STEFANIK CAPTURES STAFFORD FALL FINAL FOR EIGHTH TIME
First Win Of Season For Series’ All-Time Winningest Driver

   Mike Stefanik capped off a dominating weekend at Stafford Motor Speedway by reaching Victory Lane in the CARQUEST Fall Final for the eighth time in his illustrious career.
   Stefanik (No. 16 Diversified Metals/Ace Moldings Pontiac) won the Coors Light Pole Award on Saturday and used the front row starting position to his advantage as he led 129 of the 150 laps in Sunday’s race.
   The win Stefanik's eighth in the Fall Final, Stafford 's traditional season-ending race. It was also his 20th all-time win at track and the 69th in his career overall. All three totals are NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour records.
   Matt Hirschman (No. 59 Ed Bennett Properties Chevrolet) came home second to Stefanik on Sunday. With the runner-up finish, Hirschman now trails series leader Ted Christopher by just 35 points with one race remaining on the schedule. Christopher (No. 36 Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet) finished sixth.
   Chuck Hossfeld (No. 4 Mystic Missile Dodge) was third, while Todd Szegedy (No. 2 Xtra Mart/Wisk-Snuggle Ford) and Eric Beers (No. 46 Reynold’s Auto Wrecking/Sunoco Chevrolet) rounded out the top five finishers.
   The rest of the top 10 consisted of Christopher, Rowan Pennink, Anthony Sesely, Glenn Tyler and Kevin Goodale. It was the best finish of the season for Sesely and Tyler.
   Prior to the race NASCAR legend Bobby Allison was honored for his 1964 and 1965 NASCAR Modified division titles as part of the celebration of 60 Years of Modified Champions.
   The 2008 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship will come down to the season finale at Thompson ( Conn. ) International Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 19. For Xtra Mart World Series ticket information, please visit Thompson’s official Web Site (thompsonspeedway.com).

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-CARQUEST Fall Final Results
Sunday At Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford, CT
Lap length: 0.5 miles

        (Start position in parentheses)
  1.   (1) Mike Stefanik, Coventry , R.I. , Pontiac , 150 laps, 73.912 mph, $7,600.
  2. (13) Matt Hirschman, Northampton , Pa. , Chevrolet, 150, $3,300.
  3.   (6) Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville , N.Y. , Dodge, 150, $2,900.
  4. (12) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield , Conn. , Ford, 150, $2,700.
  5.   (4) Eric Beers, Northampton , Pa. , Chevrolet, 150, $2,900.
  6.   (2) Ted Christopher, Plainville , Conn. , Chevrolet, 150, $2,200.
  7. (22) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley , Pa. , Chevrolet, 150, $2,850.
  8. (19) Anthony Sesely, Matawan , N.J. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,500.
  9. (20) Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays , N.Y. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,750.
10. (21) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $1,250.
11. (14) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington , Conn. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,550.
12.   (5) Rob Summers, Vernon , Conn. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,118.
13. (15) Jimmy Blewett, Howell , N.J. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,600.
14. (26) Rick Fuller, Auburn , Mass. , 150, $1,075.
15. (16) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk , Conn. , Pontiac , 150, $1,550.
16.   (9) Danny Sammons, Hamilton , N.J. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,410.
17. (23) Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown , N.J. , Dodge, 150, $1,385.
18. (11) Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield , Mass. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,360.
19. (29) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $1,335.
20.   (3) Glen Reen, Wilbraham , Mass. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,610.
21.   (8) Doug Coby, Milford , Conn. , Chevrolet, 149, $1,280.
22. (30) Ken Heagy, Calverton , N.Y. , Ford, 149, $1,250.
23. (28) Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury , Conn. , Chevrolet, 148, $825.
24. (31) Joe Hartmann, Calverton , N.Y. , Chevrolet, 148, $1,225.
25. (27) Wade Cole, Riverton , Conn. , Chevrolet, 147, $1,225.
26.   (7) Jamie Tomaino, Howell , N.J. , Chevrolet, 147, $1,225.
27. (32) Tom Abele, Jr., Norwich , Conn. , Chevrolet, 147, $1,225.
28. (10) Ryan Preece, Kensington , Conn. , Chevrolet, 116, timing chain, $1,325.
29. (17) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill , Conn. , Ford, 87, suspension, $825.
30. (24) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire , Conn. , Chevrolet, 80, drive shaft, $825.
31. (18) Eric Berndt, Cromwell , Conn. , Chevrolet, 71, engine, $825.
32. (25) Richard Savary, Canton , Mass. , Chevrolet, 62, caliper, $1,425.
33. (33) Jake Marosz, Middletown , Conn. , Chevrolet, 51, handling, $1,225.

Race Statistics:
Time of Race: 1 hour 0 minutes 53 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.165 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: M.Stefanik (99.130 mph, 18.158 seconds)
Caution Flags: 5 for 27 laps.
Lead Changes: 4 among 3 drivers.
Lap Leaders: M.Stefanik 1-62; R.Summers 63-82; M.Stefanik 83-91; R.Preece 92; M.Stefanik
93-150.

Standings: 1. T.Christopher, 2261; 2. M.Hirschman, 2226; 3. T.Szegedy, 2118; 4. C.Hossfeld, 2081; 5. M.Stefanik, 2011; 6. R.Silk, 1993; 7. E.Beers, 1981; 8. R.Pennink, 1889; 9. J.Blewett, 1851; 10. R.Preece, 1827.

THE END