Thompson Press Release (July 13, 2003)
Contact: Penny Degre
(508) 234-8684
Late-Race Incident Costs Stefanik Valuable Real Estate; Settles With 13th Place Finish in Thompson’s Pepsi 150
Thompson, CT (July 13, 2003): Mike Stefanik was headed for a solid top-five finish in the Pepsi 150 at Thompson International Speedway before a lap 138 incident relegated the 8-time NASCAR champion to the 13th position. Stefanik’s finish was the result of contact made with rookie Ryan Moore in turn three.
“He just drove right up aside me and could have driven right by me. He drove off into the corner and he just left me no room whatsoever. I thought I was going straight into the fence,” Stefanik said. “He doesn’t need to run into me. He’s got a fast racecar and he’s running good right now. It’s not going to be nice when it’s happening to him, but when I do catch him and I do pass him. I won’t do that to him because that’s not how I race.”
Stefanik’s night started off with a qualifying effort of 20.891 seconds (107.702 mph), which earned him a 12th place starting position in the race. When the green dropped later that night, Stefanik was on a tear. By lap five, the Coventry, RI-driver had already advanced the Burnham Boilers Chevrolet to seventh.
Two caution periods followed before Stefanik broke into the top-five at lap 53, where he remained until lap 69 when Kelly Moore was able to drive by on the inside for the position. A couple of laps later, Martin Truex, Jr. used the same groove to go by and relegate Stefanik to seventh.
The worst was yet to come, however.
Following a caution at lap 117, Stefanik knew he was running out of time – and power.
“I looked at my gauges and it looked like I had my sunglasses on. Everything was dimly lit,” explained Stefanik. “So I shut everything off that didn’t need to be on: the fan, the blower, and all that. I didn’t say anything to the crew because there was nothing they could do and I didn’t want to worry them. Than the motor started skipping at the end of the straightaway.”
Stefanik’s faltering Burnham Boilers Chevrolet did not stop his determination to make it to the end of the race. Instead, he maintained his position until lap 138 when the incident with Ryan Moore unfolded.
“The only reason he was able to do that was because my motor was skipping badly because the battery was going dead. He should have realized that my car was ailing bad and he should have just passed me,” Stefanik concluded.
Stefanik heads to New Hampshire International Speedway for the New England 125 fifth in the Grand National Division, Busch North Series points.