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Mike Stefanik through the years
By Staff Report | Published: January 19, 2022 29
John Harrelson | Getty Images
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
Mike Stefanik made his NASCAR Winston Modified Tour debut with a fifth-place finish at Connecticut's Stafford Motor Speedway on April 14, 1985.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
In 1989, Stefanik piloted the No. 15 Koszela Speed Chevrolet to his first NASCAR Winston Modified Tour title. He won seven times, including in April at Virginia's Martinsville Speedway, when the car was the No. 16.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
Stefanik capped the 1989 season with a fourth-place finish at Thompson Speedway in Connecticut to claim the title by six points over Reggie Ruggiero.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
After finishing second to Jamie Tomaino in 1990, Stefanik came back and earned his second championship in 1991 by more than 400 points over runner-up Jeff Fuller.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
Stefanik, in Victory Lane at Stafford Motor Speedway in 1991, won 20 of his 96 Modified tour appearances at Stafford, the most of any driver in track history. Not surprising, considering Stefanik was the 1986 weekly Modified division champion at the track.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
Stefanik drove the No. 15 ADAP / Auto Palace Pontiac for car owner Jack Koszela to the five wins in 1991 -- increasing his total to 25 victories with the team between 1986-92.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
Stefanik's success at Stafford Motor Speedway included winning the prestigious Spring Sizzler four times (1989-90, 1997-98).
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
Stefanik won six of the first nine races of 1997, including a run of five straight to earn the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour championship for the third time.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
Stefanik pulled off the unprecedented feat of winning both the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour and NASCAR Busch North Series championships in the same season -- twice. He did it in 1997 and again in 1998. Driving for car owners Peter Beal and Charlie Bacon on the Modified side, he won 23 times in two years; and he six more times in the Busch North for car owner Mike Greci in that span.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
After racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 1999, where he won Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in that series, Stefanik returned to the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour full-time in 2001 for car owner Art Barry in the No. 21 Egglands Best/Rebuilders Automotive Chevrolet.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
Stefanik won three times in 2001 to earn his fifth Modified championship, by 25 points over 2000 champion Jerry Marquis.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
After giving long-time Modified car owner Art Barry his first title in 2001, the pair went back-to-back in 2002.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
While Stefanik only won twice in 2002, he took home the title by 50 points over Ted Christopher.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
Stefanik drove Art Barry's No. 21 from 2001-03, winning three times and adding another pair of titles to his legacy.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
In 2004, Stefanik moved to the No. 16 Diversified Metals Chevrolet for Eric Sanderson. After making five starts for Joe Brady in 2005, he returned to Sanderson to finish out the season, and they paired to deliver the 2006 title.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
Stefanik won his seventh and final NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship in 2006.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
Stefanik's nine total NASCAR championships tied him for the all-time most in NASCAR history with Modified legend Richie Evans.
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Howie and Mary Hodge/NASCAR
Stefanik won once in 2008, but it marked his seventh win in Stafford's Fall Final.
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Tom Whitmore/NASCAR via Getty Images
Stefanik added another Grandfather Clock to his trophy collection in 2009 when he won the NASCAR Whelen Modified/Whelen Southern Modified race combination race at Martinsville Speedway.
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Mike Stobe/NASCAR via Getty Images
Stefanik, signing a T-shirt at the World Series of Asphalt Racing at at Thompson Speedway in October 2010, was a fan favorite. He was voted Most Popular Driver on the tour seven times.
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Jim McIsaac/NASCAR via Getty Images
Stefanik finished second in points in 2010 to champion Bobby Santos.
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Nick Laham/Getty Images
Stefanik won the August 2011 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway by .069 seconds over Woody Pitkat.
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Nick Laham/Getty Images
Stefanik won again at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July 2012, this time by just .003 seconds over Ron Silk. It was his Modified Tour record eighth win at the "Magic Mile," to go with his two Busch North wins.
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Jeff Zelevansky/NASCAR via Getty Images
In his last full-time season, Stefanik kicked off 2013 with a victory in the Icebreaker at Thompson International Speedway in April.
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Jeff Zelevansky/NASCAR via Getty Images
After finishing outside the top 10 in points, Stefanik drove the No. 22 Robert B. Our Co./John Canto & Sons Paving Chevrolet to a fifth-place in the 2013 championship standings.
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John Harrelson/NASCAR via Getty Images
Stefanik recorded his record 74th -- and final -- Modified win at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 21, 2013 in Bristol, Tennessee.
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Jeff Zelevansky/NASCAR via Getty Images
Stefanik raced four times in 2014, making his final NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 20.
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Adam Glanzman/NASCAR
Modified teams carried a number of tributes on their cars during the 2019 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after Stefanik's passing the week before.
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John Harrelson | Getty Images
Stefanik will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame's Class of 2021 on Friday alongside Red Farmer and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Charlotte, North Carolina.