Mike Stefanik
Stefanik at Nazareth Speedway in 2000
Born	Michael Paul Stefanik (1958-05-20)May 20, 1958 Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	September 15, 2019(2019-09-15) (aged 61) Providence,Rhode Island, U.S.[1]
Achievements	1989, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2006Whelen Modified Tour Champion 1997, 1998Busch North Series Champion
Awards	1999Craftsman Truck SeriesRookie of the Year 1997, 1998, 2001Featherlite Modified Series Most Popular Driver 1995, 1997, 1998, 2004Busch North Series Most Popular Driver Named one of the "NASCAR Modified All-Time Top 10 Drivers" (2003) NASCAR Hall of Fame (2022) Named one ofNASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023)
NASCARO'Reilly Auto Parts Series career
26 races run over 9 years
Best finish	56th (2000)
First race	1992Budweiser 300 (Loudon)
Last race	2000Miami 300 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 1 0
NASCARCraftsman Truck Series career
26 races run over 2 years
Best finish	13th (1999)
First race	1998Sam's Town 250 (Las Vegas)
Last race	1999NAPA Auto Parts 200 (Fontana)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 10 0
Statistics up to date as of September 15, 2019.

Michael Paul Stefanik (May 20, 1958 – September 15, 2019) was an American professionalstock car racing driver. He competed mainly in theNASCARWhelen Modified Tour, but also made appearances in theBusch Grand National series and theCraftsman Truck Series. A seven-time champion in the Modified series, Stefanik was named the second greatest NASCAR Modified driver of all-time in 2003.^[2] His nine total championships (two in theBusch North Series) tie him withRichie Evans for the most in NASCAR history.^[3] Stefanik is a member of the 2021 NASCAR Hall of Fame class.

Stefanik ran his first fullWhelen Modified Tour season in 1987.^[4] He recorded his first championship in 1989, winning in seven of his 26 starts.^[5] He continued to be a major player in the 1990s, winning the 1991 series championship, finishing out of the top ten just once that season.^[6] After not running a complete schedule for a few years, Stefanik finished fifth in 1995^[7] and won the 1997^[8] and 1998^[9] titles while simultaneously racing full-time and winning the championship those same years in theBusch North Series. Taking the 2000 season off to run full-time in theCamping World Truck Series, Stefanik won the championship his first two years back, not winning too many races but consistently placing in the top-ten.^[10][11] 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.^[12] Steadily trending downward from there, Stefanik's first full winless season came in 2010.^[13] He won his last race atBristol Motor Speedway in 2013,^[14] and started his last race in 2014.^[15]

In 2013, Stefanik competed in the inauguralUNOH Battle at the Beach at Daytona International Speedway. On the final lap, he was leading until contact with Steve Park sent him spinning; he finished 13th in the race.^[16] Afterwards, when Speed reporter Ray Dunlap arrived to interview him, Stefanik angrily stated he is "that freaking pissed. This is just bullshit."^[17] The interview was subsequently aired onThe Jay Leno Show.^[18]

Stefanik won in only his third start, which came in 1991.^[19] He ran his first full season in 1993^[20] while racing Modifieds and won the 1997 and 1998 championships, pocketing over $100,000 for each season.^[21][22] 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.^{[citation needed]} Stefanik raced full seasons in 2003, 2004 and 2005 while stepping away from Modifieds, but did not have the same amount of success.^[23]

Stefanik moved up to theCraftsman Truck Series, racing forPhelon Motorsports and finishing in the top ten nine times during1999,^[24] achievingRookie of the Year honors.^[25]

Stefanik was elected to the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He was inducted Nov. 11, 2018 by writer Mark "Bones" Bourcier.In 2013, Michael accepted his late brother Bob's induction. Bob and Michael are the fifth pair of brothers enshrined in the NEAR Hall.^[26]

Stefanik was first nominated to theNASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015, and was elected to the Hall in 2022.^[27]

According toConnecticut State Police, on the afternoon of September 15, 2019, Stefanik took off in a friend'sAero-Works Aerolite 103 from Riconn Airport (Greene, Rhode Island), and was headed back when it experienced mechanical problems causing it to lose power and crash in a wooded area inSterling, Connecticut. He was airlifted toRhode Island Hospital, where he died from his injuries.^{[28][29][30][31]}

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

² Competed only in companion events withBusch North Series as BNS driver and ineligible for Busch Series points

• Mike Stefanik driver statistics at Racing-Reference

• 1958 births
• 2019 deaths
• Accidental deaths in Connecticut
• Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States
• NASCAR drivers
• People from Wilbraham, Massachusetts
• Racing drivers from Massachusetts
• Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2019
• NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees
• Sportspeople from Springfield, Massachusetts
• Sportspeople killed in aviation accidents or incidents

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• All articles with unsourced statements
• Articles with unsourced statements from April 2017