kids encyclopedia robot

Mike Stefanik facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Mike Stefanik
MikeStefanik cts -90.jpg
Stefanik at Nazareth Speedway in 2000
Born Michael Paul Stefanik
(1958-05-20)May 20, 1958
Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died September 15, 2019(2019-09-15) (aged 61)
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Achievements 1989, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2006 Whelen Modified Tour Champion
1997, 1998 Busch North Series Champion
Awards 1999 Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year
1997, 1998, 2001 Featherlite Modified Series Most Popular Driver
1995, 1997, 1998, 2004 Busch North Series Most Popular Driver
Named one of the "NASCAR Modified All-Time Top 10 Drivers" (2003)
NASCAR Hall of Fame (2022)
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
26 races run over 9 years
Best finish 56th (2000)
First race 1992 Budweiser 300 (Loudon)
Last race 2000 Miami 300 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 1 0
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career
26 races run over 2 years
Best finish 13th (1999)
First race 1998 Sam's Town 250 (Las Vegas)
Last race 1999 NAPA Auto Parts 200 (Fontana)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 10 0
Statistics current as of September 15, 2019.

Michael Paul Stefanik (May 20, 1958 – September 15, 2019) was an American professional stock car racing driver. He competed mainly in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, but also made appearances in the Busch Grand National series and the Craftsman Truck Series. A seven-time champion in the Modified series, Stefanik was named the second greatest NASCAR Modified driver of all-time in 2003. His nine total championships (two in the Busch North Series) tie him with Richie Evans for the most in NASCAR history. Stefanik is a member of the 2021 NASCAR Hall of Fame class.

Racing career

Whelen Modified Series

Stefanik ran his first full Whelen Modified Tour season in 1987. He recorded his first championship in 1989, winning in seven of his 26 starts. He continued to be a major player in the 1990s, winning the 1991 series championship, finishing out of the top ten just once that season. After not running a complete schedule for a few years, Stefanik finished fifth in 1995 and won the 1997 and 1998 titles while simultaneously racing full-time and winning the championship those same years in the Busch North Series. Taking the 2000 season off to run full-time in the Camping World Truck Series, Stefanik won the championship his first two years back, not winning too many races but consistently placing in the top ten. Again pursuing other interests (this time K&N series), Stefanik did not contend in 2003, 2004, or 2005 but won the 2006 season opener, completed every lap that season and only was out of first place for one week, winning the championship. Steadily trending downward from there, Stefanik's first full winless season came in 2010. He won his last race at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2013, and started his last race in 2014.

In 2013, Stefanik competed in the inaugural UNOH Battle at the Beach at Daytona International Speedway. On the final lap, he was leading until contact with Steve Park sent him spinning; he finished 13th in the race.

K&N Pro Series East

Stefanik won in only his third start, which came in 1991. He ran his first full season in 1993 while racing Modifieds and won the 1997 and 1998 championships, pocketing over $100,000 for each season. In doing so, he became the first driver to win two NASCAR championships in consecutive years; Lee Petty is the only other person to have won two championships in one year. Stefanik raced full seasons in 2003, 2004 and 2005 while stepping away from Modifieds, but did not have the same amount of success.

Craftsman Truck Series

Stefanik moved up to the Craftsman Truck Series, racing for Phelon Motorsports and finishing in the top ten nine times during 1999, achieving Rookie of the Year honors.

Halls of Fame

Stefanik was elected to the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He was inducted Nov. 11, 2018 by writer Mark "Bones" Bourcier. In 2013, Michael accepted his late brother Bob's induction. Bob and Michael are the fifth pair of brothers enshrined in the NEAR Hall.

Stefanik was first nominated to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015, and was elected to the Hall in 2022.

Death

According to Connecticut State Police, on the afternoon of September 15, 2019, Stefanik took off in a friend's Aero-Works Aerolite 103 from Riconn Airport (Greene, Rhode Island), and was headed back when it experienced mechanical problems causing it to lose power and crash in a wooded area in Sterling, Connecticut. He was airlifted to Rhode Island Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

Busch Series

NASCAR Busch Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 NBGNC Pts
1992 74 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL MAR DAR BRI HCY LAN DUB NZH CLT DOV ROU MYB GLN VOL NHA
8
TAL IRP ROU MCH 67th 260
14 NHA
15
BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT MAR CAR HCY
1993 Ling Racing Enterprises 6 Pontiac DAY CAR RCH DAR BRI HCY ROU MAR NZH
15
CLT DOV MYB GLN
29
MLW TAL IRP MCH NHA
39
BRI DAR RCH DOV ROU CLT MAR CAR HCY ATL NC2 0
1994 Rexrode Galiano Motorsports 1 Ford DAY
44
CAR RCH
33
ATL
DNQ
MAR DAR HCY BRI ROU 73rd 192
11 Chevy NHA
41
14 NZH
16
CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW SBO TAL HCY IRP MCH BRI DAR
1 RCH
22
DOV CLT MAR CAR
1995 Mountain Racing 09 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY NHA
41
NZH
41
CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM NC2 0
1996 H & H Motorsports 51 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY NZH
14
CLT DOV SBO MYB GLN MLW NHA TAL IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM NC2 0
1997 DAY CAR RCH ATL LVS DAR HCY TEX BRI NSV TAL NHA NZH
33
CLT DOV SBO GLN MLW MYB GTY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAL CAR HOM NC2 0
1998 Andretti-Laird Racing 96 Pontiac DAY CAR
35
LVS
32
NSV
DNQ
DAR
DNQ
BRI TEX HCY TAL NHA 92nd 125
H & H Motorsports 51 Chevy NZH
39
CLT DOV RCH PPR GLN MLW MYB CAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT GTY CAR ATL HOM
1999 Prime Performance Motorsports 05 Chevy DAY
DNQ
CAR
22
LVS ATL DAR TEX NSV BRI TAL CAL NHA RCH NZH CLT DOV SBO GLN MLW MYB PPR GTY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR MEM PHO HOM 109th 102
2000 GTS Motorsports 90 Chevy DAY CAR
DNQ
LVS ATL DAR
23
BRI
20
TEX NSV TAL CAL RCH
DNQ
NHA CLT
39
DOV
DNQ
SBO MYB GLN
31
MLW NZH
13
PPR GTY IRP MCH BRI
20
DAR
DNQ
RCH
DNQ
DOV
41
CLT
DNQ
CAR
DNQ
MEM
DNQ
PHO HOM
18
56th 689

2 Competed only in companion events with Busch North Series as BNS driver and ineligible for Busch Series points

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 NCTC Pts
1998 Phelon Motorsports 66 Ford WDW HOM PHO POR EVG I70 GLN TEX BRI MLW NZH CAL PPR IRP NHA FLM NSV HPT LVL RCH MEM GTY MAR SON MMR PHO LVS
8
49th 142
1999 HOM
2
PHO
13
EVG
24
MMR
14
MAR
12
MEM
11
PPR
11
I70
7
BRI
22
TEX
28
PIR
13
GLN
11
MLW
13
NSV
8
NZH
8
MCH
7
NHA
13
IRP
16
GTY
6
HPT
10
RCH
16
LVS
32
LVL
9
TEX
31
CAL
9
13th 3074

Busch North Series

NASCAR Busch North Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 NBNSC Pts Ref
1991 Pearson Racing Enterprises 20 Pontiac DAY RCH CAR NHA OXF NZH MND
26
OXF TMP
19
HOL JEN EPP STA
1*
OXF NHA FLE OXF TMP
24
NHA
10
RPS
3
TMP DOV EPP NHA 29th 808
1992 Auto Palace 14 Chevy DAY CAR RCH NHA
16
NZH MND OXF DOV LEE JEN OXF NHA
15
NHA
9
EPP 31st 601
74 NHA
8
OXF HOL EPP
88 Pontiac RPS
25
OXF
1993 Don Ling Sr. 6 Pontiac LEE
10
NHA
22
MND
13
NZH
15
HOL
15
GLN
17
JEN
27
STA
28
GLN
29
NHA
17
WIS
9
NHA
3
NHA
39
RPS
9
TMP
12*
WMM
12
LEE
8
EPP
16
LRP
8
9th 1991
1994 Mike Greci 51 Chevy NHA
2
24th 1315
Auto Palace 11 NHA
41
MND
14 NZH
16
SPE HOL GLN
31
JEN EPP GLN NHA
35
WIS STA
3
TMP
17
MND
9
WMM RPS
7
LEE NHA
5
LRP
7
1995 Allen Avery 09 Olds DAY NHA
1
LEE
DNQ
JEN
7
HOL
23
BEE
9
TMP
5
GLN NHA
8
TIO
5
MND
2
GLN
8
EPP
13
RPS
1*
LEE
4
STA
18
BEE
9
NHA
5
TMP
1
LRP
20
2nd 2621
Kennedy Racing 00 Olds LEE
6
Allen Avery 09 Chevy NHA
41
NZH
41
1996 Mike Greci 51 Chevy DAY LEE
6
JEN
5
NZH
14
HOL
12
NHA
22
TIO
19
BEE
3
TMP
2
NZH
15
NHA
23
STA
28
GLN
4
EPP
19
RPS
3
LEE
15
NHA
39
NHA
5
BEE
17
TMP
2*
LRP
5
6th 2523
1997 DAY LEE
5
JEN
12
NHA
5
NZH
33
HOL
2*
NHA
3
STA
5
BEE
2
TMP
5
NZH
3*
TIO
2
NHA
12
STA
8
THU
16
GLN
37
EPP
1
RPS
2*
BEE
2
TMP
1*
NHA
4
LRP
9
1st 3033
1998 LEE
2*
RPS
5
NHA
18
NZH
39
HOL
4
GLN STA
4
NHA
7
DOV
29
STA
1*
NHA
4
GLN
10
EPP
8
JEN
1
NHA
8
THU
7
TMP
1
BEE
10
LRP
1*
1st 2554
2001 Team Goewey 20 Chevy LEE NHA SEE HOL BEE EPP STA WFD BEE TMP NHA
14
STA SEE GLN NZH THU BEE DOV STA LRP 67th 121
2003 Grizco Racing 55 Chevy LEE
5
STA
11
ERI
3*
BEE
4
STA
11
HOL
17
TMP
13
NHA
11
WFD
2
SEE
2
GLN
7
ADI
12
BEE
14
THU
10
NHA
5
STA
8
LRP
5
2nd 2446
2004 LEE
5
TMP
2
LRP
27*
SEE
11
STA
13
HOL
12
ERI
8
WFD
2
NHA
6
ADI
10
GLN
5
NHA
16
DOV
4
5th 1824
2005 STA
9
HOL
1**
ERI
2
NHA
1*
WFD
5
ADI
4
STA
6
DUB
5
OXF
8
NHA
6
DOV
9
LRP
5
TMP
2
2nd 2078

Whelen Modified Tour

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour results
Year Car owner No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 NWMTC Pts Ref
1985 Marek Engineering 11 TMP MAR STA
5
MAR NEG WFD NEG SPE RIV CLA 30th 863
9 STA
13
TMP NEG HOL HOL RIV CAT EPP TMP WFD RIV
Jack Koszela 15 Chevy STA
25
POC
9
TIO OXF STA
8
TMP MAR
16 TMP
4
1986 15 ROU MAR STA
4
TMP
22
MAR NEG MND
14
EPP
17
NEG STA
6
TMP
16
POC
31
TIO
12
OXF
10
STA
5
TMP
18
MAR
28
12th 2257
37 WFD
7
SPE
15
RIV
1
NEG TMP
12
RIV
22
TMP
4
RIV
1987 15 ROU
1
MAR
2
TMP
23
STA
15
CNB
4
STA
6
WFD
3
JEN
5
SPE
17
RIV
25
TMP
12
RIV
15
STA
5
TMP
13
SEE
22
STA
3
POC
36
TIO
13
TMP
8
OXF
11
TMP
12
ROU MAR
6
STA
8
7th 3607
37 MND
3
RPS
12
RIV
14
Pontiac EPP
7
1988 15 Chevy ROU
8
MAR
22
MND
1*
OSW
23
OSW RIV JEN ROU
5
17th 2122
16 TMP
24
MAR JEN IRP TMP
1
RIV OSW TMP
2
TMP
1*
POC
11
TIO TMP
9
MAR
8
37 RPS
2*
OXF
6
05 OSW
20
1989 16 MAR
3
TMP
26
MAR
1**
STA
1*
OSW
4
WFD
3
RIV
11
JEN
4
STA
1
RPS
2
RIV
14
TMP
4
TMP
1*
POC
7
STA
4
MAR
29
1st 3941
15 JEN
3
IRP
23
MND
4
OSW
23
OSW
1**
TMP
4
RPS
1*
OSW
4
TIO
6
TMP
4
1990 MAR
22
RCH
35
TMP
21*
STA
1
MAR
2
TMP
4
STA
1
MND
16
HOL
12
STA
1*
RIV
17
JEN
21
EPP
2
RPS
2*
RIV
2
TMP
14
RPS
10
NHA
2
TMP
30
POC
1
STA
1
TMP
2
2nd 3220
Pontiac MAR
20
1991 MAR
14
RCH
1*
TMP
2
NHA
1
MAR
1**
NZH
3
STA
6
TMP
2*
FLE
4
OXF
3*
RIV
10
JEN
1
STA
10
RPS
3
RIV
3
RCH
4
TMP
3
NHA
9
TMP
3
POC
6
STA
6
TMP
3
MAR
1*
1st 3692
1992 MAR
9
TMP
29
RCH
29
STA
2
MAR
2*
NHA
5
NZH
23
STA
27
TMP
25
FLE
25
RIV
1
NHA
27
STA
13
RPS
15
RIV TMP
20
TMP
18
NHA
15
STA
1*
MAR
1*
TMP
27
14th 2413
1993 Mario Fiore 44 Pontiac RCH
1
STA
23
TMP
QL
NHA
2
NZH
22*
STA
6
RIV RPS
23
HOL LEE
8
RIV STA
3
TMP
14
TMP
2
17th 1860
Beal & Bacon 6 Pontiac NHA
12
Bear Motorsports 14 Pontiac TMP
2
STA
1*
1994 Chevy NHA STA TMP NZH STA LEE TMP RIV TIO NHA RPS HOL TMP RIV NHA STA SPE TMP
16
42nd 402
Beal & Bacon 6 Chevy NHA
36
STA
27
TMP
6
1995 TMP
30
NHA
19
STA
3
NZH
5
STA
1*
LEE
19
TMP
12
RIV
17
NHA
15
JEN RPS
1
HOL
23
RIV
4
NHA
1
STA
3
TMP
3
NHA
9
STA
1
TMP
1
TMP
28
5th 2833
X6 BEE
2
1996 6 TMP
3
STA
13
NZH
13
STA
11
NHA
30
JEN RIV
2
LEE
2
RPS
26
HOL
2
TMP
16
RIV
1
GLN
1
STA
1
NHA
5
NHA
2
STA
28
FLE
23*
TMP
2
5th 2669
X6 NHA
9
1997 6 TMP
3
MAR
2
STA
1*
NZH
1*
STA
1*
NHA
1
RIV
1*
NHA
6
RPS
3
HOL
2
TMP
2
RIV
2
NHA
13
GLN
1*
STA
1
NHA
3
STA
9
FLE
1*
TMP
10
RCH
1*
1st 3624
x6 FLE
1
JEN
Brady Motorsports 00 Chevy GLN
20
1998 Beal & Bacon 6 Chevy RPS
3
TMP
1*
MAR
2*
STA
1*
NZH
1*
STA
1*
GLN
2*
JEN
1*
RIV
2
NHA
1*
NHA
1*
LEE
4
HOL
1
TMP
1*
NHA
1
RIV
8
STA
3
NHA
30
TMP
1*
STA
1*
TMP
1*
FLE
2*
1st 3725
2000 Gary Cretty 26 Dodge STA RCH STA RIV SEE NHA NZH
1*
TMP RIV GLN TMP STA WFD NHA STA MAR 50th 350
Beal & Bacon 6 Dodge TMP
2
2001 Spearpoint Racing 21 Chevy SBO
2
TMP
2
STA
6
WFD
2
NZH
34
STA
3
RIV
1*
SEE
22
RCH
4
NHA
2
HOL
21
RIV
1*
CHE
6
TMP
6
STA
1*
WFD
3
TMP
5
STA
6
MAR
21
TMP
2
1st 2993
2002 TMP
11
STA
8
WFD
3
NZH
2
RIV
12
SEE
7
RCH
2
STA
11
BEE
8
NHA
8
RIV
23
TMP
32
STA
24
WFD
4
TMP
1
NHA
2
STA
1
MAR
10
TMP
9
1st 2678
2003 TMP
4
STA WFD
10
NZH STA
9
LER BLL BEE NHA
5*
ADI RIV TMP
1*
STA WFD TMP
39*
NHA
4
STA
10
TMP
5
29th 1262
2004 Eric Sanderson 16 Chevy TMP STA WFD
2
NZH STA RIV
3
LER BLL BEE NHA
3
SEE RIV
25
STA
4
TMP
20
WFD
3
TMP
4
NHA
11
STA
3
TMP
1
22nd 1651
2005 Brady Motorsports 00 Dodge TMP
4
STA
33
RIV
5
WFD STA
18
JEN NHA
11
BEE SEE 17th 1725
Eric Sanderson 16 Chevy RIV
9
STA
4*
TMP
23
WFD MAR
2
TMP
5
NHA
2
STA
31
6 TMP
6
2006 16 TMP
1
STA
4
JEN
11
TMP
6
STA
5
NHA
5
HOL
3
RIV
4
STA
5
TMP
6
MAR
10*
TMP
9
NHA
4
WFD
4
TMP
5
STA
6
1st 2457
2007 TMP
34
STA
4
WTO
5
STA
12
TMP
15
NHA
13
TSA
7
STA
3
STA
1*
TMP
8
7th 2077
Pontiac RIV
11*
TMP
30
MAN
12
MAR
22
NHA
9
TMP
10
2008 TMP
33
STA
4
STA
4
TMP
3
NHA
26
SPE
5
RIV
7
STA
7
TMP
5
MAN
8
TMP
22
NHA
27
MAR
18
CHE
3
STA
1*
TMP
24
7th 2102
2009 TMP
7
STA
4
STA
4
NHA
23
SPE
7
RIV
19
STA
29
BRI
16
TMP
32
NHA
5
MAR
1
STA
8
TMP
20
7th 1650
2010 TMP
3
STA
3
STA
7
MAR
4
NHA
27
LIM
6
MND
11
RIV
4
STA
2
TMP
5
BRI
2
NHA
3
STA
5
TMP
4
2nd 2153
2011 TMP
3
STA
5
STA
15
MND
7
TMP
26
NHA
27
RIV
22
STA
2
NHA
1
BRI
16
DEL 11th 1957
Ford TMP
19
LRP
2
NHA
8
STA
30
Ed Marceau 86 Chevy TMP
9
2012 66 TMP
3
STA
9
MND
7
STA
26
WFD
22
TMP
4
11th 421
Ford NHA
1
STA
19
TMP
5*
BRI
20
TMP
6
RIV NHA
29
STA
6
2013 Christopher Our 22 Ford TMP
1*
STA
9
RIV
5
MND
14
BRI
1
RIV
26
STA
6
TMP
16
5th 480
Chevy STA
8
WFD
11
NHA
22
STA
8
TMP
11
NHA
6
2014 Ed Marceau 1 Chevy TMP
24
STA STA WFD RIV NHA
30
MND STA
14
TMP BRI NHA
10
STA TMP 28th 98
– Qualified for Kerry Malone
kids search engine
Mike Stefanik Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.