09/13/06

Stefanik Relegated To 9th Place Finish
In Closing Laps of Sunoco 150

    Mike Stefanik posted a top-10 finish in the Whelen Modified Tour portion of Thompson International Speedway's Modified Mania, but the Coventry, RI. driver had hoped for better than a ninth place finish. Still, Stefanik and his Flamingo Motorsports team remain atop of the point standings, widening their lead to 94 points over Ted Christopher.
    Stefanik started the event in the seventh position and maintained his spot in the early laps of the race. On a lap 41 restart, Stefanik was to muscle the No. 16 Diversified Metals/Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Chevrolet from eighth to fourth and commence a run for the lead.
    Stefanik used a restart to overcome Matt Hirschman on lap 52 to take control of the 36-car field, and remained out front for the next 21 circuits. During a caution at lap 73, Stefanik led a procession down pit road where the Flamingo Motorsports crew changed three tires. On the restart, Stefanik was 21st in the field.
    Before the field could even get momentum, the caution flag was out for a wreck off of turn two. Stefanik's closest rival in the battle for the Championship, Ted Christopher, was brought down pit road for brake checking, and held for three laps by a NASCAR official.
    By lap 100, Stefanik broke into the top 10. But his progress slowed and Stefanik struggled to find a line that would work.
    When the checkers dropped on the scheduled 150-lap distance, Stefanik and the Flamingo Motorsports team were ninth.
    Stefanik will return to action at New Hampshire International Speedway this Friday, September 15th for the New England 100.