Mike Stefanik
| Mike Stefanik | |||||||
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Stefanik in 2000
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| Born |
May 20, 1958 Wilbraham, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| Achievements | 1989, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2006 Whelen Modified Tour Champion 1997, 1998 Busch North Series Champion |
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| 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) |
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| 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) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Camping World 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) | ||||||
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| Statistics current as of March 25, 2013. | |||||||
Michael Stefanik (born May 20, 1958) is a former American professional 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 most in NASCAR history.
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 1990's, 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 (Now K&N Pro East) 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 frist full winless season came in 2010. He won his last race at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2013, and started his last race in 2014.
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.
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