Tim Steele (racing driver)

Tim Steele (March 1, 1968 – January 7, 2024) was an American stock car racing driver.^[1] He won three ARCA Re/Max Series national championships and raced in NASCAR's highest three series.^[2] He was inducted in the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.^[2]

Tim Steele
Nationality	American
Born	(1968-03-01)March 1, 1968 Coopersville, Michigan, U.S.
Died	January 7, 2024(2024-01-07) (aged 55)
Retired	2007
Automobile Racing Club of America
Years active	1992–2006
Starts	146
Wins	41
Poles	31
Best finish	1st in 1993, 1996, 1997
Championship titles
1993, 1996, 1997	ARCA Re/Max Series NAMRA Champ Car division
Awards
2009 1993	Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame ARCA Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Cup Series career
5 races run over 1 year
Best finish	52nd (1994)
First race	1994 Miller Genuine Draft 400 (Michigan)
Last race	1994 DieHard 500 (Talladega)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
10 races run over 3 years
Best finish	46th (1997)
First race	1993 Detroit Gasket 200 (Michigan)
Last race	1997 Birmingham Auto Dealers 500K (Talladega)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 2 0
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
13 races run over 1 year
Best finish	25th (1999)
First race	1999 Florida Dodge Dealers 400 (Homestead)
Last race	1999 Kroger 225 (Louisville)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 1 1
Statistics current as of July 24, 2012.

Background

Steele was born in Coopersville, Michigan on March 1, 1968, and began racing as a 5-year-old in motorcycle ice racing.^[2] He finished second in Michigan's 125cc AMA motocross division.^[2] 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.^[2] He continued to move up the ladder and began racing late models at Berlin Raceway.^[2] He began racing on regional touring series, winning in the American Speed Association in 1990 and the NASCAR All Pro Series in 1992.^[2]

Steele died on January 7, 2024 at age 55.^[3]

ARCA career

Steele's 1996 ARCA car at Pocono Raceway

Steele started out in the 1993 Season driving for Harold Steele's HS Die Team.^[4] It was a very successful year. He went on to win the Championship that year and earned the Rookie of the Year award.^[2][5] 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.^[2]

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.^[5] 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.^[4] The accident damaged his brain; doctors told him he could not handle another trauma.^[6] Much of 1998 he spent going from doctor to doctor to see if a comeback was possible.^[5] He battled a dependency on the prescription drug Oxycontin which he was taking for headaches.^[7] Finally in June 1998, Steele 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.^[8] In 1999, Steele only competed in one race at Talladega finishing 34th after a crash.^[9]

In 2000 Steele 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.^[10] In 2001, Steele won four races and finished ninth in the final points standings.^[11]

The next five years were not as successful as he only competed in 16 races and earned only 3 top 5 finishes.^[1] In 2007, after a late model crash at Toledo Speedway, Steele decided it was time to stop racing.^[5]

Between 1993 and 2006, Steele had attempted 146 races, winning 41, which equates to victories in 28% of all the races he entered.^[6] 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.^[6] That means that Steele led laps in 64% of every race he entered.^[6] He also won 31 career pole awards.^[4] He was the first ARCA driver to make over US$1,000,000 in his career, surpassing Bobby Bowsher's previous record of US$952,535 in 1998.^[12]

Other series

Winston Cup

In 1994, Steele competed in five Winston Cup Series races in a car owned by Bobby Allison only managing a best finish of 33rd at Pocono.^[1] He attempted to qualify for the inaugural Brickyard 400 but failed.^[1]

Busch Grand National

In 1993, he competed in two Busch Grand National Series races at Michigan 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 father's team; it ended in another DNF. In 1997, he competed in seven races for James Finch. This time he managed to accumulate two top tens and one top five finish and an overall average finish of 19.9. This would be the last year he would compete in the series.^[1]

Craftsman Truck Series

In 1999, Steele competed in 13 Craftsman 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.^[1]

Winston West

In 1996 and 1998, Steele competed in two Winston West Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, scoring a top five and leading 15 laps.^[1]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	NWCC	Pts	Ref
1994	Bobby Allison Motorsports	12	Ford	DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	DAR	BRI	NWS	MAR	TAL	SON	CLT	DOV	POC	MCH 39	DAY 43	NHA 41	POC 33	TAL 38	IND DNQ	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	PHO	ATL		52nd	233	[13]
1995	H.S. Die Racing Team	02	Ford	DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	DAR	BRI	NWS	MAR	TAL	SON	CLT	DOV	POC	MCH	DAY	NHA	POC	TAL	IND	GLN	MCH DNQ	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	PHO	ATL		NA	–	[14]
1997	H.S. Die Racing Team	61	Ford	DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	DAR	TEX	BRI	MAR	SON	TAL	CLT	DOV	POC	MCH	CAL	DAY	NHA	POC	IND DNQ	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	NHA	DOV	MAR	CLT	TAL	CAR	PHO	ATL	NA	–	[15]

Busch Series

NASCAR Busch Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	NBSC	Pts	Ref
1992			Chevy	DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	MAR	DAR	BRI	HCY	LAN	DUB	NZH	CLT	DOV	ROU	MYB	GLN	VOL	NHA	TAL	IRP	ROU	MCH	NHA	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	CLT DNQ	MAR	CAR	HCY	NA	–	[16]
1993	Allison Racing	28	Ford	DAY	CAR	RCH	DAR	BRI	HCY	ROU	MAR	NZH	CLT	DOV	MYB	GLN	MLW	TAL	IRP	MCH 29	NHA	BRI	DAR	RCH 31	DOV	ROU	CLT DNQ	MAR	CAR	HCY	ATL				77th	146	[17]
1994	H.S. Die Racing Team	86	Ford	DAY DNQ	CAR	RCH	ATL DNQ	MAR	DAR	HCY	BRI	ROU	NHA	NZH DNQ	CLT	DOV	MYB	GLN	MLW	SBO	TAL	HCY	IRP	MCH 37	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	CLT	MAR	CAR				101st	52	[18]
1997	Phoenix Racing	4	Chevy	DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	LVS 5	DAR 37	HCY 25	TEX 21	BRI 19	NSV 26	TAL 6	NHA	NZH	CLT	DOV	SBO	GLN	MLW	MYB	GTY	IRP	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	CLT	CAL	CAR	HOM		46th	736	[19]

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	NCTC	Pts	Ref
1999	Steele Racing	21	Ford	HOM 25	PHO 22	EVG	MMR	MAR 23	MEM 17	PPR 13	I70 30	BRI	TEX	PIR	GLN	MLW 14	NSV 9	NZH	MCH 14	NHA	IRP 14	GTY 19	HPT	RCH 21	LVS	LVL 26	TEX	CAL	25th	1385	[20]

ARCA Re/Max Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Re/Max Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	ARMC	Pts	Ref
1993	Steele Racing	16	Ford	DAY 25			TAL 1*					POC 8	MCH 3*		POC 1*							ATL 41							1st	5070	[21]
			Olds		FIF 22*	TWS 3		KIL 5	CMS 2	FRS 13	TOL 12			FRS 11		KIL 2	ISF 2	DSF 3	TOL 4	SLM 20*	WIN 1*
1994			Ford	DAY 2	TAL 36	FIF	LVL	KIL	TOL	FRS	MCH 37	DMS	POC 1*	POC 9	KIL	FRS	INF	I70	ISF	DSF	TOL	SLM	WIN	ATL 15*					24th	1240	[22]
1995				DAY 42	ATL 30	TAL 41	FIF	KIL	FRS	MCH 2*	I80 23		FRS 6	POC 3	POC 2		FRS 2		LVL 4	ISF	DSF 3	SLM 1*	WIN 1*	ATL 1					12th	3440	[23]
			Chevy									MCS 24				KIL 25		SBS 25
1996			Ford	DAY 2	ATL 1*	SLM 6	TAL 1*	FIF 3	LVL 4*	CLT 1*	CLT 1*	KIL 1	FRS 4	POC 2*	MCH 7	FRS 1*	TOL 16*	POC 1*	MCH 1*	INF 26	SBS 8	ISF 1	DSF 2	KIL 8	SLM 1*	WIN 14*	CLT 1*	ATL 6*	1st	6980	[24]
1997				DAY 38	ATL 1*	SLM 1*	CLT 34	CLT 37	POC 1*	MCH 1	SBS 1	TOL 8	KIL 6	FRS 1*	MIN 3*	POC 1*	MCH 3*	DSF 17	GTW 2*	SLM 1*	WIN 1*	CLT 1*	TAL 1	ISF 1*	ATL				1st	5810	[25]
1998				DAY	ATL	SLM	CLT	MEM	MCH	POC 1*	SBS	TOL 2*	PPR 1*	POC 1*	KIL	FRS	ISF	ATL 30*	DSF	SLM	TEX	WIN DNQ	CLT	TAL 1*	ATL				NA	–	[8]
1999				DAY	ATL	SLM	AND	CLT	MCH	POC	TOL	SBS	BLN	POC	KIL	FRS	FLM	ISF	WIN	DSF	SLM	CLT	TAL 34	ATL					138th	75	[26]
2000				DAY	SLM 3	AND 13	CLT 3	KIL 2	FRS 18	MCH 1*	POC 6	TOL 2	KEN 1*	BLN 1*	POC 4	WIN 13	ISF 7	KEN 2	DSF 21	SLM 2	CLT 10	TAL 2	ATL 29						3rd	4665	[27]
2001				DAY 25	NSH 7	WIN 1	SLM 2	GTY 3	KEN 2	CLT 3	KAN 3	MCH 9	POC 1*	MEM 14	GLN	KEN	MCH 3	POC 1	NSH	ISF	CHI 3	DSF	SLM	TOL	BLN 1*	CLT 5	TAL	ATL 5	9th	4300	[28]
2002				DAY	ATL 32	NSH	SLM	KEN 38	CLT	KAN	POC	MCH 12	TOL	SBO	KEN	BLN 29	POC	NSH	ISF	WIN	DSF	CHI	SLM	TAL	CLT 40				70th	430	[29]
2003			Dodge	DAY 35	ATL 35	NSH 39	SLM	TOL	KEN	CLT	BLN	KAN	MCH 5	LER	POC	POC	NSH	ISF	WIN	DSF	CHI	SLM	TAL	CLT	SBO				76th	350	[30]
2004				DAY	NSH	SLM	KEN	TOL	CLT	KAN	POC	MCH	SBO	BLN	KEN	GTW	POC	LER	NSH	ISF	TOL	DSF	CHI 34	SLM	TAL				174th	65	[31]
2005	Lee Leslie	44	Ford	DAY 29	NSH	SLM	KEN	TOL	LAN	MIL	POC	MCH 30	KAN	KEN	BLN 3	POC	GTW	LER	NSH	MCH	ISF	TOL	DSF	CHI 5	SLM 32	TAL			53rd	655	[32]
2006	Brack Maggard	65	Chevy	DAY	NSH	SLM	WIN	KEN	TOL	POC	MCH	KAN	KEN	BLN 17	POC	GTW	NSH	MCH	ISF	MIL	TOL	DSF	CHI	SLM	TAL	IOW			121st	145	[33]

References

1. "Steele's racing statistics". RacingReference.info. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
2. "Tim Steele". Michigan Motorsport Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 10, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
   "Steele, Tim 2009". Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
3. Kristl, Mark (January 7, 2024). "3-Time ARCA Champion Tim Steele Dead at 55". Frontstretch. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
4. "3-Time ARCA RE/MAX Series Champion Tim Steele Retires". Racing Nation. June 27, 2007. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
5. "ARCAracing.com Asks, 'Where Are They Now?'; Like Dad, Like Daughter, a Steele Family Tradition". ARCA. November 24, 2009. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
6. "3-time ARCA Champion Tim Steele retires". Auto Racing Sport. June 28, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
7. Ashenfelter, Mark. "ARCA's Steele Admits Drug Problem, Returns After Fighting Addiction". October 21, 2002. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
8. "Tim Steele – 1998 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
9. "1999 ARCA Statistics". Racing Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
10. "2000 ARCA Statistics". Racing Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
11. "2001 ARCA Statistics". Racing Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
12. "Tim Steele ARCA's First Million Dollar Driver". January 26, 1999. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
13. "Tim Steele – 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
14. "Tim Steele – 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
15. "Tim Steele – 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
16. "Tim Steele – 1992 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
17. "Tim Steele – 1993 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
18. "Tim Steele – 1994 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
19. "Tim Steele – 1997 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
20. "Tim Steele – 1999 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
21. "Tim Steele – 1993 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
22. "Tim Steele – 1994 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
23. "Tim Steele – 1995 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
24. "Tim Steele – 1996 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
25. "Tim Steele – 1997 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
26. "Tim Steele – 1999 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
27. "Tim Steele – 2000 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
28. "Tim Steele – 2001 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
29. "Tim Steele – 2002 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
30. "Tim Steele – 2003 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
31. "Tim Steele – 2004 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
32. "Tim Steele – 2005 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
33. "Tim Steele – 2006 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2016.

External links

• Tim Steele driver statistics at Racing-Reference

Sporting positions
Preceded by Bobby Bowsher	ARCA Series champion 1993	Succeeded by Bobby Bowsher
Preceded by Andy Hillenburg	ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series champion 1996–1997	Succeeded by Frank Kimmel