Latest News And Notes:

Michael Phillips Named Grand Marshall For Ricky Miller Memorial 112:

It is our honor at Ricky's Race For Kids to name Michael Phillips as the Grand Marshall for the 2012 Ricky Miller Memorial 112.  He is a wonderful young man with and amazing outlook on life and a million dollar smile.  He has stayed at David's House many times and is one of the reason we do what we do.  This is Michael's story from his mother Ashley Phillips.

"Our son Michael came to Dartmouth Medical Center in 2009 because we were unable to find him a doctor in Connecticut that could help him. We received a call for an appointment and we were told to call a place called David's House to get a room to stay in while we were up at the hospital. When we arrived we could not believe that there was such a wonderful place. That was our very first night there and we couldn't believe how amazing this place was. That night was followed by many more wonderful nights we spent there while our son was being cared for by the doctors over at Dartmouth Medical. David's House has had such a positive affect on our son, so much that now he can actually be himself and not be afraid to let the world see him as he truly is.

Due to Michael's illness some days he's in a wheelchair, and others he may be able to walk. We arrive at David's House and he walks in, but later that day he may have no use of his legs and be back in the wheelchair. Everyone there is all smiles and they don't make him the least bit uncomfortable with questions or stares which is what he gets everywhere else we go. When we have to go to CHAD (Children's Hospital At Dartmouth) at Dartmouth Michael only talks about the room that he hopes we get to stay in when we get to David's House. When he has tests, or procedures done that have exhausted him, all he can say is how bad he just wants to go back to David's House to sleep. There are two places in Michael's world where he is completely comfortable 100% of the time, his home in Connecticut and his second home David's House. Dawn, Jay, and the rest of the staff have brought so many smiles to Michael's face. They are truly his angels helping him through this with the rest of his family.

We live three hours away in Connecticut, and due to Michael's chronic illness many days he would not be alright with traveling there and back to the hospital in the same day. As a family with all the medical expenses we could not possibly afford to stay in a hotel every time we go up to Dartmouth. That's where David's house has stepped in and saved us with only a small nightly donation you pay if you are able to. What a difference it has made in our lives, but most importantly the difference it has made in Michael's life is unexplainable. To constantly see a smile on his face, and to feel the love but most importantly receive the hugs and care from every member at David's House, it's a gift in itself that we are thankful for everyday."

Mario Fiore Named David's House 106 Grand Marshal:
Legendary Car Owner To Give Command For Granite State Pro Stock Series Season Opener

Winchester, NH -- Legendary NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour car owner Mario Fiore has been named the grand marshal for David’s House 106 presented by Fenton Family Dealerships Granite State Pro Stock Series event at Monadnock Speedway on Saturday, May 26. David’s House 106 event will benefit Ricky’s Race for Kids, a charity that assists David’s House, a home-away-from-home that offers support for families with children receiving treatment through Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, in Hanover, NH.

Ricky’s Race for Kids was created in the memory of the champion stock car racer Ricky Miller, who passed away in 2004. Miller was a one-time crew member and driver for Fiore.

“I have to say that I was totally humbled when Don Miller asked if I would do the honors of Grand Marshall for the David's House 106 event at Monadnock Speedway,” Fiore said. “One purpose of the race is to keep Ricky Miller's memory alive, and I can say with Rick's passing I lost one of the best friends that I ever had. [There was] never a dull moment when Ricky was around, and there were great times and great memories. I’m looking forward to the David's House 106.”

“We felt it was the perfect fit,” said Don Miller, father of Ricky and a former modified standout himself, nicknamed “The Golden Jet.”

The David’s House 106 will be an afternoon long event with an on-the-track pit party, live bands, The Pit Girls, door prizes, and much more. In addition, one fan will have the chance to win $5,000.

The David’s House 106 presented by Fenton Family Dealerships will take place on May, 26 at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH. Practice begins at 4:00pm with a scheduled start time of 6:00pm.

CARQUEST Champions For Charities Driver Spotlight: Chris Pasteryak:
From: StaffordMotorSpeedway.com - Scott Running

(Stafford Springs, CT)---Stafford Motor Speedway has again lined up an impressive field of current and former open wheel champions for its CARQUEST Champions For Charities Event as part of CARQUEST Super Saturday on June 30th.  During the coming weeks, SMS will offer a profile on each of its championship winning drivers and the charity they will be racing for and this week’s CARQUEST Champions For Charities spotlight falls on 2-time Modified Racing Series Champion (2008, 2011) Chris Pasteryak, who will be racing to help support David’s House.

David's House provides a home-away-from-home and support for families with children receiving treatment through Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH.  David's House is the dream of a young boy named David Cyr, who passed away from leukemia in 1984 at the age of five.  For three and a half years, David was treated at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover, NH.  While visiting David during his hospitalizations was easy for his parents, other visitors ended up sleeping in their cars, in the waiting room, or in a chair at bedside to be close to David.  Since there was no facility available for family members, David’s father Dick decided that he would start David’s House.  The very first donation was $300.87 of birthday money and loose change that David had saved and David’s dream has now served over 11,000 families from all around the world since opening in 1986.

“David’s House has done a lot for the Modified Racing Series the last couple of years, so I wanted to do something to thank them for their support and help get the word out about David’s House and everything that they do,” said Pasteryak.  “They supported the Ricky’s Race for Kids last year at Canaan with a $12,000 to win purse, and they were able to raise $37,000 for David’s House.  We’re going to accept donations at our MRS events, but I think the best way for people to donate would be through the David’s House website.  We’re looking at possibly doing an ice cream social and we’re working on some other ideas about how we can best get the word out about David’s house and raise some money for them.”

While Pasteryak is a 2-time MRS champion, when it comes to the Senior Outlaw kart that he will be driving, Pasteryak is a rookie.  But while the CARQUEST Champions For Charities feature event will be his first time behind the wheel of a Senior Outlaw kart, Pasteryak does have quarter midget experience and he has experience racing on Stafford’s Mini-Mile, winning a Legends Car feature during Spring Sizzler weekend in 2001.

“I have absolutely no experience in one of these karts,” said Pasteryak.  “The best show of the night might be watching to see if I can actually fit into the kart.  I started out racing in quarter midgets, but I have zero kart experience.  I do have some experience on the Mini Mile though, we won the Sizzler Legends car race in 2001, so hopefully I’ll remember that Legend car experience and can transfer it over to racing in the Senior Outlaw kart.”

Pasteryak was the big winner the last time the MRS visited Stafford, taking the checkered flag in the Shark Cycle 80 last September.  While an issue with his spoiler cost him a possible top-5 finish in the 2012 MRS season opener, Pasteryak is looking forward to returning to Stafford as well as defending his title.

“I’m looking forward to doing our best this year to try to defend our title,” said Pasteryak.  “It’s going to be tough to win the championship again, there’s a lot of strong competitors this year.  We ran pretty good at Waterford, we were running second or third with about 25 laps to go and the spoiler broke.  We had to come into the pits to fix the spoiler and we were able to get back up to tenth, but I think the spoiler cost us a top-5 finish.  I always look forward to coming to Stafford, it’s the showplace of New England.  I always enjoyed coming to Stafford as a kid to watch my Dad and my Uncle race, and hopefully we can repeat the success we had last year at Stafford and win again.”

The Shark Cycle 80 victory last season was extra special for Pasteryak, as it was the very first modified victory for his family in 35 years of racing modifieds at Stafford. 

“Stafford has always been a special place for my family,” said Pasteryak.  “My Uncle started racing at Stafford in 1976 and being that was the first win at Stafford for our family, it was a night that I’ll always remember.  The trophy from that race stands out from all the others we have in the shop and now that I’m in the CARQUEST Champions For Charities race, I’ll be able to race at Stafford for a third time during the year.  If I could, I would race at Stafford every Friday night.  A weekly car is a little too much for me to take on, but if there was a ride available, I would love to race weekly at Stafford.” 

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.  To make a donation to David’s House on behalf of Chris Pasteryak, and for more information on the event, please refer to the CARQUEST Champions for Charities donation page located at www.staffordspeedway.com.  Stay tuned to www.staffordspeedway.com for more driver spotlights and exciting information regarding the CARQUEST Champions for Charities event. 

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.

May 26th - David's House 106 To Be Held At Monadnock Speedway:

We are proud to announce we have teamed up with the Granite State Pro Stock Series as well as the Modified Racing Series.  Saturday, May 26th, 2012 at Monadnock Speedway, in Winchester, NH will be a 106 lap Granite State Pro Stock Series race and will be titled "The David's House 106."  We are working hard to make this a major event like the Ricky's Race For Kids at Canaan Fair Speedway.  Check the flier below for all the great stuff that will be going on!

Family Fun & Excitement July 13th & 14th Canaan Fair Speedway!:

Friday, July 13th will be a HUGE Pre-Race Party at Gateway Motors in White River Junction, VT.  This party will feature a Free BBQ, Cruise In, Race Cars, Door Prize, Gifts for all, Live Band, Appearance By Megasaurus, Jet Powered Golf Cart, Jet Powered Easy Chair, www.megasaurs.com, & The "Pit Girls" www.thepitgirls.com.  All this will be broadcast Live by KIXX 100.5, www.kixx.com.

Saturday, July 14th will be the "Ricky Miller Memorial 112."  This will be a 112 lap Valenti Modified Racing Series event!  The day will also include a VIP BBQ, performance by Megasaurus The Car Crushing Monster, Jet Powered Golf Cart, Jet Powered Easy Chair, On Track Pit Party, The "Pit Girls", & the drawing for our "Mega Raffle."  100% of all money raised will be to benefit David's House!

The raffle includes a 2012 Hyundai Elantra (with $1,000 gas card if winner is present), 4 - VIP Patriot Tickets, 4 - VIP Red Sox Tickets, 4 - VIP N.H.M.S NASCAR Tickets and 2 - IZOD Indy Car Baltimore Grand Prix Tickets.