A LOOK BACK AT THE 1998
STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY SEASON

By: Scott Running

1998 was the 14th season of the Stafford Motor Speedway / CARQUEST Auto Parts relationship. CARQUEST Auto Parts was once again the title sponsor of the Whelen Modified Tour Spring Sizzler as well as the CARQUEST 300 as part of the CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend. CARQUEST Auto Parts also continued their support of the Busch North Series with the CARQUEST 150. The CARQUEST Quest For Success Award of $100 to the driver who was voted by the media as showing the most determination was given out each week for the sixth consecutive season.

The Whelen Modified Tour made four stops to Stafford during the 1998 season with Mike Stefanik winning the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, the May TSI Harley-Davidson 150, and the season ending CARQUEST 300. Breaking up Stefanik's Whelen Modified Tour dominance at Stafford was Rick Fuller, who took the checkered flag in the the August Town Fair Tire 150.

1998 was the second consecutive season that Stefanik won three of the four Whelen Modified Tour visits to Stafford. The Busch North Series made two visits to Stafford during the 1998 season with Rick Fuller winning the CARQUEST 150 and Mike Stefanik winning the Stafford 150 event.

The SK Modifieds® entered their 17th season of competition with Bo Gunning taking down his second career Stafford track championship. The championship fight looked like it was going to be Mike Christopher's for the taking for much of the year, but while Christopher encountered engine difficulties towards season's end, Gunning went on a mad dash that saw him win four of the final five Friday night events leading into the season ending CARQUEST Fall Final that took him from championship pretender to championship contender. Gunning won a total of 6 feature events to lead the division, while Mike Christopher won 3 times and Lloyd Agor scored 2 wins. Jimmy Broderick, Curt Brainard, Ted Christopher, Bob Potter, Bob Georgiades, and Chris Jones each won once.

The 1998 season was the 12th season of Late Model competition at Stafford and it was a championship fight for the ages between Chuck Zentarski and Doug Coby. Prior to the 1998 season, Coby had never won a feature at Stafford. Coby won the first two races of the year, but Zentarski came on strong during the summer and he led the standings for much of the season. The championship went all the way down to the final race where Zentarski retired with mechanical trouble, allowing Coby to take his first career championship. Coby's 4 wins led the division, while Tom Butler won 3 times and Ryan Posocco, Zentarski, and Dennis Botticello each won twice. Single event feature wins were turned in by Tom Keller, Jim Peterson, and Dave Ellison.

The ProStocks entered their 9th season of competition at Stafford Motor Speedway, with Tom Fearn winning the track championship. Fearn was in control of the points race from start to finish, but Jim Mavlouganes came on like gang busters in the second half of the year to nearly take the championship away from Fearn. Fearn led the division with 6 victories, while Mavlouganes won 4 races and Brad Boissonneault and Chuck Docherty each won twice. Single feature victories were turned in by Mike O'Sullivan and Kevin Czarnecki.

The 1998 season was the 6th season of DARE Stock competition and leading the way was Jose Rodriguez and Gary Spinnato, who each scored 3 victories. Tony Hurd and Rick Lanagan each won twice with single event wins going to Jeff Luginbuhl, John Yale, Sr., and Peter Kesilewski.