Paul Varricchio Jr. Gets First Late Model Title At Stafford; Adam Gray Tops Final Event 

STAFFORD – On May 31, 2024, in his 154th start in the Late Model division at Stafford Speedway, Paul Varrichio Jr. scored his first career victory in the division. 

For over a decade Varricchio was the guy in the division nobody expected to win but everybody enjoyed racing with. 

Now after all those years of struggle Varricchio is the division’s champion. 

Varricchio, of Berlin, used a fourth place finish in the 30-lap Late Model feature Friday to clinch his first Late Model division championship at Stafford. 

“I am so fucking excited it’s unbelievable,” Varricchio said. “Sorry I swore. Apologize, but holy shit I finally did it after 22 years. Wow.” 

Varricchio closed out the season with three victories, nine podium finishes and 14 top-10’s in 15 starts. Varrichio had one less start than the other drivers in the top-eight in the standings. Varricchio missed an event due to a mechanical issue before the start of a feature. 

“A lot of it has to do with all my guys,” Varricchio said. “This is awesome. This is beyond my words that I can think about right now.” 

Varricchio started racing at Stafford in the Street Stock division in 2003 and had one win in the division. He made his first Late Model start at Stafford in 2011 and has raced in parts of 12 seasons in the division over that span. 

Varricchio came into the final event holding a 20-point lead over second place Adam Gray and a 30-point advantage over third place Chris Meyer. 

Gray got his second win of the season but ended up 14 points behind Varricchio in the final standings. Kevin Gambacorta of Ellington was second and jumped to third in the final standings, 32 behind Varricchio. 

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