Racing community mourns death of RI NASCAR legend

It was a day of mourning for the racing community in New England and around the country after NASCAR legend and Rhode Island resident Mike Stefanik died in a plane crash Sunday afternoon.

Connecticut State Police say Stefanik took off from rural Riconn Airport in Sterling, CT and when he tried landing his ultra-light plane it crashed in the woods.

Authorities said Stefanik suffered serious injuries and burns and was conscious when emergency responders arrived. He later died.

It’s a real loss for the racing community as Stefanik was known simply as the best. But not only was he known as a relentless competitor, but he was also better known as a true gentleman after the race.

The nine-time NASCAR Modified Champion was remembered as a genuine guy, according to Kyle Souza with Thompson Speedway, a place where Stefanik won on 15 different occasions.

“A fierce competitor that didn’t want to give an inch on the track. But off the track, put his arm around you, a friend to joke around and have some fun,” Souza said. “It’s a tragic tragic day.”

Stefanik worked on his cars during his career right in Coventry, and Souza said he was a “racer’s racer” that wasn’t afraid to get under the hood when prepping for a race.

Mike Marfeo worked with Stefanik professionally over the years and developed a personal relationship with the racing legend.

Marfeo described Stefanik a true gentleman.

“It was always a pleasure and he was always a gentleman. Soft-spoken, didn’t say a lot of words but the words he said meant a lot,” Marfeo said. “Mike’s the best, man.”

Souza adding that once Stefanik retired in 2014, he took up flying as a hobby.

“He was a huge fan of getting in that plane. His own planes, whether it be someone else’s planes, he was just a fan of getting up in the air,” Souza said. “Something he just loved to do.”

As for the investigation, Connecticut State Police are still looking into a cause.

Stefanik’s aircraft was not registered with the FAA, so FAA and NTSB will not be handling the investigation.