If there was ever a natural born race driver, it may be said that Tim Steele fitted into that category like a glove.
But for the three-time ARCA RE/MAX Series national driving champion, it just didn’t feel natural anymore.
“It took me nine and a half years to get there,” said Steele. “But the last time I was in a car, it just didn’t feel natural anymore. It seems like I’ve struggled with this decision forever; but I always told myself that if I ever got scared it was time to get out; or that if I ever felt like I had lost my God-given ability, it was time to get out.”
For Steele, 39, that time has come. The Coopersville, Michigan driver has officially announced his retirement from driving.
After a very successful career in the ARCA RE/MAX Series that produced championships in ’93, ’96 and ’97, and more superspeedway victories than any other driver in series history, Steele was on the verge of signing a contract to race fulltime in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. Then a crash at Atlanta Motor Speedway on November 5th, 1997 left him with a closed head injury and changed his world forever.
“I was 10 days away from signing a Winston Cup contract when I crashed; and we were going to run for the 1998 Cup Rookie of the Year. My dad and (Green Bay Packers quarterback) Brett Favre were purchasing the team from Bud Moore, and we had Nike and Sony lined up as sponsors.
“Looking back in ’98 when I was at the Mayo Clinic, I now know the doctors were right when they told me I should probably find a different career.
“I just wasn’t willing to accept that. It was like admitting defeat. Racing was my life; it’s how I earned my living, and the only job I ever had since I was 20. I didn’t know anything else, so it was so hard to walk away from my life. I had worked so hard to get where I had gotten. I just couldn’t give up on it now.”
Unfortunately, there would be ongoing, residual physical and personal issues that would plague Steele during his comeback phase of his career. Regardless, it’s worth noting that despite the ongoing struggles, Steele still managed 11 more ARCA RE/MAX Series victories after the accident.
From 1993 through 2006, Steele, driving his father Harold Steele’s HS Die entries, won 41 ARCA RE/MAX Series races in 146 attempts, which equates to victories in 28% of all the races he entered. Steele is still the all-time superspeedway winner with 24 victories, including nine at Pocono Raceway, which still tops the charts. Through it all, he earned 86 top-five finishes, 101 top-10s and led 5,423 laps in 93 races. That means that Steele led laps in 64% of every race he entered, a feat unmatched yet today. He also won 31 career pole awards.
Nice article, man this guy was awesome before his accident. When he was on the track he was always capable of running up front and winning. Sit back Tim and enjoy life at a little slower pace.
Right……..I’ve watched Tim at some late model races and he put on one hell of a show.The man had no fear of a race car.He drove it in deeper and came out harder.His stats tells his story……
Believe it or not I was at Atlanta Motor Speedway that day , I think I was buying tickets and I heard someone running around the track. The gate into the grandstands was opened so I walked in right about the time the Daytona USA sponsered #15 car went down pit road. They put new tires on the car and it went back out and in what is now turn 3 at Atlanta the car got loose slide to the bottom of the racing groove , broke loose and came up and smacked the wall maybe 100 yards away from us. it was such a loud smashing sound like the worse car wreck you could ever imagine. But the rescue crew was there fast and cut the roof off the car and he left in an abulance. that whole event is still so clear. That was terrible it happened to such a great driver.
I use to look forward to a good Arca battle between Tim Steele and Jeff Purvis. They could make you stand up the entire race. Tim, good luck in your future projects!
I worked for Harold Steele as Foreman & General Manager of H.S. Die & Engineering for 26 yrs before I retired at the end of 2000. I watched Tim Grow up and have a super racing career. I was heart broken that His racing had to come to an end from an injury. He is a super kid. The last I heard He was doing well.
What a great person to watch, I had the pleasure to watch you in Springfield
Ill on the dirt and also at Talladega, I think the last time you won at talledega you had a broken shock, It wa always a site to see that red car up front making thibgs happen, good luck with all that you do,
He also cheats, does drugs, treats those that help him like crap. They say what comes around goes around.