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The Mike Stefanik built No. x6 car that his daughter Nicole drove Sunday at Thompson in tribute of her late father (Photo: Courtesy Ben Althen)

On Sunday, NASCAR and Thompson Speedway paid tribute to seven-time series champion Mike Stefanik before the running of the season ending Sunoco World Series 150.

Stefanik, the all-time winningest Whelen Modified Tour driver, died following an Ultra-Light plane crash on Sept. 15 in Sterling.

Prior to the running of the Sunoco World Series 150 a, red No. x6 Stefanik built Tour Type Modified appeared on the track to take laps to honor the man who built it.

Behind the wheel of the car was Stefanik’s daughter Nicole Coleman, who learned how to drive the car last week.

Nicole Coleman, daughter of the late Mike Stefanik, strapped into her father’s car for her tribute laps before the Sunoco World Series 150 Sunday at Thompson Speedway (Photo: Fran Lawlor/RaceDayCT)

Nicole Coleman, daughter of the late Mike Stefanik, strapped into her father’s car with her mother Julie Stefanik before the Sunoco World Series 150 Sunday at Thompson Speedway (Photo: Fran Lawlor/RaceDayCT)

Late Sunday Ben Althen, a crew member on Chris Pasteryak’s Whelen Modified Tour team, shared a fascinating Twitter story on the car and it’s lineage.

Mike Stefanik’s home built car, last run in 1995. Rolled off the track and into a barn almost untouched – until now. pic.twitter.com/pJPBKpg16k — Ben A (@Ben_A_09) October 13, 2019

1) It’s story time boys and girls. I’m into chassis history and this chassis was special in a few ways. Steffy built it as a 4 link rear suspension with lower A frame front suspension, which was not normal in asphalt modifieds. — Ben A (@Ben_A_09) October 14, 2019

2) He had driven a 4 link Race Works car and liked it so he built his own car in 1993, which debuted as 14 and 44. pic.twitter.com/Su0cjflG31 — Ben A (@Ben_A_09) October 14, 2019

3) He started driving for Bacon and Beal in the x6 which ran Race Works chassis, but wasn’t running the best. He had his own car so they painted it red and renunbered it x6. That is where the original chassis was parked pic.twitter.com/3HJLwDQw5C — Ben A (@Ben_A_09) October 14, 2019

4) The crew chief on the x6, Barry Kuhnel, likes the design so they built a new one in 1996 pic.twitter.com/cwo3ac9wRd — Ben A (@Ben_A_09) October 14, 2019

This led to 2 more being built for 1997 and 1998, which absolutely decimated the modified field pic.twitter.com/Ks6WEJO9vU — Ben A (@Ben_A_09) October 14, 2019

6) In 1998 Steffy went to run trucks so the x6 team cut back to part time, and Barry Kuhnel went to Garry Cretty’s team, with Troyer’s driven by Tony Hirschman. Mid season Kuhnel built a new chassis based on the Steffy 4 link car, and they went on to win the championship pic.twitter.com/9jLvuHkpCb — Ben A (@Ben_A_09) October 14, 2019

7) For 2000, the Hirschman/Cherry/Kuhnel combo continued, with Steffy driving a second car in select races. Mid way through the year Hirschman left, and was replaced by Ted Christopher. pic.twitter.com/VWC9BLveOs — Ben A (@Ben_A_09) October 14, 2019

8) For 2001, TC came back to Drive the 25 full time. Steffy also came back north, and teamed up with Art Barry and the famed Spearpoint team, and surprise, they won the title pic.twitter.com/KRzJhrHBj0 — Ben A (@Ben_A_09) October 14, 2019

9) Steffy came back in 2002 and won yet another title, making it 5 out of the last 6.



Kuhnel and TC left Cretty to form a new team with Jum Galante, called Mystique Motorsports. With an unlimited budget they built brand new 4 link cars. Everyone knows the history of this team pic.twitter.com/LtUSsaga4e — Ben A (@Ben_A_09) October 14, 2019

10) Barry and Steffy built a new car in 2003, the last one in the line, and naturally won more races. pic.twitter.com/Qsv2uZUdoA — Ben A (@Ben_A_09) October 14, 2019

11) in 2006 Galante went to prison and all the Mystique cars were auctioned off. They were spread about, with some going to TC.



Since then these unique cars haven’t been utilized much, which isn’t a surprise since not many ran them. Only a few other teams used them. — Ben A (@Ben_A_09) October 14, 2019

12) The last one I know being raced was driven my TC’s nephew Mike Jr in 2018, although as a 3 link with Troyer clips.



This lineage of cars shows how Steffy was an innovator, and how not only was he a wheelman, but a smart guy pic.twitter.com/1vhhdb26S3 — Ben A (@Ben_A_09) October 14, 2019

Also: I would be remiss to not give credit where it is due for the photos. All of them up to the last one were taken by the late Howie & Mary Hodge. What they did for the modifieds is immeasurable & shouldn’t be understated. They allowed us to catalogue such great memories — Ben A (@Ben_A_09) October 14, 2019

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