Tampa's own Dave Steele, one of USAC's most accomplished race drivers in history, has been selected to serve as Grand Marshal of the March 20-22 USAC Eastern District .25 Midget Championships at the Ambassador Racing School oval south of the Florida city.
Steele won USAC's 2004 and 2005 Silver Crown Driving title and has 16 victories in USAC's premier series. He also has 26 USAC National Sprint car wins and 17 National Midget wins in a USAC career spanning 17 years.
A veteran of many forms of motorsports, Dave participated in three Indy Racing League races in 1998 for Panther Racing and made two NASCAR Nationwide starts for Felix Sabates in 2000. A practice-day accident in 1998 ended his bid for an Indianapolis 500 start that year.
Dave's presence will augment what promises to be a historic weekend for the United States Auto Club, which will oversee the first of its new .25 Midget District Dhampionships.
"I'm looking forward to the opportunity," remarked Steele, referring to spending time with the aspiring young race drivers. "I can remember my formative years and the impressions drivers like Dave Scarborough, Jim Childers, Frank Riddle, Larry Brazil and Wayne Reutimann made on me."