NASCAR Throwback: Tim Steele wins 1996 ARCA Mountain Dew 500k at Talladega

With the unfortunate passing of three-time ARCA champion Tim Steele, let’s take a look at one of his 41 career victories in the series. It was 1996 at Talladega. The Mountain Dew 500k, a race contested over 500 kilometers, not in miles, was the second win of the season for Steele.

This 1996 season was one of Tim Steele’s finest. Early on in this race, Steele makes a move between two cars that almost pays off. The fact he avoided a wreck and kept his car under him going straight was remarkable.

As Lap 2 turned to Lap 3, Steele made that move. He would battle with Andy Hillenburg, the 1995 ARCA champion, for multiple laps to start the race.

The two would be battling to the end, with Hillenburg taking the lead for a brief moment on the white flag lap. However, it was Tim Steele who won the race between the two champs. You can watch the race in full here.

“Man, I can enjoy this one and I’ll tell you what I was wondering if we were gonna win this thing the whole time,” Steele said in Victory Lane. “It was definitely a race. I got back in traffic, lost the draft. I think I learned a little bit today on what to do what not to do, what this car likes and what it don’t like.”

Tim Steele remarked that he ran out of gas coming down pit road after the win, it was that close. He also added what his crew told him to do as he led the race.

“Just wiggle and run, give them dirty air.” That’s some great, old-school racing advice.

Jack Sprague ran in this Talladega race for Rick Hendrick, he would finish 4th.

ARCA Champion Tim Steele, dead at 55

NASCAR and ARCA fans have been remembering Tim Steele since the news of his passing came out. His daughter confirmed the news on Sunday. The three-time ARCA champion was 55 years old.

“This morning, my dad peacefully took the checkered flag here on earth,” Steele’s daughter wrote on Facebook. “His life was an exhilarating ride, always at full throttle, driven by a passion for racing and a wild spirit. While many knew him for his accomplishments on the racetrack, his role as a dad and grandpa was by far the greatest victory! God Speed Dad, I love you!”

In the 1996 season, Tim Steele went on to win 11 races, including three in a row at one point in the season. In the 1997 season, before suffering an injury leading up to the final race, Steele would win five races in a row on his way to his third championship, and second in a row.

Steele was part of the heyday of NASCAR and the ARCA Series. He had limited starts in the three national series, with varying success. He was a great racer and champion of the sport.