver Keith Rocco challenging Maina Rufrano, car owner and proud mom of SK Modified® driver Marcello Rufrano, to a fund raising duel. The pair accumulated nearly $6,000 in donations from the racing community for the American Cancer Society driving in the Street Stock Feature event in Rent A Racecar prepared cars.
In the 2018 running, Maina Rufrano led the field to the green raising $5,350 for the American Cancer. Rufrano finished third in the 8-lap race with Debbie DeSanctis, driving Johnny Walker’s #01 car, taking the win after starting fourth by raising $4,169 for Honor and Remember.
The Ladies Challenge for Charities will take the green flag on Saturday September 28 as part of the NAPA Fall Final Weekend. Tickets for NAPA Fall Final Weekend are priced at $40.00 for adult general admission, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seat tickets are $45.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT Admission Tax. Stafford Motor Speedway offers plenty of free parking along with overnight parking available for self contained Recreational Vehicles. Discount tickets are available through participating NAPA stores.
For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
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