Michael Stefanik Bio, Wiki
Michael Stefanik was born on May 20th, 1958 and died on September 15th, 2019. He was an American professional stock car racing 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 died following a single-seat ultralight aircraft crash in Sterling, Connecticut September 15, 2019.
Michael Stefanik NASCAR
Stefanik ran his first full Whelen Modified Tour season in 1987. Two years later, in 1989, He recorded his first championship in 1989, winning in seven of his 26 starts. 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
Stefanik won nine NASCAR series championships to tie Hall of Famer Richie Evans for the record, topping the Whelen Modified Tour seven times and Busch North Series twice. He also raced in what is now called the NASCAR Xfinity and Gander Outdoors Truck Series, taking rookie of the year honors at age 41 in the truck series in 1999.
Stenanik holds the Whelen Modified Tour record with 74 victories from 1985 to 2014. A six-time nominee for the NASCAR Hall of Fame, he had 12 victories the Busch North Series.
Michael Stefanik Death & Cause (Single-Engine Plane Crash)
Michael Stefanik died in a single-engine plane crash on Sunday, September 15th, 2019. He was 61.
State police say the crash happened Sunday afternoon in Sterling near the Rhode Island state line. They say the single-engine, single-seat Aerolite 103 took off from the Riconn Airport in Coventry, Rhode Island, and had been turning back toward the airfield when it crashed into a wooded area near the airport. NASCAR confirmed that Stefanik was killed in the accident.
“Mike Stafanik was one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history, but even more so, he was a true representative of our sport,” NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France said in a statement. “His tough, competitive nature and excellence on the race track won him the admiration of cans and competitors alike.”
We are saddened to hear the news about nine-time NASCAR Champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Mike Stefanik’s passing. NASCAR statement: pic.twitter.com/VqRBxBpB18
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 16, 2019
