Stafford Springs, CT: Chuck Hossfeld had high expectations going into the Haynes Material 150 for the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series at Stafford Motor Speedway. The Connecticut oval has been a track where Hossfeld has enjoyed good fortune and excellent finishes in the past. He had hoped that the recent out-of-character string of hard luck that has befallen the Mystic Missile Racing Team would turn around at Stafford. A host of problems and a 28th place finish was not what Hossfeld was looking for on Friday night.

By virtue of his time trial lap of 18.535 seconds, Hossfeld was the second fastest qualifier. After the redraw he sat on the starting grid in fourth position. The Mystic Missile jumped into the third spot before the completion of the first lap; however, a caution stopped any forward progress. Unfortunately, it would be the end of the progress for the night as damage sustained early in the race took the Buffalo, NY driver out of contention.

Hossfeld got a touch out of shape on a lap five restart but was able to maintain the third position. Tommy Cravenho raced to the outside on lap ten and made the pass stick. Hossfeld began to backslide slightly falling to the eighth position. As green flag laps started to add up Hossfeld rode in eighth.

A caution on lap 23 for a spin by Gregg Shivers slowed the pace just as Nevin George was about to mount a charge at Hossfeld. The restart on lap 31 proved to be the undoing for the Mystic Missile Racing Team.

Second-running Tony Hirschman bounced off the backstretch wall sending cars scattering. Hossfeld nearly split two cars involved in the melee but was just clipped as he was maneuvering his way through. Hossfeld brought the car down pit road with damage to the right front.

The Mystic Missile crew worked feverishly to repair their Troyer racecar. He rejoined the field at lap 55. After making a few laps, Hossfeld returned to pit road on lap 58. Work continued to the suspension on the v4 until lap 94, when they returned to the racing surface to accumulate laps and hopefully finishing positions.

To add insult to injury, the oil pressure fell forcing Hossfeld from the event with engine trouble just shy of the finish.

"I wish I knew how to change our luck," said a dejected Hossfeld.

Hossfeld and his team hope, once and for all, to turn their luck around on Long Island, NY. Next up for the Featherlite Modified Series is the Miller Lite 200 at Riverhead Raceway on Saturday, June 5, 2004.

A full schedule for the race weekend can be found at www.riverheadraceway.com. A complete finish for the Haynes Material 150 can be found at www.nascartouring.com.