Stafford Press Release (May 9, 2003)
Contact: Penny Degre
(508) 234-8684
Stafford Springs, CT (May 9, 2003): Mike Stefanik, driver of the No. 55 Burnham Boilers Chevrolet on the NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch North Series, finished a solid 11th in the New England Dodge Dealers 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway Friday night after battling loose conditions all night.
“The car got loose in the center so we short-pitted,” explained Stefanik. “We figured everybody would come in later and we would get track position. We never could get the car to get rid of that loose condition right in the center. Then the front end got banged up when one of the cars didn’t realize we were there and came down on us. It was a long night, but we came out of here 11th. When they are right they go on forever, and when the car is off you just keep adjusting and that was all we could do.”
Stefanik began the night with a qualifying effort of 88.409 mph (20.36 seconds) to earn an eighth place starting position for the race. Stefanik maintained that position for the first several laps, and was even able to gain one position over the course of the first 30 laps. Stefanik radioed the crew and let them know that the car was loose and an adjustment needed to be made.
Caution came out at lap 42 allowing Stefanik to pit at lap 43. The Burnham Boilers crew quickly changed right side tires and made a chassis adjustment before sending him back into the race. His focus was simple: get through the traffic and up to the front.
A caution at lap 76 sent more than 15 cars into the pits. Stefanik pitted once again.
“We needed more adjustments to try and fix that looseness in the car,” Stefanik explained. Despite a second pit stop, the Coventry, RI-native was lined up 11th for the restart at lap 85.
Everything seemed to be looking up for the Burnham Boilers raceteam when bad luck struck. On lap 90, Stefanik was entering the first and second turns when contact was made with the 09 car. The two cars spun and brought out the caution.
“We got underneath the 09 and he didn’t realize I was there,” Stefanik said. “He apologized on the radio, but that doesn’t fix the racecar. The front end was pretty bent up so we had to keep pitting to fix that.”
Stefanik was at the tail end of the field when the race went back to green at lap 96. He definitely had his work cut out for him. In spite of all the pit stops, Stefanik was able to remain on the lead lap and take the checkers in the 11th position.
With two races complete in an 18-race season, Stefanik stands eighth in the points. The team turns their focus to next week’s series debut at Lake Erie Speedway in Pennsylvania.