Steele Sweeps Oshkosh –Continues to Lead Super Truck
Madison, WI (July 28, 2008) - The Steele Off-Road Monster
Energy Chevy, arrived at the Oshkosh Speedzone, looking to
continue its chase for the WSORR Super Truck championship.
The Steele machine was strong at the wide open spaces of
Bark River, but Keith knew the short technical track at
the Winnebago County Fairgrounds, would take a totally
different chassis setup and driving style.
The actual track in Oshkosh was setup in and around the
one-third mile clay oval. The overall length was .66 miles
and consisted of banked corners, two rhythm sections, and
high speed jumps. The course definitely kept the racers
alert.
The Super Truck and PRO-4 division were racing together in
a challenge race format with overall winner getting a
bonus check. The PRO-4 racers have yet to come out on top;
hopefully the Monster Energy Chevy could keep that streak
in tacked.
Round VII – Friday Night
The start had Keith Steele and his #229 Monster Energy
Chevrolet Silverado start from the back of the pack. The
start saw Keith, driving patiently, as he was running in
sixth place after the first lap. Gradually, the #229
Goodyear Silverado cleanly picked up a couple of spots,
and was in fourth place by lap four. On lap six, Keith was
pressuring #217 Baudoux for the lead. The two Super Trucks
went back and forth for the lead several times until Keith
took the top spot for good on lap seven. Even after
grabbing the lead, multi-time champion Dan Baudoux stayed
right on the bumper of the Monster Chevrolet. The finish
saw Keith Steele cross the line in first, with Dan
Baudoux, about four feet behind, in second, and Ben
Wandahsega taking third.
“This place is awesome,” commented Keith Steele. “This
is a true driver’s track. I knew I had to pick my spots
to pass. We all raced each other clean. My Goodyear
tires held up great. I didn’t have to peddle the
throttle going through the final corners like some
others. It allowed us to use all that Wolverine
horsepower, when it came to the final laps. Thanks again
to my crew, my family, without them we couldn’t be here.
I love this night racing now we have all day tomorrow to
prep…..It’s a MONSTER win for us!”
Round VIII – Saturday Night
As the grandstands filled to capacity, WSORR officials
unleashed another incredible night of short-course
off-road racing. The Super Truck PRO-4 Challenge race was
no exception.
The start saw #297 Wandahsega jump in to lead, while Keith
and his #229 Monster Energy Goodyear Chevrolet Silverado
was battling # 217 Baudoux for the third position. The
track conditions were slicker than the previous night, as
the track officials put more moisture into the track. This
put a premium, even more than before, on traction
throughout the oval portion of the track.
On lap 4, second place Schreiner bobbles through the
second rhythm section, allowing Keith to move into second.
A few laps later, Keith and Wandahsega go side by side for
the lead. At the two trucks head back on to the stock car
oval, the Goodyear tires get the Wolverine power to the
ground, and put the Monster Energy Chevy in the lead. At
the finish it was Keith Steele first, Dan Baudoux a
distant second, and first time podium finisher, Ron
Schreiner, third.
The weekend was not over yet, for Keith Steele and his
Monster team. Keith entered the PRO-2 race, the last race
on Saturday night’s schedule. The only difference between
a WSORR Super Truck and a PRO-2WD truck is the engine. A
PRO-2WD has about 200 horsepower more than the Super
Truck.
The start had Keith coming out of the first turn in last
place. Undaunted, he used his experience from earlier in
the evening to gradually pick his way through the field.
Then with four laps to go, the Monster Energy Chevy caught
third place #10 Waldvogel. On the final lap, coming out of
the second to last turn, Keith dove inside of Waldvogel
for the final spot on the podium. The top three finishers
were #77 Dan Vanden Heuvel Sr., #5 Dan Vanden Heuvel Jr.,
and #29 Keith Steele.
“We came up with a different Goodyear tire than normal
to run out here tonight,” explained Keith Steele. “That
really made the difference. This place isn’t about
horsepower, it’s about traction and using what the track
gives you. The Wolverine engine didn’t miss a beat, the
J & H transmission was perfect, and the Goodyear tires
were the best. We decide to run the PRO-2 because the
truck didn’t have any problems all weekend, and I know,
next year, I’ll be running in this class against the
best in the business. Thanks again to my crew, my
family, and Joe Parsons and Mark Hall, at Monster
Energy.”
After eight rounds of racing, Keith Steele continues to
lead the 2008 WSORR Super Truck Championship standings.
The next race is the Island Casino/Boss Snow Off-Road
Challenge II, in Bark River, Michigan, August 9 & 10.
Keith Steele would like to thank all its supporters,
including:
Monster Energy
Goodyear Tires
Autoforms Racing Panels
USG Sheetrock
Cash Coatings
Precision Gear
Wolverine Performance
J & H Transmission
Yank Torque Converters
K & N Filters
KC Hilities
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