Pete Stefanski - George Smith Photo
Syracuse, NY — October 11, 2008 — By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
Overall Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock points leader Pete Stefanski earned the pole position start for the BNC Motorsports Pro Stock Championship during Super DIRT Week for the second straight year. Saturday afternoon was even more special for the Wheatfield, New York full-fender veteran as he became just the second driver to crack the 100 mph barrier in the 12th edition of the annual Pro Stock title race at the New York State Fairgrounds.
“I’m still lacking a little motor but we’ll be back again pretty strong on Sunday and whatever happens, happens ,” said Stefanski, 38, after collected $500 for his second consecutive Terrell’s Potato Chips Pole Award. Popular Canadian traveler Joey Ladouceur was second quickest to win the $250 prize also posted by Terrell’s in support of DIRTcar Racing NorthEast’s top full-fender touring division.
“A lot of guys here this week have brand new motors or rebuilds, my only disadvantage might be the 28 races on the one we’ve got under the hood. I’d like to get something fresh for here but there just hasn’t been any time. We’ve got a brand new body so we’ll still be alright, although running a mile always tends to expose any weakness,” noted Stefanski, who finished third last autumn in the BNC 25 and settled for runner-up honors two years ago to stand as a pillar of consistency at the famous fairgrounds oval.
Stefanski was the best out of 46 cars that ran under the clocks on a vintage fall day, earning the pole starting position for the 25-Lap BNC Motorsports Pro Stock Championship with a time of 35.961 seconds (100.108 mph). Steering the sleek Sunrise Racing no. 2 SanTer Sewing-Totem Pole Novelties/Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the Western New York standout joined fellow tour contender Louie Jackson who toured the notorious Moody Mile in a time of 35.898 sec. (100.284 mph) en route to taking the checkered flag in 2006.
Stationed almost exactly in the middle of the field on pit row scheduled to run his two laps under the clocks, Stefanski set fast time and watched as Eastern New York invader Eric Marin recorded the second fastest time before Ladouceur bumped him from the podium 10 cars from the end. Buckled into his familiar black Club Sweet Dreams no. 92 Coffrage 20-20-Leisure Days RV/Chevrolet Monte Carlo, posted a time of 36.010 seconds to earn a front row spot alongside Stefanski on Sunday.
“My only strategy is to get out of the blocks as quick as I can and see how long I can stay there,” added Stefanski, who is on the verge of clinching an unprecedented third consecutive Mr. DIRTcar Championship, a feat that has never been pulled off in any division since the inception of DIRTcar Racing in 1976. Its tough to pass so if I get jumped on the start or start to fade back I won’t be able to do too much. Its not like Fulton was last week, anything three-wide here and you’re in the wall.”
The top-24 drivers are now locked into the starting grid for Sunday’s BNC Motorspotrs Pro Stock Championship event. Following the fast times posted by Stefanski and Ladouceur to round out the top six drivers were part-time Orange County Fair Speedway runners Eric Marin and Sean Corr, Stefanski’s engine owner P.J. Peters, and 1999 Syracuse fast timer Tom Kuck. Defending BNC 25 titlist Don Carlson from Ridgefield, Connecticut put his Benziger Winery no. 26 Kleer Trim Board/EMS entry out on the track fourth and his time of 36.674 seconds held up eighth-quickest for last year’s outside pole winner.
Line-ups for a pair of ‘Dig Safely New York Last Chance Race’ qualifiers have been set with 22 drivers looking to secure a spot on Sunday’s starting grid, with the eventual BNC 25 winner taking home the first-place check of $2,000.
SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXVII PRO STOCK TIME TRIALS: @ NYS Fairgrounds, Oct. 11
FAST AVE
RANK TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 35.961 100.108 2 Pete Stefanski/North Tonawanda,NY
$500 – Terrell’s Potato Chips Pole
2 36.010 99.972 92 Joey Ladouceur/Alexandria ONT
$250 – Terrell’s Potato Chips Outside Pole
3 36.188 99.480 214 Eric Marin/Carmel,NY
4 36.328 99.097 8C Sean Corr/Goshen,NY
5 36.358 99.015 73 PJ Peters/Akwesasne, NY
6 36.462 98.733 79 Tom Kuck/Mahopac,NY
7 36.474 98.700 322 Jay Casey/Canaan,CT
8 36.674 98.162 26 Don Carlson/Ridgefield,CT
9 36.712 98.061 18W Bob Waters Jr./Stony Point,NY
10 36.751 97.957 18 Louie Jackson/Akwesasne,NY
11 36.768 97.911 8 Jay Corbin/Rensselaer,NY
12 36.815 97.786 4A Roch Aubin/Alexandria,ONT
13 36.836 97.730 76 Kevin Arnold/Averill Park,NY
14 36.846 97.704 99 Mike Martin/Lockport, NY
15 36.936 97.466 27X Nick Stone/Schenectady,NY
16 36.972 97.371 324 Jason Casey/Canaan,CT
17 37.036 97.203 10 Brett Martn/Burt,NY
18 37.054 97.156 27 Gilles Godard/Cornwall,ONT
19 37.068 97.119 25 Chad Jeseo/Averill Park,NY
20 37.136 96.941 38M Mike Middleton/East Greenbush,NY
21 37.161 96.876 12S Matt Shadic/Craryville,NY
22 37.180 96.826 88 Allen Peters/Massena,NY
23 37.335 96.424 72 Denis Gauvreau/Gatineau,OUE
24 37.480 96.051 17 Nick Hilt Jr./Averill Park,NY
25 37.524 95.939 315 Jonathon Routhier/Canaan,CT
26 37.526 95.933 4 Dean Charbonneau/Clifton Park,NY
27 37.583 95.788 35 Rick Dempsey/Nassau,NY
28 37.604 95.734 12G Eric Greenlief/Middleport,NY
29 37.651 95.615 xXx Morgan David/Akwesasne,NY
30 37.699 95.493 11X Junior Barnes/Akwesasne,NY
31 37.717 95.448 1 Mike Vigiletti/Stony Point,NY
32 37.783 95.281 48 Dion Oakes/Akwesasne, NY
33 37.842 95.132 05 Jocelyn Roy/St-Helene,QUE
34 37.869 95.065 93J Sheldon Martin./Scotia,NY
35 38.066 94.573 73J Troy Arnold/Middletown,NY
36 38.197 94.248 20 Joe Allen/Dingsman Ferry,PA
37 38.215 94.204 69 Jody Swamp /Hogansburg,NY
38 38.348 93.877 49 Billy Woodward Jr./Norwood,NY
39 38.349 93.875 33 Bruno Cyr/Carignan,QUE
40 38.387 93.782 188 David Papineau/Akwesasne,ONT
41 38.446 93.638 17J Ken Hartshorn/Lowville,NY
42 38.992 92.327 01 Vincent Santoro/Green Island,NY
43 39.044 92.204 6X Travis Back/Akwesasne,NY
44 39.297 91.610 6 Stephane Lebrun/Gatineau,QUE
45 41.421 86.912 00 Kim Duell/Green Island,NY
46 45.496 79.128 44 Steve Hankle/Averill Park,NY
47 -NT- —– 7 Rob Yetman/Castleton,NY
48 -NT- —– 31X Ron Richter/Alden,NY
49 -NT- —– 93 Kenny Martin Jr./Scotia,NY
50 -NT- —– BA98 Steve Johnston/Ingelside,ONT
51 -NT- —– 37W Ricky Thompson/Hogansburg,NY
52 -NT- —– 7M Tim McCarthy/Ridgefield,CT
*Top-24 advance to BNC Motorsports Championship starting grid.
SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXVII EVENTS SCHEDULE: October 12, 2008
*All times and events subject to change.
DAY-DATE TIME EVENT
Sun-10/12
8am Pit Gates Open;
9:15am BNC Motorsports Pro Stock Driver’s Meeting (in pit building);
9:30am AAP Rite Aid 200 Modified Driver and Crew Chief Meeting (in pit building);
10am Grandstands Open, Track Open for Pro Stock Final Practice;
10:20am Advance Auto Parts Series Rite Aid 200 Final practice;
10:45am Dig Safely New York Pro Stock Last Chance Qualifier;
11:15am Dig Safely New York Modified Last Chance Qualifier;
11:45am Mandatory Advance Auto Parts Modified Top-30 Autograph Signing under grandstand (Top 30 in Thursday Time Trials);
12:00pm BNC Motorsports Pro Stock Championship (25 laps, 30 cars to start);
12:45-1:45pm Rite Aid Cold Pit Tour of Pit Row;
1:30pm Rite Aid 200 Modified Championship Pre-Race ceremonies;
2:15pm Rite Aid 200 Modified Championship (200 laps, 44 cars to start)
Mon-10/13
-TBA- Rain Date for Saturday or Sunday events.
Headquartered in Roanoke, Va., Advance Auto Parts, a leading automotive aftermarket retailer of parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items in the United States, serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets As of April 19, 2008, the Company operated 3,291 stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Additional information about the Company, employment opportunities, customer services, and on-line shopping for parts and accessories can be found on the Company’s web site at www.advanceautoparts.com.
The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., Rite Aid Corporation and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks and Wrisco Industries.
