Tim Steele (racing)
Encyclopedia
Tim Steele is a retired American stock car racer. He won three ARCA Remax Series national championships and raced in NASCAR
's highest three series. He was inducted in the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame
in 2009.
. He finished second in Michigan's 125cc AMA motocross
division. In 1984, the 16-year-old won the NAMRA Champ Cars division championship and was the division's Rookie of the Year; he also raced in International Jet Ski Racing events that season. He continued to move up the ladder and began racing late model
s at Berlin Raceway
. He began racing on regional touring series, winning in the American Speed Association
in 1990 and the NASCAR All-Pro Series in 1992.
In November 1997 he was involved in a serious accident in which he suffered a brain injury. At the time he was planning on moving up to the Winston Cup Series to try and contend for rookie of the year. He was ten days away from signing up with a team to be owned by his father Harold and Green Bay Packers
Quarterback Brett Favre
, who were planning to purchase Bud Moore Engineering
. The accident damaged his brain, doctors told him he could not handle another trauma. Much of 1998 he spent going from doctor to doctor to see if a comeback was possible. He battled a dependency on prescription drug oxycontin which he was taking for headaches. Finally in June 1998, Tim made his comeback to the ARCA series at Pocono
. He won the race and went on to race in five more races that year winning three of them. In 1999, Tim only competed in one race at Talladega
finishing 34th after a crash.
In 2000
Tim made a full time comeback to the series. He won three races and accumulated 14 top ten finishes and finished third in the final points standings. In 2001, Steele won four races and finished ninth in the final points standings.
The next five years were not as successful as he only competed in 16 races and earned only 3 top 5 finishes. In 2007, after a Late model
crash at Toledo Speedway
, Tim decided it was time to call it quits.
Between 1993 and 2006, Steele had attempted 146 races, winning 41, which equates to victories in 28% of all the races he entered. Steele's 24 victories is ARCA's all-time Superspeedway winner, including nine at Pocono Raceway. He recorded 86 top-five finishes, 101 top-10s and led 5,423 laps. That means that Steele led laps in 64% of every race he entered. He also won 31 career pole awards. He was the first ARCA driver to make over $1,000,000 USD in his career, surpassing Bobby Bowsher's previous record of $952,535 USD in 1998.
only managing a best finish of 33rd at Pocono. He attempted to qualify for a the inaugural Brickyard 400 but failed.
and Richmond
for NASCAR driver Davey Allison
's team. Both races ended with Did Not Finishes (DNFs). In 1994, Tim competed in one race at Michigan for his fathers team; it ended in another DNF. In 1995, he competed in seven races for James Finch. This time he managed to accumulate two top tens and one top five finish and a overall average finish of 19.9. This would be the last year he would compete in the series.
(now Camping World Truck Series) races in a truck once again owned by his father. He accumulated 1 top ten finish and led 45 laps. He averaged a 19th place finish and finished 25th overall in the standings.
, scoring a top five and leading 15 laps.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
's highest three series. He was inducted in the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame
Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame
The Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame is a non-profit Hall of Fame for Michigan racers.It was founded in 1982 by Dick Lee Executive Director, Emeritus and was incorporated April 19, 1982 as a non-profit 501 non-stock Michigan corporation....
in 2009.
Background
Steele began racing as a 5-year-old in motorcycle ice racingIce racing
Ice racing is a form of racing that uses cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles, All-terrain vehicles, or other motorized vehicles. Ice racing takes place on frozen lakes or rivers, or on carefully groomed frozen lots...
. He finished second in Michigan's 125cc AMA motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
division. In 1984, the 16-year-old won the NAMRA Champ Cars division championship and was the division's Rookie of the Year; he also raced in International Jet Ski Racing events that season. He continued to move up the ladder and began racing late model
Late model
A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."There is no precise...
s at Berlin Raceway
Berlin Raceway
Berlin Raceway is a 0.438 mile long paved oval race track in Marne, Michigan, near Grand Rapids. It opened in 1950. The track is notable for the lack of an outside wall on the back straightaway, a unique feature for a national series such as ARCA...
. He began racing on regional touring series, winning in the American Speed Association
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
in 1990 and the NASCAR All-Pro Series in 1992.
ARCA career
Tim started out in the 1993 Season driving for Harold Steele’s HS Die Team. It was a very successful year. He went on to win the Championship that year and earned the Rookie of the Year award. He went on and continued to win races also winning the championship in 1996 and 1997. Steele won 12 times in 1997, the most wins in the series since 1973.In November 1997 he was involved in a serious accident in which he suffered a brain injury. At the time he was planning on moving up to the Winston Cup Series to try and contend for rookie of the year. He was ten days away from signing up with a team to be owned by his father Harold and Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
Quarterback Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
, who were planning to purchase Bud Moore Engineering
Bud Moore Engineering
Bud Moore Engineering was a championship-winning NASCAR team. It was owned and operated by mechanic Bud Moore and ran out of Spartanburg, South Carolina. While the team was a dominant force in the 60s and 80s, the final years were tumultuous due to lack of sponorship and uncompetitive race cars.-...
. The accident damaged his brain, doctors told him he could not handle another trauma. Much of 1998 he spent going from doctor to doctor to see if a comeback was possible. He battled a dependency on prescription drug oxycontin which he was taking for headaches. Finally in June 1998, Tim made his comeback to the ARCA series at Pocono
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
. He won the race and went on to race in five more races that year winning three of them. In 1999, Tim only competed in one race at Talladega
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
finishing 34th after a crash.
In 2000
2000 in sports
2000 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Hermann Maier, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Renate Götschl, Austria-American football:...
Tim made a full time comeback to the series. He won three races and accumulated 14 top ten finishes and finished third in the final points standings. In 2001, Steele won four races and finished ninth in the final points standings.
The next five years were not as successful as he only competed in 16 races and earned only 3 top 5 finishes. In 2007, after a Late model
Late model
A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."There is no precise...
crash at Toledo Speedway
Toledo Speedway
Toledo Speedway is a racetrack located in Toledo, Ohio. It is owned jointly by Roy Mott and ARCA President Ron Drager. It is operated by ARCA and run as the sister track to Flat Rock Speedway in Flat Rock, Michigan.-Weekly program:...
, Tim decided it was time to call it quits.
Between 1993 and 2006, Steele had attempted 146 races, winning 41, which equates to victories in 28% of all the races he entered. Steele's 24 victories is ARCA's all-time Superspeedway winner, including nine at Pocono Raceway. He recorded 86 top-five finishes, 101 top-10s and led 5,423 laps. That means that Steele led laps in 64% of every race he entered. He also won 31 career pole awards. He was the first ARCA driver to make over $1,000,000 USD in his career, surpassing Bobby Bowsher's previous record of $952,535 USD in 1998.
Winston Cup
In 1994, Tim competed in five Winston Cup (now Sprint Cup Series) races in a car owned by Bobby AllisonBobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
only managing a best finish of 33rd at Pocono. He attempted to qualify for a the inaugural Brickyard 400 but failed.
Busch Grand National
In 1993, he competed in two Busch Grand National Series (now Nationwide Series) races at MichiganMichigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
and Richmond
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
for NASCAR driver Davey Allison
Davey Allison
David Carl "Davey" Allison was a NASCAR driver. He was best known for driving the #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford for Robert Yates Racing in the Winston Cup Series. Born in Hollywood, Florida, he was the eldest of four children born to Bobby Allison and wife Judy...
's team. Both races ended with Did Not Finishes (DNFs). In 1994, Tim competed in one race at Michigan for his fathers team; it ended in another DNF. In 1995, he competed in seven races for James Finch. This time he managed to accumulate two top tens and one top five finish and a overall average finish of 19.9. This would be the last year he would compete in the series.
Craftsman Truck Series
In 1999 Tim competed in 13 Craftsman Truck SeriesCraftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
(now Camping World Truck Series) races in a truck once again owned by his father. He accumulated 1 top ten finish and led 45 laps. He averaged a 19th place finish and finished 25th overall in the standings.
Winston West
1996 and 1998 Tim competed in 2 Winston West races at Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
, scoring a top five and leading 15 laps.