STAFFORD SPRINGS — NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Richie Pallai, Jr, and the Stafford Motor Speedway recognized the efforts of the Sandy Hook first responders who were on hand to serve as grand marshals of the track’s SK Modified feature event on September 29.

Pallai developed friendships with members of the Sandy Hook community through his fundraising efforts to help raise money for the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary as part of Stafford Motor Speedway’s CARQUEST Champions For Charities program. 

Pallai raised more than $4,200 for the sanctuary and he won the CARQUEST Champions For Charities race with Hubbard family in attendance.

Catherine Violet Hubbard was one of the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy last December and since she had a love of animals, The Animal Center and Hubbard family announced plans to build an animal sanctuary in her name. Pallai is also an animal lover, and when searching for a way to honor the memory of the Sandy Hook victims while also helping animals, realized the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary was a perfect fit.