Stafford, CT (October 5, 2003)
Contact: Penny Degre
(508) 234-8684
Stafford Springs, CT (October 5, 2003): Mike Stefanik powered the No. 55 Burnham Boilers Chevrolet from an 18th place starting position to finish eighth in the CARQUEST Fall Final 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway Sunday afternoon. The race, rescheduled from its originally slated date of September 28th, earned the driver $2,820 and maintained his second place position in the 2003 Busch North Series title chase.
“Anytime you can get a top-10 finish is a good day,” Stefanik said after the race. “The car was tight, and there were a lot of cautions in that race. We were certainly happy to come out of there with the car in one piece and a decent finish.”
Stefanik qualified the Burnham Boilers Chevrolet last weekend at a speed of 87.921 mph (20.473 seconds). The lap put him 18th in a field of 29 cars. Rain forced the postponement of the race both Sunday, September 28th and Saturday, October 4th. The green flag finally fell under sunshine and blue skies on its third attempt this Sunday.
Stefanik got a good jump at the start of the race, but immediately reported to the crew that the car was tight. Despite the handling problem, Stefanik was able to muscle his way up to the 14th spot by the time the first caution flag fell at lap 15.
Racing resumed at lap 19 with Stefanik looking for a way underneath Jerry Marquis’ No. 52 machine. By lap 25, Stefanik found himself in the middle of a side-by-side battle with Marquis that lasted for nearly five laps. Stefanik got the run on Marquis and went by for the spot before setting his sights on the 38 of Tracy Gordon. Stefanik didn’t get much of a chance for progression, however, due to the second caution of the day being waved at lap 36.
Stefanik and the Burnham Boilers crew decided it was time to pit for an adjustment.
“We came in and took on right side tire and made an adjustment to the car to try and free it up,” Stefanik said. “It was early enough in the race that we could make our way back up through. It was the right call although the car still was tight when we went back out.”
Stefanik re-entered the race in the 21st position for the restart at lap 41, but a twenty-lap green flag run enabled the Coventry, RI-driver to steadily better his position. When yellow waved at lap 79, Stefanik was running tenth.
The CARQUEST 150 was back underway at lap 86, but three more caution periods followed before the race distance had reached the 120-lap mark. Stefanik had made his way up to eighth, but the stop and go pace as a result of all the cautions made it hard for Stefanik to gain valuable real estate.
Stefanik maintained his position for the remainder of the race and took the checkers in the eighth position. Because of his 10 position advancement over his starting position, Stefanik was awarded the Powerade Power-Move-of-the-Race.
Point leader Andy Santerre clinched the 2003 Busch North Series championship with his third place finish turning Stefanik’s focus at Lime Rock Park to maintaining his runner-up status. Stefanik is currently 21 points ahead of Kelly Moore.