Chris Steele Shines at Wythe
Dominator Race Products $250 Hard Charger Award Winner

CARNESVILLE, GA (September 4, 2008) - As determined as all the drivers were last weekend at Wythe Raceway’s ‘Pro Late Model Nationals’, Chris Steele of York SC demonstrated his skill as a driver and his determination by doing something not even winner Austin Dillon or anyone else in the 32 car field accomplished.

While Steele would have loved to have been the driver hoisting the trophy over his head with the jumbo sized ceremonial check in front of him, Steele was a champion of sorts in his own right.

In qualifying Saturday night, Steele’s first lap around Wythe Raceway was a respectable 19.154 seconds. On his second lap, Steele found a little more speed and managed to trim almost a tenth of a second from his first lap, completing his two lap qualifying run with a 19.053 second lap.

Steele found himself 23rd quickest once qualifying had been completed. As a result of a car count for the entire event hovering around 70, six heat races would determine everyone’s fate. Steele was scheduled to go in heat race number five.

The top four finishers in each heat race would be rewarded with a punched ticket into the 75 lap, $10,000 To Win ‘Pro Late Model Nationals’.  On the starting grid in Steele’s heat race were Austin Dillon, two time FASTRAK Modern Chevrolet Southeastern Touring Series winner David Smith, Jenson Ford who has been tough everywhere he’s been, and Hall of Famer and FASTRAK Late Model Series winner at Eldora, Ed Dixon with 601 feature wins to his credit.

On the surface, with the odds stacked against him, Steele motored on to an impressive 4th place finish, guaranteeing himself a starting position in the big show. To many, that would have been enough, after all, as many as 35 drivers would have to settle for the Bonus Feature added to the weekends schedule for those not earning a spot in the 32 car, 75 lapper. Steele wasn’t about to head home to York, SC satisfied with “making the field”

The starting line up for the ‘Pro Late Model Nationals’ would put Steele 23rd on the grid.  Sprinkled throughout the field in front of Steele were champions of 12 FASTRAK Modern Chevrolet Southeastern Touring Series events this year.  FASTRAK Late Model Series Champion William Thomas was lined up ahead of Steele as well.

The 75 lap ‘Pro Late Model Nationals’ showcased the competitiveness that has become standard in FASTRAK Late Model Series events this year, with an astounding 237 passes for position throughout the event.  The event never saw the blue and yellow “move over” flag until the closing lap of the race, a remarkable stat in itself.

Even more remarkable was Steele who, despite starting 23rd, and mired in battles all night, accounted for 17 of the 237 position changes himself. As Steele crossed under the checkered flag finishing sixth, he was about to take the fifth spot away from Ryan Gifford.  

Had this year’s event been the 100 lap ‘Pro Late Model Nationals’, Chris Steele could well have been the one hoisting the hardware over his head with the jumbo sized check with all the zeros.

Partners of the FASTRAK Racing Series Include: Goodyear Racing, GM Performance Parts, Sunoco Race Fuels, Modern Chevrolet, City Chevrolet, Heintz Performance, Duralite Wheels, Schoenfeld Headers, Mastersbilt Racing Chassis, TNT Racing Chassis, Rocket Racing Chassis,Goliath Racing Chassis, MK-Direct

*THE FASTRAK DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES is based on the GM crate engine program using both the 602 and 604 engine types. All teams utilize Goodyear Racing Tires as the “spec tire” allowing team’s tremendous savings in both engine and tire expense. The National Championship of the FASTRAK RACING SERIES is one of the largest in the United States.