Mike Stefanik stared at the fourth finger on his right hand when asked which of his NASCAR championship rings he was wearing.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I just reached into the drawer and pulled one of them out.”

In another few years, Stefanik might have one for each digit — of both hands. This season, the Busch North series driver will try to tie the record for the most rings in NASCAR history.

No, he wouldn’t match the seven of Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. The 44-year-old driver from Coventry, R.I., passed those two great drivers in Winston Cup history last season — when he won his sixth Featherlite Modified title and eighth championship overall.

This year, Stefanik will be shooting for overall NASCAR mark of Richie Evans, who won nine modified championships.

For the record, Stefanik was wearing his 2002 modified ring, but it could just as easily have been one from 1989, ’91, ’97, ’98 or 2001. Or, he could have slipped on the Busch North rings from his titles in 1997 and 1998.

Just how realistic are his chances of another championship five years after claiming his last Busch North title? Stefanik will begin to learn the answer when the season starts Sunday in Lee, N.H.

On paper, he looks to be one of the drivers to beat. His Chevrolet has top backing from Burnham Corp., which sponsored his championship efforts in 1997 and 1998.

“I would think I have a better-than-average chance to win it,” he said. “I would not say I’m the odds-on favorite, but certainly one of them.”

Stefanik also is reunited with car owner Steve Griswold.

The prospect of another title run is exciting to both.

“We’re sure that Mike Stefanik will bring a lot to this team, and everyone is looking forward to working with him,” Griswold said. “There is no doubt in my mind that Stefanik can lead us to a third championship.”

Stefanik wound up with one of the top rides in the series after driver Brad Leighton decided he no longer wanted to be a full-time competitor. Leighton will drive a limited schedule for NDS Motorsports.

But Stefanik hardly feels like a fill-in.

“I look at it like it’s a great opportunity for myself to return,” he said. “Brad stepped out for personal reasons, and the team is excited. So am I.”

Stefanik never had much desire to move to the elite Winston Cup series, but he did make quite an impression on the NASCAR truck circuit. He was its rookie of the year in 1999.

“I finished 13th in the points that year, right behind Kevin Harvick,” Stefanik said. “Now, he’s driving Dale Earnhardt’s old car, and here I am.”

But Stefanik doesn’t regret not trying to reach Winston Cup. He might not be wealthy, but gets along nicely racing and moonlighting when he’s out of the car or out of season.

“I’m a professional race driver,” he said, then laughed hard. “I gave up my last real job in 1985.”