Runner-Up Finish At Waterford Moves Stefanik To Fourth In BNS Point Standings

Waterford, CT (July 27, 2003): Mike Stefanik held off the late-race challenges of Ryan Moore to capture a second place finish in the Waterford 150 presented by Big Y World Class Markets and move to fourth in the 2003 Busch North Series point standings. Although the Burnham Boiler’s driver has experienced success here in the Modified division, it was the first time he had ever competed at the tight 3/8^th’s mile oval in a Busch North Series car.

“It’s really nice to come out of here with a second. Finishing 11^th, 12^th, or 13^th is a little demeaning for this team. We don’t run like that, but we’ve been finishing like that,” Stefanik said. “We probably had a top-five car today, but luck went our way and we came out of here with a second. We’re pretty happy with that.”

Stefanik’s weekend kicked off with a qualifying effort of 79.355 mph (15.122 seconds) earning him a starting position of sixth in the 24-car field. When the green flag dropped, Stefanik jumped out to the fourth place behind leader Matt Kobyluck, Mike Olsen, and Kelly Moore.

The first caution waved at lap 30 and saw Stefanik take the green in fourth at lap 35. Kelly Moore had jumped out to a five carlength advantage and the Coventry, RI driver had started to work at closing up the gap. The race remained status quo until caution waved at lap 54 for an accident involving the leader. Mike Olsen inherited the lead and moved Stefanik up to third.

Olsen, Kelly Moore, and Stefanik were obviously the dominant cars as the trio pulled away by an outstanding three seconds over the rest of the field, but a caution at lap 84 tightened the field back up and once again changed the face of the race when the leader was forced to pit due to a cut tire.

Stefanik took the green at lap 92 in the second position, but a string of caution periods kept the Burnham Boilers Chevrolet from challenging for the lead. Eventually, Stefanik was forced to contend with a relentless challenge from Ryan Moore.

“Lately, I’m very nervous when Ryan is anywhere near me. We obviously have this thing going that I don’t want to have going. I spent about 12-15 laps on the bottom on the inside of him. I never touched him. I never brought him up. I showed him that we could race clean. As soon as he could catch me, he drove into me and drove me up the track.”

Ryan Moore suffered a flat tire bringing out a caution at lap 138 and setting Stefanik up for the restart in second once again. A late-race caution at lap 146 set the field up for a green-white-checkered finish where Stefanik held on to his position and finished second.

“I didn’t have anything for Kelly (Moore). If I did I would have showed it,” Stefanik said. “All I could do what was I could do. The car got real slippery with 25 to go and all I could do was protect the bottom and not give up any spots. I didn’t want to see these guys come away with a third or fourth after running second a good portion of the night. I wanted to close the deal.”