Susan Stafford always has wanted to visit Las Vegas. She also has wondered what it would be like to actually go to NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series Awards Banquet.
The West Virginia native gets to cross both of those items off her bucket list Dec. 2 by attending the banquet in Las Vegas as a guest of Bristol Motor Speedway.
Stafford, who is the Head Start/Early Head Start Director at Mountain Heart Community Services, Inc., in Oceana, W.Va., was nominated by fellow iBelong-at-Bristol season ticket holders for the opportunity to attend the banquet.
“I honestly don’t know what to say,” said Stafford, who first visited BMS in 2004 and has not missed a race since. “When I found out about it, I was speechless. And even now, I still can’t believe that I actually get to go to the banquet. I am so thrilled. I’m honored. I’m excited. I’m thankful… and I’m absolutely going a little crazy over all of this in case you can’t tell.”
This year, BMS asked season ticket holders to nominate fellow fans who go the extra mile to help out other spectators during Bristol races for the chance to attend the awards ceremonies. There were numerous nominations, but Stafford’s stood out due to her many acts of kindness and generosity.
Stafford, the founding member of “Jelloville”, a large group of campers from all over the country who gather at BMS events, has spearheaded several special events for the group. Several years ago, Stafford heard about a fellow BMS camper from Canada who had been diagnosed with lung cancer who was making what he felt was his last trip to Bristol for the races. She organized and took part in a ride-along from Canada to BMS in order to make the trip as special as possible for him.
Stafford and the rest of the “Jellovillians” also now raise money at events and support various charities, including Speedway Children’s Charities. This past July, a fellow camper was seriously injured in a fireworks accident and she and the rest of the “family” raised $1,300 to help his family with expenses while he recovered.
Last year, Ray and Pauline Duhig, a couple from Australia posted on the BMS website message board that they were coming to Bristol for the August 2011 races. They had never been to a NASCAR event and they selected Bristol for their first experience. Stafford immediately got in touch with Ray, telling him that he had made the right choice. She then sent an email to her fellow campers, asking for help in getting them a place in the campground. When the Duhig’s got to BMS, the campsite was set up, complete with supplies.
Duhig and his wife were completely taken aback by the hospitality.
“When I tell fellow Aussies about our trip to the United States, I always tell them that our visit to Bristol Motor Speedway was the most wonderful experience of our entire trip,” he said. “We’d always wanted to come to Bristol Motor Speedway and thanks to our fellow fans and the people at BMS our expectations were exceeded. Thanks to Susan Stafford and the gang in the so called “Jelloville” we received camping gear, booking at the campground and hospitality and fellowship that are beyond words.
“During our stay, everyone looked after us and it was unbelievable. Please know this lifetime experience will be appreciated on our hearts forever.”
Stafford’s trip includes a four day/three night stay in Las Vegas, two tickets to the Sprint Cup Awards Ceremony, round trip air fare for two, passes to the fan pre-event reception and red carpet walk and $500 in cash. She is counting down the days until she gets to talk among NASCAR’s superstars.
“I am so thankful to everybody who thought I should get this amazing opportunity,” she said. “And honestly, I don’t feel like I do anything all that different from a lot of other fans. We just want to come to Bristol and get together and have our family reunion.
“I really just can’t wait to get out to Vegas. I watch that banquet from beginning to end every single year and I’m always wondering what it would be like to be able to be there and be part of it. And now, it’s real – I’m actually going to the NASCAR banquet. I still can’t believe it. But it can’t get here soon enough. I’ve got a big camera and a smaller camera — and I’m going to be ready when I see the drivers.”
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