Thompson, CT: Chuck Hossfeld of Buffalo, NY drove the Mystic Missile to a third-place finish in the Icebreaker 2004 at Thompson International Speedway to kick-off the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series season. He was presented with the McDonald's Powerade "Power Move of the Race" Award for advancing the most positions during the course of the race.

A broken axel in qualifying relegated Hossfeld to a provisional starting spot in 34th position. Coming from the rear of the field, Hossfeld combined patience and poise with drive and determination as he executed his methodical march to the front.

"I had the car to get to the front and I knew that my crew would help me get there," said Hossfeld. "I just needed some luck."

He got all three. The Hutter-powered Troyer #4 performed well, his crew had a quick pit stop and Hossfeld was able to avoid calamities on several occasions to gain 31 positions at the end.

In the early going, Hossfeld maneuvered carefully through slower traffic and by lap 28 he had broken into the top-20. The closest call of the day came on lap 43 when Nevin George was collected on the front stretch. His racecar came back across the racing groove missing Hossfeld by inches as he was making his way through.

During the caution, the Mystic Missile Team opted to stay on the racetrack while many other teams headed down pit road. Hossfeld was 12th on the grid when the race went back to green on lap 45.

Five laps later he motored into the top-ten and into heavy traffic. With his racecar handling well, Hossfeld dove to the bottom in the corner and drove passed three cars and into the 7th position by the end of the straightaway.

The racing was getting intense behind the two leaders, who where getting some distance from the field. Hossfeld was part of a three-way battle for the fifth position with Tommy Cloce and Jamie Tomaino. In lapped traffic and older tires Hossfeld began to fade, slipping back to the ninth position on lap 67.

When a caution on lap 69 slowed the field, crew chief Greg Schroder called Hossfeld down pit road on lap 71 for service. The team executed a very fast three-tire change and got Hossfeld back on the track with excellent field position behind the cars that did not pit.

There was more close racing when the race resumed under green. Hossfeld and Cloce were locked in a great battle for the tenth position and on lap 100 Hossfeld made the pass stick. Four laps later, Hossfeld moved into 7th and then quickly caught the battle for fourth position between Tony Hirschman and Jimmy Kuhn.

On lap 110, Hossfeld took fifth from Kuhn and went to work on Hirschman. He had a good run coming out of turn one on lap 115 but lapped traffic impeded Hossfeld's attempt to make the pass. Free of traffic, Hossfeld rocketed out of turn four and passed Hirschman to complete lap 116 with the fourth position.

After a quick caution, the race resumed at lap 121 with Hossfeld in the fourth position behind leader Todd Szegedy, Jerry Marquis, and Eddie Flemke. An incident that involved Marquis and Flemke lined Hossfeld up in the second position on the final restart on lap 132.

Over the final 18 laps of the race, Hossfeld tried in vain to stay ahead of a charging Christopher and a recovered Flemke. With a worn set of tires the #4 was easy prey for the two. At the checkers, Hossfeld came home with a very respectable fourth-place finish. After post-race technical inspection, Hossfeld was officially awarded with a third-place finish.

"This was a rewarding finish for a race weekend that started so tough for our team," said Hossfeld. "It is really a tribute to how good we all work together and the great attitude that everyone shares."

Hossfeld hopes to carry the momentum over to Stafford Motor Speedway for the second race of the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series schedule. The 33rd Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler is scheduled for April 24 & 25, 2004. Hossfeld will be busy next weekend as he will be also make his debut in NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series competition at Stafford aboard the #47 SK Modified.