{"id":4865,"date":"2008-09-27T06:29:07","date_gmt":"2008-09-27T11:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/100.24.212.105\/?p=4865"},"modified":"2010-11-19T06:31:44","modified_gmt":"2010-11-19T12:31:44","slug":"stefanski-cops-1st-mr-dirtcar-pro-stock-series-win-at-rolling-wheels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dirtcar.com\/dirtcar-ne\/pro-stocks\/stefanski-cops-1st-mr-dirtcar-pro-stock-series-win-at-rolling-wheels\/","title":{"rendered":"Stefanski Cops 1st Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Series Win At Rolling Wheels"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pete Stefanski - Alex Bruce Photo<\/p><\/div>\n
Elbridge, NY<\/strong> \u2014 September 27, 2008 \u2013 By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director \n<\/strong> \nAlready a two-time overall Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Champion and DIRTcar Racing NorthEast\u2019s career win leader during the regular season, Pete Stefanski did something he had had never done before on Saturday night as he finally reached victory lane at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park.<\/p>\n
Stefanski\u2019s victory over tour rival Denis Gauvreau catapulted him past three-time Mr. DIRTcar points king Jipp Ortiz with his group-best 18th series wins to further tighten his stronghold in the 2008 title chase. No driver in any DIRTcar division has garnered three straight championship crowns and Stefanski is well on his way to being the first in the organization\u2019s 33 years of operation after a decisive win Saturday at Rolling Wheels in the \u2018DTD 30\u2019 feature event.<\/p>\n
\u201cIts great to finally get a win here, we\u2019ve been so close so many times and gone home empty handed,\u201d said Stefanski, after registering his fourth tour win in eight outings this season. The Wheatland, New York pilot put his Sunrise Racing no. 2 SanTer Sewing-Totem Pole Novelties\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the winner\u2019s circle for the 10th time in 2008, adding to his DIRTcar-best total of 76 feature race triumphs netted since 2000. \u201cBut there are still three more races to go and a lot can happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stefanski finished second in his qualifying heat and the luck of the draw put him sixth on the starting grid with tour regular David Papineau and Morgan David in his series debut failing to take the opening green. Ricky Thompson was a front runner all night, copping his preliminary event then drawing the pole to begin the 30-lap finale to help close out World Series Weekend presented by Taylor Rental.<\/p>\n
With plenty of moisture evident around the entire Elbridge oval, Steve Johnston slipped low on the opening circuit and rode the turn one inside cement barrier to incur the first caution period. Thompson dashed ahead for an early advantage with Stefanski already occupying third with one lap complete. Two laps later he improved to second and was followed almost immediately by popular Frenchman Gauvreau, who claimed this same event in 2006.<\/p>\n
A third of the way through Stefanski was sandwiched between leader Thompson and tour runner-up Gauvreau with the foursome of \u201906 rookie of the year Dion Oakes, Roch Aubin, P.J. Peters and 2004 Mr. DIRTcar titlist Joey Ladouceur trading paint a few seconds back.<\/p>\n
Ladouceur suddenly looped his Sweet Dreams no. 92 Minimax Express\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo mount in turn one to lose valuable ground and signal the second slowdown of the race. With Thompson restarting on the inside lane, yellow lights flashed for a third time immediately after when Stefanski was warned for jumping out front too early once the green flag unfurled. Yet that only delayed the inevitable as the final exchange up front would come seven laps later.<\/p>\n
But before Stefanski could make the pivotal move, top points chaser Peters suffered a flat right-front tire to relinquish fifth-place and require another caution on lap 17. Stefanski shadowed Thompson on the ensuing restart and ducked low entering turn two where he emerged as the new leader. And like he had been doing all race long, Gauvreau followed suit and mirrored the maneuver in the second corner on lap 19 to set the stage for a final shootout.<\/p>\n
But Stefanski never backed off, posting the fastest lap of the race on lap 23 before encountering traffic with a half-dozen laps still to go. Fifth-place runner and Holley Hard Luck award recipient Aubin lost a right-rear wheel on lap 26 and Roger Levesque looped low out of turn two to force out the final two yellow flags yet under the checkers it was Stefanski by five car-lengths over Gauvreau withThompson settling for the show position ahead of Oakes and a hard-charging Ladouceur.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a little tough to pass out the there with a narrow track most of the way around,\u201d added Stefanski, who left Rolling Wheels with a comfortable 117-point advantage over runner-up Gauvreau after recording his eighth top-five feature finish in as many starts. \u201cI just hung close and waited for Ricky to slide up. Fortunately, that ended up being the case and I just stuck the nose in there and was able to get the job done.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2008 Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Series returns to action in less than one week when Fulton Speedway hosts the Northeast\u2019s top traveling teams in the full-fender portion of the Schneider Brothers 200 Weekend on Friday, October 3. Four-time race winner Stefanski is also the three-time defending champion in Fulton\u2019s 23rd annual season-ending affair.<\/p>\n
Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Championship Series Race #8 \u2013 Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, September 27, 2008 \u2018DTD 30\u2019 Event Summary \nFeature <\/strong> \nFIN ST CAR# DRIVER \/ HOMETOWN \n1 6 2 Pete Stefanski\/Wheatfield,NY($1,000) \n2 4 72 Denis Gauvreau\/Gatineau,QUE \n3 1 37w Ricky Thompson\/Hogansburg,NY \n4 3 48 Dion Oakes\/Akwesasne,NY \n5 12 92.1 Joey Ladouceur\/Alexandria,ONT \n6 5 71 Scott Gribben\/Royalton,NY \n7 13 6 Stephane Lebrun\/Gatineau,QUE \n8 8 88 Allen Peters\/Massena,NY \n9 2 98t Jack Terrell\/Jamesville,NY \n10 9 73 P.J. Peters\/Akwesasne,QUE \n11 22 33 Bruno Cyr\/Carignan,QUE \n12 20 05 Jocelyn Roy\/St-Helene,QUE \n13 19 ba98 Steve Johnston\/Ingelside,ONT \n14 7 4 Roch Aubin\/Alexandria,ONT \n15 24 11 Mike Vaughn\/Jordan,NY \n16 18 11x Junior Barnes\/Akwesasne,NY \n17 11 6x Travis Back\/Akwesasne,NY \n18 17 2m Mike Martin\/Lockport,NY \n19 23 16 Roger Levesque\/Kingston,ONT \n20 10 26 Don Carlson\/Ridgefield,CT \n21 14 12g Eric Greenlief\/Gasport,NY \n22 16 18 Louie Jackson\/Akwesasne,NY \n23 21 57b Frank Burnell Jr.\/Waterloo,NY \nDNS 15 188 David Papineau\/Akwesasne,NY \nDNS 25 xXx Morgan David\/Akwesasne,NY \nEVENT SUMMARY <\/strong> \nLAP LEADERS: Thompson (1-17), Stefanski (18-30). \nCAUTIONS: 6 (lap 1 lap 11, lap 11, lap 17, lap 26, lap 27). \nHEAT WINNERS: Thompson, Back, Gribben. \nSYRACUSE BNC MOTORSPORTS QUALIFIER: Ricky Thompson. \nHOLLEY HARD LUCK: Roch Aubin. \nCARS ENTERED: 25. \nNEXT EVENT: Fulton Speedway – October 3, 2008. \nQUALIFYING \nHeat Races (8 laps, top 4 went to re-draw) \n#1: Thompson, Aubin, Terrell, Ladouceur, Lebrun, Jackson, Johnston, Cyr. \n#2: Back, Stefanski, Gauvreau, PJ Peters, Greenlief, Martin, Roy, Levesque. \n#3: Gribben, A.Peters, Carlson, Oakes, Papineau, Barnes, Burnell, Vaughn, David.<\/p>\n
UMP\/DIRTcar Pro Stock Entries <\/strong>\u2013 September 27 (25) \nCAR# DRIVER \/ HOMETOWN TEAM (Sponsor \/ Make-Model \/ Chassis) \nxXx Morgan David\/Akwesasne,NY Totem Pole Novelties-Sweet Dreams\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo\/Cannizzaro \n05 Jocelyn Roy\/St-Helene,QUE Roy Racing Products-Lettrage Lucy\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo\/CRT \n2 Pete Stefanski\/Wheatfield,NY Sunrise Racing-SanTer Sewing-Totem Pole Novelties\/Chevy Monte Carlo\/EMS \n2m Mike Martin\/Lockport,NY BJNFB Trailer Sales-Creative Customs\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo\/JACR \n4 Roch Aubin\/Alexandria,ONT Home Hardware-OK Tire-Alain Beaupres Constr.\/Chevy Monte Carlo\/Cannizzaro \n6 Stephane Lebrun\/Gatineau,QUE Mecanotech-Omax Restaurant\/Pontiac Grand Prix\/Wild Thing \n6x Travis Back\/Akwesasne,NY Thompson Motorsports\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo\/Raptor \n11 Mike Vaughn\/Jordan,NY Motel Thomas-John Vaughn Trucking\/Chevrolet Impala\/CSC Sidewinder \n11x Junior Barnes\/Akwesasne,NY Chiefs Tobacco & Gas-Action Race Parts\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo\/Cannizzaro \n12g Eric Greenlief\/Gasport,NY HFI Hydro Fabrication Inc.-N.E.S. Outlet\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo\/Black Widow \n16 Roger Levesque\/Kingston,ONT R.L. Asphalt & Sweeping & Line Painting & Sealing\/Chevy Monte Carlo\/Sparta \n18 Louie Jackson\/Akwesasne,NY Native Cigarettes-Action Race Parts-C&B Enterprise\/Chevy Monte Carlo\/Stinger \n26 Don Carlson\/Ridgefield,CT Benziger Winery-Kleer Trim Board\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo-Dodge Charger\/EMS \n33 Bruno Cyr\/Carignan,QUE Soudure Welding-Secure Deck\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo\/Stinger \n37w Ricky Thompson\/Hogansburg,NY37 West Steakhouse&Lounge-Forbs Copy Ctr\/Chevy Monte Carlo\/Cannizzaro \n48 Dion Oakes\/Akwesasne,NY Orca Power Boats-Mohawk Billiards\/Chevolet Impala\/Cannizzaro \n57b Frank Burnell Jr.\/Waterloo,NY FBR Fabrication-Honeoye Auto Parts-Gevo’s\/Dodge Avenger\/Burnell \n71 Scott Gribben\/Royalton,NY Gerry’s Service-Top Shop Collision\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo\/Stinger \n72 Denis Gauvreau\/Gatineau,QUE Gauvreau Top Soil-Micheline Richard Royal LePage\/Chevy Monte Carlo\/EMS \n73 P.J. Peters\/Akwesasne,QUE Sunrise Bakery-Jake’s Pit Stop\/Chevrolet Impala\/JACR \n88 Allen Peters\/Massena,NY Sunrise Bakery\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo\/Cannizzaro \n92.1 Joey Ladouceur\/Alexandria,ONT Sweet Dreams-Minimax Express\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS\/Stinger \nba98 Steve Johnston\/Ingelside,ONT Snap Trucking-Bub’s Auto\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo\/Stinger \n98t Jack Terrell\/Jamesville,NY Terrell’s Potato Chips-Bachmann-Labatt\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo\/Slawiak \n188 David Papineau\/Akwesasne,NY Skidders Garage-Team Papi\/Chevrolet Monte Carlo\/Cannizzaro<\/p>\n
UPCOMING EVENTS<\/strong>: \nRacing in the Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Championship Series takes a week off before returning to action as part of Schneider Bros. Weekend at Fulton Speedway on October 3, then moves on to the Syracuse Mile for Super DIRT Week XXXVII, Oct. 7-12.<\/p>\n
2008 Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Series Championship Schedule <\/strong> \n*All events subject to change<\/em>. \nDAY-DATE LAPS TRACK LOCATION\/WINNER \nSat-Apr 19 25 Can-Am Motorsports Park Louie Jackson \nThr-Jul 3 25 Rolling Wheels Raceway Don Barnes \nSat-Aug 2 35 Genesee Speedway Pete Stefanski \nSat-Aug 23 50 Autodrome Drummond Pete Stefanski \nSun-Aug 31 50 Cornwall Motor Speedway Pete Stefanski \nSat-Sep 6 30 Mohawk Int’l Raceway rain-cancelled \nSat-Sep 13 100 Autodrome Edelweiss Denis Gauvreau \nSat-Sep 20 30 Canandaigua Speedway Don Carlson \nSat-Sep 27 30 Rolling Wheels Raceway Pete Stefanski \nFri-Oct 3 30 Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY \nSun-Oct 12 25 New York State Fairgrnds Syracuse,NY \nSun-Oct 19 25 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown,NY<\/p>\n
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 and Hoosier Racing Tire. Rite Aid Corporation is a promotional partner and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks, Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Dig Safely New York, Holley HP Carburetors, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks, Rislone Oil Stabilizer and Wrisco Industries<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Elbridge, NY \u2014 September 27, 2008 \u2013 By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director Already a two-time overall Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Champion and DIRTcar Racing NorthEast\u2019s career win leader during the regular season, Pete Stefanski did something he had had never done before on Saturday night as he finally reached victory lane at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[153,154,263,129,168,202,279,55,248,123,267,220,157,175,177],"division":[],"series":[],"regions":[],"class_list":["post-4865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pro-stocks","tag-autodrome-drummond","tag-autodrome-edelweiss","tag-big-block-modified","tag-can-am-motorsports-park","tag-canandaigua-speedway","tag-fulton-speedway","tag-genesee-speedway","tag-modifieds-2","tag-mr-dirtcar","tag-new-york","tag-pro-stock","tag-rolling-wheels-raceway-park","tag-schedule","tag-super-dirt-week","tag-syracuse"],"yoast_head":"\n
Stefanski Cops 1st Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Series Win At Rolling Wheels - DIRTcar Racing<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n