Dave Steele lost control of his winged sprint car after contact with another car on the first lap of the feature race during a Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series race on the 3/8th-mile asphalt track of DeSoto Speedway, on Saturday, 25 March 2017.
His left front wheel struck the right rear wheel of another competitor's car, causing Steele's vehicle to launch into the air. It spun around and struck the outside wall in turn 2 with the left side. The car did not have a full containment seat. Medics attempted to treat him, but unfortunately, Dave Steele, 42, was pronounced dead. He was reported to be the third driver to die at Desoto Speedway since the track was opened in 1978.
The USAC veteran Dave Steele was known as an asphalt specialist in sprint cars and midgets. He captured 60 USAC feature victories in the USAC Silvercrown Series, also racing in Indy Lites and the NASCAR Xfinity races. He was a two-time winner of the famous Turkey Grand Prix Midget race at Irwindale in 2001 and 2003. He was trying to win his 100th race in Florida. In the IndyCar Series, Steele made three starts in 1998, having his debut in Phoenix, driving for Team RSM-Helmut Marko, before enlisting with Pennzoil Panther Racing for two starts at Fort Worth and Las Vegas.
R.I.P
