Stefanik Headlines Whelen Modified Field At Bristol

Many racing fans will realize a long-awaited wish Wednesday when the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour finally comes to Bristol Motor Speedway.

Fittingly, one of the most decorated stars in the history of the tradition-rich series headlines the marquee for the University of Northwestern Ohio Perfect Storm 150.

Mike Stefanik, 51, is a seven-time series champion and winner of 69 races in the open-wheeled division. Only the late Richie Evans has more career victories than Stefanik.

With his aggressive driving style and distinctive accent, the Rhode Island resident has earned icon status among the northeastern-based modified racing community. A win at Bristol would serve as a nice addition to that resume, Stefanik said.

“This event is pretty big on the modified tour,” said Stefanik, who was among 19 drivers who participated in a June 7 test session at BMS. “We used to go to some neat tracks like Richmond and Nazareth, but we don’t go to those venues anymore. When this race at Bristol came on the schedule, everybody on our tour got excited.”

While NASCAR Sprint Cup regulars Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman are entered in Wednesday’s event, Stefanik will have an advantage over his modified peers. He competed at BMS in the Nationwide and Camping World Series at BMS in 1999 and 2000.

“Some of the drivers had no clue what [Bristol] was like when they came down to test,’’ Stefanik said. “They were probably really surprised when they walked into the place.
“It comes down to typical racing, though. You still have to get your car to drive right.”

The character of BMS has been altered radically since 2000, but Stefanik said the prestige of the half-mile concrete oval is timeless.

“You can’t help but smile walking through the gate here, because this is what all tracks should be as far as I’m concerned,” Stefanik said. “Not belittling the venues that we go to now, but when you go the same tracks for 30 some years, something new is always exiting. And [Bristol] is definitely new.”

Stefanik developed a passion for racing by watching his older brother compete at tracks such as Riverside Park in his native Massachusetts. Stefanik paid his dues and earned a degree of national fame in 1998 after winning championships in both the NASCAR Whelen Modified and Busch East tours.

Lee Petty is the only other driver to have won two NASCAR championships in one year. Stefanik also won the Busch East title in 1997, tying Evans for the most NASCAR-sanctioned titles with nine.
Despite his success, Stefanik was never able to find a comfort zone in the top levels of NASCAR. He competed in 26 Nationwide races from 1992-2000, with just one top-10 finish. He earned 10 top-10 finishes in 26 Truck starts from 1998-99.

“Back then, car owners were looking for about a 35-year-old driver that knew how to take care of his equipment, not make mistakes and not wreck cars,” Stefanik said. “Owners only had about eight cars in their stable as opposed to the 35 they have now.”

According to Stefanik, the job opportunities for veteran drivers who honed their skills on short track began to dry up shortly after the emergence and meteoric rise of current Sprint Cup star Jeff Gordon.

“Gordon came along and kind of proved to everybody that a young kid can go out there and do just as well as those veterans in a short amount of time,” Stefanik said. “That opened up tons of new markets for young drivers.”

Marketing and looks soon became just as important as raw talent and experience, a pattern that continues today.

“Everybody lumped on that bandwagon, saying that they had the next Jeff Gordon” Stefanik said. “That stopped a lot of people like myself that were contemplating about coming down to the south and getting connections.
“Younger guys like Geoff Bodine, Jimmy Spencer and Brett Bodine came down here 10 years earlier and got rides before all that happened.

Though his ardent fans still contend that Stefanik deserved a more lucrative spot on the NASCAR stage, Stefanik said he has no regrets about his career path.

“It’s all about luck and timing,” Stefanik said. “Right after Gordon came along, the age for drivers went from about 35 to 21.
“And now you have to show like a severe amount of talent by amount 17. That’s unless you have money. If you have money, anybody can drive.”

For Stefanik, a win at Bristol would serve as a sort of a redemptive stroke for all those car owners who overlooked him. Experience and confidence will likely be more important than raw horsepower.

“This place has unique challenges, so the normal adjustments we would make at a short track don’t really apply,” Stefanik said.

Stefanik estimated around 18 of the 25 drivers who came to BMS for the two test sessions spun out. Stefanik included himself in that list.

“It’s going to come down to handling,” Stefanik said. “I just hope we put on a great race so they will invite us back.”

agregory@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2544

What: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour UNOH Perfect Storm 150
When: Aug. 19
Start Time: 6:15 p.m.
Where: Bristol Motor Speedway
Fast Fact: Qualifying for the 36 car field will be held Aug. 19 at 3 p.m.