10/16/2000
AFTER 30 YEARS, BILL STEEN FINALLY WINS A
CHAMPIONSHIP...
#23 Yellow and Blue Figure 8 car has been a standard
through three decades of Long Island Racing with the popular Bill "The
Dean" Steen behind the wheel making left and right hand turns for 30
years, but throughout those 30 years something was missing until now.
Early on in life, Bill was influenced by Sam Atkins, who was a 4 time Figure
8 Champion at Islip Speedway. "He had helped me get started in
racing. He gave me a motor and roll cage for my first car, a 1955
Ford." Bill began working on cars at the age of 16, and then at
the age of 19 Bill Steen started racing at Islip Speedway in the figure 8
division. At Islip, he would lead the World Championship Race at Islip
Speedway and compete on National TV, on ABC's "Wide World of
Sports." However, the fun at Islip Speedway would end in 1984
when the track met its demise and closed down permanently.
In 1985, Bill began racing out at Riverhead Raceway in
the Figure 8 ranks, however in the next year he would take the year off.
On championship day Bill drove George Brown's car to decide if he wanted to
come back to race and the next year he came back. In the following
years he would win the Ernie Maynor Memorial, the Cromarty Sportsmanship
Award, and many other distinctions and races.
In 2000, Bill Steen and his Steen Motorsports crew set out the goal of
trying to win the championship. In first race of the season he set the
tone for a solid year by winning the season opener and continued throughout
the year with consistent finishes. However, mid-season on July
4th, Bill would suffer a torn Achilles tendon which was supposed to end his
fine run for he had to have a cast for 4-7 weeks, preventing him to use the
clutch pedal, but Bill's determination prevented the fine run ending short.
Neal Feola Sr. lent his hand clutch which helped Bill continue to the end of
the season which included another win and the championship.
Bill Steen would like to thank his sponsors Euro Tech Auto Body, G&R
Performance Race Engines, Parts World Auto Parts, Katey's Deli, Not Just Ice
Cream, Wild Child Designs, Macarthur Auto Clinic, Peconic Machine
Corporation, Allstate Carburetors, Island Fabrication, Scotty's Tire, and
Oval Speed Unlimited. In addition to his sponsors, Bill would like to
thank "the entire Steen Motorsports team for their dedicated support
during the season. The championship would not have been possible
without a complete team effort. A very special thanks to Neal Feola
Sr. for his help!"
Bill Steen plans to continue racing in 2001 and plans
on defending his 2001 championship.
