Ted Christopher facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ted Christopher
Christopher in 2001
Born	(1958-06-05)June 5, 1958 Plainville, Connecticut
Died	September 16, 2017(2017-09-16) (aged 59) North Branford, Connecticut
Achievements	2008 Whelen Modified Tour Champion 48 victories in NASCAR modified competition (42 in Whelen Modified; 6 in Southern Modified)
NASCAR Cup Series career
6 races run over 4 years
2009 position	75th
Best finish	64th (1999)
First race	1999 Frontier @ the Glen (Watkins Glen)
Last race	2006 Sylvania 300 (Loudon)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
21 races run over 6 years
2001 position	102nd
Best finish	61st (1997)
First race	1996 Meridian Advantage 200 (Nazareth)
Last race	2001 Nazareth 200 (Nazareth)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 2 0
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career
2 races run over 2 years
1999 position	88th
Best finish	88th (1999)
First race	1997 Parts America 150 (Watkins Glen)
Last race	1999 Bully Hill Vineyards 150 (Watkins Glen)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 1 0
Statistics current as of September 3, 2014.

Theodore "Ted" Christopher (June 5, 1958 – September 16, 2017) was an American race car driver and business owner. He was famous for winning races in many different types of cars. These included Modifieds, SK Modifieds, and ISMA cars. He also raced in NASCAR's top series, like the Cup Series and Truck Series.

Ted was best known for his success in the Whelen Modified Tour. He won over 40 races and a championship in 2008. He was also very good at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. There, he won five times in the Camping World East Series and five times in the Whelen Modified Tour. Ted was known for his aggressive driving style. He even had a special technique called the "Three Tap Rule." Later in his career, his style changed, which helped him win even more.

Ted's Racing Achievements

Ted Christopher had a very successful career in racing. Here are some of his biggest wins and honors:

National Champion

• In 2001, Ted became the NASCAR Weekly Series national champion. He won 15 out of 18 races that year. He secured this title at Thompson International Speedway in Connecticut.

Whelen Modified Tour Champion

• In 2008, Ted won the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship. He was already known as one of the best drivers in the Northeast. He won both the championship and the last race of the season at Thompson International Speedway.
• Ted was leading the championship by 31 points over Matt Hirschman. During the race, Matt had an electrical problem. Ted went on to win the race, while Matt finished far behind. This was Ted's 31st career win.
• Interestingly, in 2005, Ted had a big lead in the championship. But he lost it in the final race due to a crash.

More Victories and Awards

• Ted had 48 victories in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. This places him third all-time in wins.
• Fans voted him "Most Popular Driver" three times (2008, 2009, 2010).
• In the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, he earned 10 victories.
• At Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut, he holds the all-time record with 131 feature race wins. He was a 9-time SK Modified Champion there. A grandstand at Stafford was even named after him!
• At Thompson International Speedway in Connecticut, he had 99 feature race wins. This is also an all-time track record. He was a 4-time SK Modified Champion there.
• At Waterford Speedbowl in Connecticut, he won 47 feature races. He was the 1992 SK Modified Champion.

Ted also competed in some races in NASCAR's top series in the 2000s. He raced in the Cup Series, Busch Series, and Craftsman Truck Series. His first Cup Series race was at Watkins Glen in 1999.

The "Three Tap Rule" Explained

The race tracks in Connecticut often use a special system. Faster cars start further back in the field. This means drivers have little time to be polite if they want to win. Ted Christopher was known for his aggressive driving style. He called it the "Three Tap Rule."

This rule was a mix of techniques used by other famous drivers. It involved three steps to get past a slower car:

• First tap: A gentle bump to let the driver in front know Ted was there.
• Second tap: A warning bump, telling the other driver to pick a lane and let him pass.
• Third tap: If needed, a final, harder bump. This would move the car in front out of the way.

Ted's Passing

Ted Christopher sadly passed away in a plane crash on September 16, 2017. The accident happened near North Branford, Connecticut. He was flying from Plainville, Connecticut, to a race in New York. Ted and the pilot, Charles "Pat" Dundas, were the only people on board. Both died in the crash. An investigation later found that the crash was caused by a problem with the plane's fuel line.

About Ted's Life

Ted was born to William Christopher and Lucy Graziano. He was married to Quinn Wazorko Christopher. He did not have children with her. Ted also had a twin brother named Mike. Mike also raced Modified cars. Mike's son, Mike Jr., has also started racing Modifieds.

Ted graduated from Plainville High School in 1976. He was the captain of his school's wrestling team. In 2013, he was honored in the Plainville Sports Hall of Fame. Besides racing, Ted owned a business called M&T Enterprises. His company rebuilt transmissions for large trucks.

Special Honors for Ted

• In 2006, NASCAR celebrated its Weekly Series' 25th anniversary. Ted Christopher was named one of the series' All-Time Top 25 drivers.
• In 2008, Stafford Motor Speedway named a section of their grandstand after him. This was to honor his 100th victory at Stafford. Ted had 109 wins there, making him the winningest driver at that track.
• Ted was the first driver to win SK Modified track championships at all three major asphalt short-tracks in Connecticut. These tracks were Stafford Motor Speedway, Thompson International Speedway, and Waterford Speedbowl. Another driver, Keith Rocco, achieved this feat later in 2010.
• His twin brother, Mike, won a race at Stafford before Ted did. Both brothers started racing go-karts. They were well-known at The Pomfret Speedway in Connecticut. They also raced enduro karts at famous tracks like Daytona International Speedway and Watkins Glen.