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Stafford on Tap for NASCAR Featherlite Modifieds Tour

27 August 1997

              STAFFORD ON TAP FOR NASCAR FEATHERLITE MODS 


GARDINER, ME - Stafford Motor Speedway runs four NASCAR Featherlite 
Modified Tour events per year - each with its own significance. But the 
eighth annual Stafford 150, scheduled for Friday, August 29, is probably most 
significant because of the race that follows it.

This race will serve as the final tune-up for one of the NASCAR Featherlite 
Modified Tour's most prestigious events - the Stafford 300, and in addition 
to the immediate rewards that a good performance will provide, a team can 
come away from the Stafford 150 with a measure of confidence to carry into 
the Stafford 300.

The Stafford 150 should not, however, be written off simply as an R&D event 
for the Stafford 300. There is too much at stake to treat any NASCAR 
Featherlite Modified Tour event lightly, and after all, a win at Modified 
Mecca Stafford is a significant addition to any driver's resume.

Mike Stefanik of Coventry, R.I. is a man on a mission - one goal being to win 
his third NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour title. But, he is being chased by 
a number of drivers who are all interested in seeing that he doesn't 
accomplish that goal.

One driver, Tim Connolly of Endicott, N.Y. has served notice that he and car 
owner Bob Garbarino have begun to click, and he presents one of the strongest 
challenges to Stefanik at Stafford - Garbarino's home track.

Although Stefanik has won the two events run at Stafford so far this year, it 
was Connolly who put a halt to Stefanik's streak of six wins in six starts.

In addition to Connolly, drivers such as Rick Fuller of Auburn, Mass., and 
Mike Ewanitsko of N. Babylon, N.Y. have also picked up multiple wins this 
year, and all are doing their best to unseat Stefanik from the top spot in 
the championship points battle.

Interestingly, Connolly, Ewanitsko and Fuller have each had Stefanik in hot 
pursuit in one of their victories this year while Ewanitsko was the only one 
of the trio to chase Stefanik to one of his checkered flags.

Factor in the drivers who usually score a win or two, but haven't so far this 
year, and you've got the makings of an anything goes, no holds barred event 
that promises to keep the fans on the edge of their seats.

The Stafford 150 is race number 18 on the 23 event schedule. There is still a 
lot of racing to go, but drivers and teams know that things will start to 
tighten up.  

And, time is quickly running out for drivers to log a Stafford win on their 
1997 statistics. 

By NASCAR Public Relations