LOUDON — After shuffling the lead repeatedly over the final 40 laps, veteran pilot Mike Stefanik edged Ron Silk in a drag race out of Turn 4 to win the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Town Fair Tires 100 by 0.003 seconds at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Saturday.

The victory was the second in the past three races for Coventry, R.I.'s Stefanik here at the Magic Mile and his eighth overall in Loudon. He has 72 career victories.

“I sat up in my seat to see which bumper would be ahead when we crossed the finish line,” admitted the 54-year-old race winner. “I was rolling my eyes back and forth. I've lost some close ones over the years. I think this is the closest I've ever won.”

The 0.003 margin of victory was the second closest in series history here at NHMS. In June of 2008, Chuck Hossfeld outdueled Ted Christopher, winning by the slimmest of margins — 0.001 seconds.

Silk of Norwalk, Conn., who started from the pole and led the initial 56 laps, appeared glued to Stefanik's rear bumper as the pair drove under the flag stand with the waving white flag signaling the race's final lap.

► Whelen Modified Town Fair Tire 100 results

Down the back straight, Silk moved to the inside in hopes of completing a final turn pass and gaining the victory. Silk edged ahead, slightly, and Rowan Pennink of Huntingdon Valley, Penn., followed in his tire tracks.

But as the trio exited Turn 4, Pennink tapped Silk, both cars wiggled, and Stefanik drove on, unscathed, to victory.

“Racing down the back straight, I saw him (Silk) disappear in my mirror and I knew he would sink it in entering the turn (3),” said Stefanik. “He took me up a bit in the turn, but not more than I could handle. From there, it was an old fashioned drag race to the finish line.”

Silk's demise came with the Pennink touch.

“I had a run down the backstretch but just couldn't get him,” said Silk. “It was in Turn 4. Rowan was trying to lead. We might have won the race if not for that.

Third place finisher Doug Coby of Milford, Conn., riding fourth at the time, had a clear view of the action in front of him.

“I can attest to that,” said Coby who has won three of the six series' races contested this season. “The 93 (Pennink) wiggled the 6 (Silk) pretty good. He didn't even finish in the top 5.”

Eric Beers of Northampton, Penn., ended fourth, Todd Szegedy of Ridgefield, Conn., was fifth and Pennink was sixth.

Hampstead's Andy Seuss turned in his best-ever effort at NHMS, finishing seventh.

“I'm real happy with that,” said Seuss who started 15th. “That was pretty cool. I caught up to the pack and everyone was running nose to tail. I was looking for a spot but at the same time I didn't want to get shuffled back.”

Londonderry's Steve Dickey, making his first career modified start, finished in 23rd place after completing 84 laps.

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Mark Labore may be reached at mlabore@unionleader.com.