Mike Stefanik, in pursuit of a ninth NASCAR championship, takes a 94-point lead over a determined Ted Christopher into Sunday’s Whelen Modified Tour Whelen Volunteer Fire Department 150 at Waterford Speedbowl.
    The Sunday-only event, part of the Speedbowl’s Finale, features a number of individual battles and begins the year-end heroics for NASCAR’s oldest touring division. WMT time trials and WVFD 150 will be part of a busy day that includes extra distance final point paying events for the Speedbowl’s SK-Modifieds (100 laps), Late Models (100), Sportsman (50) and Mini Stock (50) divisions.
    The WMT will have a role in Saturday’s special autograph session. Cars and drivers will be on display with area Volunteer Fire Department equipment. The session, starting a 1 PM, will benefit the fire departments.
    Christopher, still angry over a recent decision by a racing official, hopes to end the season with three victories. He certainly knows his way to the Speedbowl’s Victory Lane. “TC,” who has an on-going love-hate relationship with “Bowl fans, has a WMT and Midget win to go along with 32 SK wins.
    Stefanik, in contrast, has never won at the Speedbowl although his record for consistency on the five/eights (eight top fives) is incredible. He admits a Speedbowl checkered would be welcome.
    The WMT does feature a three-way battle for third between Ed Flemke, Todd Szegedy and James Civali. Each has tasted Speedbowl victory, Flemke doing it twice and Szegedy once in WMT action while Civali is a Modified Nationals winner.
    Mystic Missile driver Jerry Marquis, also a two-time Speedbowl winner currently seventh in points, brings a streak of four straight WMT top four finishes including a victory last year. Donny Lia, also a winner in ’05, has a two-race top-three streak on the line.
    Reggie Ruggiero, Chuck Hossfeld and Rick Fuller are also looking for a repeat win at the Speedbowl.
    Rob Summers, Chris Pasteryak, both SK winners this year, lead up the “home team” which also includes Ron Yuhas Jr. and Dennis Charette. Other WMT competitors with strong Speedbowl followings include Eric Berndt, Doug Coby, Ronnie Silk and Ken Barry.
    Hossfeld’s 13.63 seconds (99.046 mph) mark will be on the line, WMT time trials slated for 3:15 (following the SK-100 and Mini Stock-50 features. The VFD 150 is scheduled for a 5:15 start and will be followed by the Late Models and Sportsman.
    The Speedbowl Sportsman championship is still up for grabs, Joe Curioso II leading Dwayne Dorr by only four points. Other key spots remain unsettled in the other divisions as well including the SK where five drivers will battle it out for spots two through six.