TSI Harley-Davidson 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway
By Dave & Hazel Meredith 

Qualifying

May 24, Stafford Springs, CT--- Jimmy Blewett in the #19 United Crane/Ling Trucking Chevrolet took the conditional pole as one of the early qualifiers. However, Chuck Hossfeld in the #4 Mystic Missile Dodge would edge him by .026 seconds to capture the Coors Light Pole Award with a quick time of 18.132 seconds for a speed of 99.272 mph. This was Hossfeld’s eighth career Tour pole. 

Rounding out the top ten were: 3) #09 Bobby Grigas III; 4) #36 Ted Christopher; 5) #3 Ryan Preece; 6) #46 Eric Beers; 7) #59 Matt Hirschman; 8) #21 Richard Savary; 9) #45 Erick Rudolph; and 10) #14 Reggie Ruggiero. 

The balance of the qualifying order is: 11) #79 Ronnie Silk; 12) #1 Rob Summers; 13) #99 Jamie Tomaino; 14) #2 Todd Szegedy; 15) #0 Danny Sammons; 16) #11 Anthony Sesely; 17) #10 Ed Flemke Jr.; 18) #77 Rick Fuller; 19) #28 James Civali; 20) #88 Woody Pitkat; 21) #5 Charles Pasteryak; 22) #8 Glenn Tyler; 23) #64 Eric Berndt; 24) #93 Rowan Pennink; 25) #17 Glen Reen; 26) 58 Kevin Goodale. 

Taking provisional starting positions are: #16 Mike Stefanik; #06 Billy Pauch Jr.; #12 Ken Heagy; #33 Wade Cole; and #05 Joe Hartmann. 

Going home are: #32 Tom Abele Jr; #90 Renee Dupuis; #75 Carl Pasteryak; #00 Frank Ruocco; #26 Gary McDonald; and #9 Jake Marosz. 

The top six re-drew for starting positions with Hossfeld drawing the number one starting spot. Joining him on the front row will be Bobby Grigas III. Rounding out the re-draw is #46 Eric Beers, #36 Ted Christopher, #3 Ryan Preece and #19 Jimmy Blewett. 

Seven-Time Champion Stefanik Honored 

As part of a season-long celebration of 60 years of Modified champions, seven-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour titlist Mike Stefanik was honored tonight. 

Following qualifying, Mike Stefanik was presented with a NASCAR champions jacket and a photo taken at the banquet last December with all of the living Modified Champions that were in attendance.

A resident of Coventry, RI, Mike Stefanik is the winningest driver in the history of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. He was also named one of the NASCAR All-Time Modified Top 10 Drivers in 2003. 

Since the Tour’s inception in 1985, Stefanik has experienced unparalleled success. His seven championships are two more than Tony Hirschman’s total and his record 68 wins are 24 more than second place Reggie Ruggiero’s 44. 

“I’m not a big nostalgic person and into statistics and all of that, but someday it’s going to be very exciting for me to realize that [the accomplishments] and enjoy it for what it is,” Stefanik said. “I’ve had a very nice and rewarding career.” 

Stefanik captured his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship in 1989 when he edged Ruggiero by just six points, the second-smallest margin in the division’s history. During the course of the next 12 years, Stefanik ran a full schedule nine times and captured the series title in five of those seasons (1991, ’97, ’98, 2001, ’02). His seventh title came in 2006 when he registered just one victory but finished in the top-ten in 15 of 16 races. He was also voted most popular driver in 1997, 98, and 2001. 

Stefanik also holds two titles in the NASCAR Camping World Series East (at the time known as the Busch North Series) in 1997 and 1998. Not only did he capture the title in this series, he also captured his third and fourth Modified titles with 22 wins and 30 top-fives. During that same time span he earned six wins and 31 top-10’s in 39 starts in the stock cars. 

(Statistical information courtesy NASCAR) 

TSI Harley-Davidson 150 

It seems that Mother Nature has it in for Stafford Motor Speedway on Friday nights. After the successful season opening Spring Sizzler, the regular Friday night program has been rained out for the past three weeks. Although today started out bright and sunny, just after 9:00 p.m. the skies opened up for a short, but heavy, rain shower. Of course, it was the only rain cell in all of Connecticut this evening! 

After a one hour and 45 minute delay to get the track dried, the Dare Stocks took to the track to run their 15 minute feature and get some rubber back down on the track surface. 

The WMT Modifieds then staged for their race which began at 11:33 p.m. The normal curfew for racing at Stafford is midnight, but as long as the race is begun before that time, they can run the full event. 

Chuck Hossfeld led the field to the green with Bobby Grigas staying right beside him for the entire first lap. They were side-by-side as they completed lap one with Hossfeld just edging for the point on lap two. Grigas dropped in behind Hossfeld as they crossed the stripe for the second time. Almost the entire field is now single file with the #46 of Eric Beers in third and the #36 of Ted Christopher in fourth. Todd Szegedy rounds out the top five and by lap ten the first five cars have pulled away from the rest of the field. 

On lap 11 the first caution flies as the #5 of Charlie Pasteryak and the #8 of Glenn Tyler spin in turn three. Neither sustained any damage and both continue on. 

Back to green on lap 14 – however the caution flies quickly as the #8 and #33 of Wade Cole come off of pit road right in front of the leaders. Mike Stefanik spins onto the back stretch grass as the field checks up. 

Hossfeld still leads with Grigas, Beers and Christopher in tow. Ted Christopher is attempting to win his 100^th race at Stafford in this event. Before the rains came, Christopher took win number 99 in the SK Modified event. 

It seems we can’t get going again as Reggie Ruggiero gets loose on the backstretch and causes the rest of the field to check up with several cars spinning and banging into each other. The #11 of Anthony Sesely, as well as the #77 of Rick Fuller, sustains heavy damage and head to pit road with Ruggiero for repairs. The #1 of Rob Summers is towed to the infield and along with Fuller, is done for the night. 

Lap 26 we try again for green with Hossfeld getting the jump on Grigas. Beers and Christopher are side-by-side for third with Beers pulling ahead after two more circuits. Richard Savary brings out the next caution on lap 30 as he gets loose and spins in turn four. He doesn’t hit anything or anyone, but it’s enough for another yellow flag! 

Hossfeld has the strong car tonight and heads to the point position again. Grigas, Beers, and Christopher continue to follow with Szegedy a strong fifth. He has moved up from his 14^th starting position. 

Grigas gets by Hossfeld on lap 39 to take the lead. Szegedy continues to look around Christopher but can’t quite make the pass – yet. 

Grigas is opening the lead as we head to lap 50. He has at least ten cars lengths on Hossfeld. In the second group of cars starting with seventh position, Ronnie Silk is working on Jimmy Blewett and finally takes the position on the 51^st circuit when Blewett gets loose. Grigas continues to open up his lead which is up to 20 cars lengths by lap 60. 

Blewett sling shots past Silk to take the spot on lap 65. On the next circuit, Ryan Preece in the #3 gets loose on the backstretch and slides through the grass dropping from sixth to fourteenth. 

The cars are stretched around the track and the leader will be catching the back of the pack very soon as we head to the half-way point. 

Grigas gets loose on lap 84 and almost hits the wall. This give Hossfeld a chance to gain some ground. Lap cars are also coming in to play much to Hossfeld’s advantage as he continues to reel in the leader. 

Lap 90 the #17 of Glen Reen spins through the backstretch grass bringing out the next caution. We’ve had a 60 lap green flag run. This now puts Hossfeld and Grigas back on the front row together unless someone pits. The top seven cars head to the pits for fresh tires, giving the point position to #59 of Matt Hirschman. He is followed by #99 Jaime Tomaino, #88 Woody Pitkat and #46 Eric Beers. The former leader, Grigas, gets boxed in on pit road and loses quite a few spots – he is now back to twelfth spot. 

Restart on Lap 96 with Hirschman jumping to the point. Hossfeld dives to the inside to take second on lap 99 as they come off turn four.  

Lap 100 – 2/3rds of the way through the event with the field back to single file racing for the most part. Ryan Preece spins to the grass of turn 3 on lap 103. There are 21 cars on the lead lap. 

Green lap 107 with Hirschman and Hossfeld side-by-side through two laps. However it’s a quick green as 3 more cars spin on the front stretch for another yellow. Ronnie Silk made a pass just before the yellow to take the third spot from Beers. 

Restart lap 114 with Hossfeld on the inside of Hirschman, He pulls ahead coming off turn two and Ronnie Silk follows to move into second with Todd Szegedy moving into third. Christopher also follows by for fourth. Stefanik has moved up to seventh. 

Hossfeld continues to pull away as we moved towards 25 laps to go. Preece in 2^nd with Christopher in 3^rd.  

The top three open up a huge lead on fourth by lap 130. If we go caution free, the race is down to Hossfeld, Szegedy and Christopher. 

Well, so much for caution free – lap 134 Ronnie Silk, the #79 gets “dumped” by a light hit from Mike Stefanik heading into turn three. He hits the wall and is done for the night. This team is really gelling and I expect to see him in victory lane very soon. 

We go green with 11 laps to go. Hossfeld gets another good start but Szegedy is fighting to stay even. Hossfeld clears the #2 as they cross the line with Christopher right behind Szegedy. Stefanik has moved to fourth with Beers and Flemke following.  

Five laps to go and Hossfeld has opened up a big lead again. Glen Tyler tries to pull onto pit road on the frontstretch, but fails to get behind the wall bringing out the yellow hanky. This will set up a green-white-checker finish. 

Szegedy tries a bonsai move on Hossfeld as the take the green and almost loses it! He pulls back into second and Hossfeld will take his first checkered flag since July 31, 2004. 

Szegedy finishes second followed by Christopher, Stefanik, Blewett, Beers, Flemke, Preece, Civali and Hirschman. 

Chuck said they made an adjustment on their pit stop that made the car better. He congratulated his entire team headed by Bob Gabarino. He continued that he loves driving in the Modified Tour and was glad to find a ride for the season. 

Todd Szegedy was one of the first to congratulate Chuck on his win. Commenting on the last restart, he stated, “Restarts remind me of my drag racing days! If my car shifted a little better, I might have made it past him, but finishing is most important – I didn’t want to wreck us.”

Dave and Hazel Meredith of Stratford, CT, have covered auto racing for many different medias including NASCAR Online, Mod Series Scene, Pitstopper Magazine, and currently with Busch East Scene as a modified reporter and photographer. Dave my be contacted at RACEnFISH@aol.com.