Rookie Modified driver Tony Steele finished the points season at Canyon Raceway with a 4th place in the main event on his way to winning the 2006 Modified points championship. Steele became the youngest Modified champion ever at Canyon Raceway winning the title at seventeen years of age. The night started right for Steele with a heat race win gaining him the outside front row starting spot for the main event. The youngster had the early lead in the main event until he was passed when a plug wire was knocked off the car. Running on seven cylinders for the remainder of the main event Steele was able to salvage a 4th place finish. “When the car went to seven cylinders I thought we were going to blow up again” said the newly crowned champion in victory lane. “The engine never got any worse but it dropped power especially getting off the corner”. “We just wanted to get a good run in for this last night of points at Canyon” added Steele. The team will now focus on the BRA National Rookie of the Year title. With just 2 weekends of point racing left Steele leads the rookie chase by a mere 13 points.
In the victory lane celebration Steele thanked all the people involved in his championship including family and friends on hand as well as all of his sponsors. “Robert Dodge at That’s Racin’ Fabrication is a huge reason we won this championship” said Steele. “He rebuilt this car 3 times this season after I wrecked it and every time it is better than what we started with”. “I also want to thank Bob Barber for giving a rookie a chance in this modified”. Steele went on to thank sponsors North American Building and Development, Community Tire and Auto, Signs by Tomorrow, Charley’s Place Restaurant and Bar, Jeff Stafford and Manuel’s Mexican Restaurants for all their support in 2006. “There is no way we could do any of this without these great sponsors” said Steele. “We really want to bring home this Rookie award for all of them”
The Steele racing team will tow his modified up to Thunder Raceway in Show Low next weekend in search of the Rookie of the Year title. Visit www.tonysteele .net for updates
