By Sarah Handy, Staff Writer
61-year old NASCAR Champion Mike Stefanik died on Sunday evening after being involved in a single-engine plane crash near the Rhode Island border in Connecticut.
Stefanik took off from the Riconn Airport in Coventry, Rhode Island in a single-engine single seat Aerolite 103. However, when he was turning back to land the plane crashed in the woods near the airport.
We are saddened to hear the news about nine-time NASCAR Champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Mike Stefanik’s passing. NASCAR statement: pic.twitter.com/VqRBxBpB18
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 16, 2019
Stefanik, who was currently residing in Rhode Island, was brought to a nearby hospital with multiple injuries and later succumbed to those injuries at 6:41pm.
Stefanik, one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history holds the Whelen Modified Tour record with 74 victories coming between 1985,and 2014 and is tied with Hall of Famer Richie Evans with nine NASCAR series championships.
While Stefanik never made it to the NASCAR Cup Series, he did compete in both the NASCAR Busch Series (Now Xfinity) and the Craftsman Truck Series (Now Gander Outdoors). He would make 26 starts in each series in his career.
The @NASCAR community has lost a modified series legend.
We pay tribute to the late Mike Stefanik, a nine-time @NASCARHomeTrack champion who died Sunday in a plane crash at the age of 61. pic.twitter.com/urVjcMxcpQ
— NASCAR on USA (@NASCARonUSA) September 16, 2019
Many in the racing community, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., took to social media to express their condolences. “Breaks my heart. I hope his family and friends can find some peace and comfort somehow.“, said Earnhardt on his Twitter account.
Stafford Speedway in Connecticut also released a tweet remembering Stefanik.
1979 – At just 20 years old Mike was one of the rising stars at Stafford Speedway in 1979. Clicking off 3 wins early in the season all eyes were on Stefanik to stop the Tom Rosati championship streak. Here's a driver profile from the 1979 Pitstopper program #MightyMike pic.twitter.com/nANc8i19br
— Stafford Speedway 🏎️ (@StaffordSpeedwy) September 16, 2019
Stefanik is survived by his wife Julie and their two daughters, Nicole and Christine.
Police said the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
(Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
(Photo: Tom Whitmore/Getty Images for NASCAR)