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Spring In His Step: Christopher Walks Away With Another Sizzler Victory

By Jason Christley, NASCAR
April 27, 2008 - 4:16pm

STAFFORD, Conn. – Ted Christopher already has the record for most wins at Stafford Motor Speedway but has no intention of slowing down.

Christopher reached another milestone Sunday with his fourth Tech-Net Spring Sizzler victory in the 200-lap NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race, tying Mike Stefanik for the most wins at four in the main event for Stafford’s flagship season-opening weekend.

“At this point in time, I just break records,” said Christopher, after picking up his eighth tour win at Stafford and 98 in all divisions at the track. “I guess it doesn’t matter that I’m 50.”

Eric Beers was second, followed by Chuck Hossfeld, Stefanik and James Civali. Rowan Pennink, Richard Savary, Jamie Tomaino, Todd Szegedy and Glenn Tyler rounded out the top 10.

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Christopher has won six NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championships in the track’s SK Modified division. The experience he’s garnered running the historic half-mile on a weekly basis paid off in the season’s second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race.

He led two times for 79 laps, sliding underneath Beers for the lead for the final time on lap 171. It was Christopher’s pre-race strategy of two pit stops – once at lap 52 and the second giving up the lead on lap 142 – that gave him fresh tires to charge through the field in the final quarter of the race.

“Mike Stefanik says that puts me in a tough situation,” Christopher said. “But it’s a better situation for the fans.”

Christopher emerged from the final pit stop in 11th.

“It’s a lot of stuff you learn and know,” said Christopher of the pit calls. “And hoping it works out that way and it did. For me, it’s passing whoever is in front of me. When I get to the point where there’s nobody left to pass, I’m in front.”

A restart on lap 193 gave Beers one more shot.

“The heat cycles killed us – his tires just fired a little faster because his were fresher,” said Beers, who opted to pit earlier. “We just wanted to run up front and pit at a time were we didn’t have to come back up through the field.”

Hossfeld passed Stefanik for third following the final restart. After finishing second in the Icebreaker, Hossfeld took over the points lead by 21 over Christopher.

“It’s so competitive, it’s always in your mind,” Hossfeld said. “I guess it’s better being in first than somewhere else.”

Ryan Preece, who became the youngest Coors Light Pole Award Saturday, led 64 laps before motor problems ended his day in 29th.

Prior to the race, NASCAR and the track honored 1966 NASCAR Modified Division champion Ernie Gahan and the late Red Byron, the 1948 NASCAR Modified champion.