Link to Original Article on Masslive.com

Note to our friends at Merriam Webster here in Springfield: put Ted Christopher’s picture next to the word “racer” in the next edition of your dictionary.

Christopher heated up the winter racing scene last week by winning a prestigious indoor race despite burns to his hand and then securing a ride for 2013 in one of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s most historic cars.

After driving the iconic No. 3 “Ole Blue” for Boehler Racing Enterprises in four WMT races last season as an injury replacement for Keith Rocco, Christopher landed the seat full time for 2013, as reported by RaceDayCT.com on Tuesday.

The 54-year-old Christopher is looking forward to the opportunity, telling RaceDayCT’s Shawn Courchesne:

“It’s going to be a good deal. I’m really excited about this one.”

Less than 24 hours earlier, T.C. displayed prototypical racer’s courage by winning the “Coffee Cup” TQ Midget feature at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. Allow GasJunky.com’s Evan Beaulieu to explain what happened:

After qualifying a fuel sample was being drawn from his car and some of the fuel had fell on the header and ignited, burning T.C. and one of his crew members.

Ouch.

Speculation immediately began as to whether Christopher would be able to compete in the feature. Those who had doubts clearly don’t know Ted Christopher. The veteran from Plainville, Conn., passed fellow WMT competitor Patrick Emerling with eight laps to go in the 40-lap main event and hung on for the victory.

Said TC in Victory Lane (via YankeeRacer.com):

“It never hurt at all until now. It must have been the adrenaline. I have to thank the crew who got the car back in shape after the fire. This win is for them.”

Anthony Sesely got by Emerling for second. Wilbraham’s Glen Reen finished 19th.