WETHERSFIELD - Stafford Motor Speedway has seen its fair share of drama and emotion, and the latest story to be added to the list came Friday, Aug. 30, when Wethersfield’s Frank L’Etoile Jr. took the checkered flag in the 15-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series DARE Stock feature event.

       â€�"This one was for my mom,” said L’Etoile Jr. â€�"I know she was with us out there in Victory Lane.”

       Just four weeks before taking the win, L’Etoile Jr.’s mom, Beth Ann passed away from breast cancer at the age of 46.

       â€�"It has been a tough month as you can imagine,” L’Etoile Jr. said. â€�"The support of all my family and friends from the track and everywhere else has kept us going. I just wish she could have been there in person to witness my first win, but I know she was there watching my every move out there.”

       Carrying sponsorship from Zeke’s Pump Service, Carl’s Custom Auto, GRP Services, Auto Machine, K & W Custom Auto, and Better Letter Signs, L’Etoile Jr.’s No. 33 Chevrolet Monte Carlo took the lead on lap two of the 15-lap DARE Stock feature event and never relinquished it as he sealed his first win in his first full season of car racing. Prior to 2013, L’Etoile Jr. had raced karts at Stafford for seven years, where he was a veteran of the Wild Thing Kart ranks, winning the Senior Outlaw championship in 2008 and 2009 and finishing second in the 2012 Senior Outlaw points standings.

       â€�"I’ve been dreaming about winning at Stafford since I was a little kid,” said L’Etoile Jr. â€�"My entire family made the dream a reality and I owe my pit crew the world for all the time and effort they put in every week.”

       After 15 of 18 races, L’Etoile Jr., who works for ACT Audio in Vernon, currently sits in eighth spot in the point standings, 102 points behind championship leader Dave Secore Jr. of Union, CT. His remaining races will be part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series events on September 6th and 13th and the CarQuest Fall Final Weekend Sept. 28-29.