Countdown: R.I.

The smallest state in the country has the longest official name: The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

There is a Rhode Island -- also known as Aquidneck Island, but for the most part, the state of Rhode Island is on the mainland. At no point is the ocean more than 30 miles away from any spot, which might be why it's known as the Ocean State.

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Samuel Slater's water-powered cotton mill in Pawtucket fired up America's industrial revolution. Nathaniel Greene fired on the British as part of America's colonial revolution. Rhode Island is also known for being a leader in jewelry and silversmithing. If you're ever in Rhode Island, don't forget to try the coffee milk or Del's lemonade with your chowdah.

Despite its size, Rhode Island can boast of having one resident who has won eight NASCAR titles.

Best behind the wheel

• Mike Stefanik, Coventry

Quick, name the two drivers with the most NASCAR championships.

Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt? Nope.

Try Richie Evans and Mike Stefanik. Evans scored an amazing nine Modified titles, while Stefanik has eight total -- six in the Modifieds and two more in Busch North, which becomes Busch East in 2006.

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"Everybody adds them up, but Richie will always be the king of Modifieds," Stefanik said. "I've tried to emulate his life, build cars and race."

About to complete his third decade of racing, Stefanik has no intention of slowing down. He has plans to run both Northeast-based series this season -- and the competitive desire has never burned brighter.

"I always said I'd get out when I feel I can't hold up my end of the bargain," Stefanik said. "But I've got plenty of racing to do. I can't wait to get started.

"I feel like I'm in better shape than I've ever been in my life, and I'm not lacking one ounce of desire."

Stefanik said growing up, he always had an affinity for things that moved, especially race cars. He remembered going to Riverside Park to watch older brother Bobby race.

"I was clinging to the fence," Stefanik said. "I loved it. I always loved anything that was motorized."

Near the end of his senior year of high school, Stefanik got a chance to drive a six-cylinder Sportsman at Stafford for an acquaintance at the Chevrolet dealership where he worked.

"My first heat race, I got lapped," Stefanik said. "I found that it's a lot different on the other side of the fence. A lot of people watch races and think they know what the driver should do, but until you've been there, you don't know."

By the end of that season, Stefanik's best finish was eighth. He kept at it, eventually winning the 1979 Stafford Limited Sportsman track championship. He followed that with Modified rookie of the year at Stafford the following year.

Stefanik added Modified track championships at Stafford (1986) and Riverside Park (1987) to his resume, then began to search for new challenges. He settled on the NASCAR Modified Division.

"Stafford dropped the Modifieds in 1986, so I won the last track championship," he said. "I started picking and choosing tour races to go to and started full-time in 1989. The first full season, I won the championship."

Stefanik followed that up with another Modified crown in 1991 -- then turned an unparalleled feat two years running when he earned Modified and Busch North championships in 1997 and 1998. His most recent Modified championships came in 2001 and 2002.

Along the way, Stefanik learned a valuable lesson that continues to this day.

"My racing philosophy hasn't changed since 1982," Stefanik said. "I used to think 'checkers or wreckers' but I've changed my thinking since then. Owners don't like it when they have to fix a lot of wrecked cars.

"I've built too many of my own cars to do that. The school of hard knocks kind of teaches you that. You're never going to make it by taking 50-50 chances. Eventually your 50-50 chances are going to run out before the race does."

Another lesson Stefanik learned was that the driver is only part of the equation.

"I've always surrounded myself with smart people," Stefanik said. "The driver gets all the credit, but it really comes down to the car, the crew chief and the guys working on the cars."

Is there a memorable moment in your career?

"Richie Evans letting me drive his race car, I would rate that as No. 1," Stefanik said. "That's on a level like Jeff Gordon asking someone to come drive his new Nextel Cup car."

Stefanik never made a start in NASCAR's top series. For him, it's not about gold and glory. It's about the satisfaction he gets from using his hands, head and heart to build cars from scratch and win races with them.

"I never looked at being a Nextel Cup champion," he said. "That's where all the money is, but that's not why I got into it.

"Fame never meant anything to me. The money would be nice now, but I don't have to race at Daytona to make my life complete, although I have. I just love to race, it doesn't matter where."

Other noteworthy drivers from Rhode Island

• Tom Gifford, Providence: Drove a Studebaker four times over two-year span in 1951-52

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• Sammy Packard, Barrington: Invited by Bill France Sr. to participate in the meeting in 1947 that resulted in the formation of NASCAR; best finish in four starts was a ninth at Norwood

• Rusty Rushton, Pawtucket: Two starts in 1951, with a best of 19th at Thompson

We wish ...

Baseball Hall of Famer Nap Lajoie had become a NASCAR driver.

The Woonsocket native was the American League's first star, hitting a league-record .422 in 1901. The first player ever to be intentionally walked with the bases loaded, Lajoie died in Daytona Beach in 1975, nine days before the 1975 Daytona 500.

Gone but not forgotten

Even though NASCAR has never raced in Rhode Island, automobile races were held around the turn of the century at the Rhode Island State Fair, including what is believed to be the first closed circuit race, involving four Duryeas in 1896.

In addition, millionaire William "Willie K." Vanderbilt was fond of racing his Mercedes near his Newport mansion, once clocking a 10-mile sprint in 15 minutes. He went on to set two world speed records -- 76 mph in France in 1902 and 92 mph at Daytona in 1904 -- then later establish the Vanderbilt Cup races on Long Island.

A word from our sponsor

• Hasbro, Pawtucket

Hasbro is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. The company has produced games with titles such as "NASCAR Champions" and "NASCAR Pacesetter."