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Driver Spotlight- Steve Holt

One of the most familiar faces in the pits here at Lebanon I-44 Speedway is Steve Holt. Steve has piloted a race car around our track more times than anyone would like to count. He truly is one of I-44 Speedway’s seasoned veterans. Currently, Holt is competing in the Pro Late Model division in the red No. 35 Calhoun Trucking backed machine.
Holt’s racing career started basically the day he was born. At this time, the Fairgrounds Speedway in Springfield Missouri was open, and Steve’s father was competing there on a regular basis. Steve never wanted to miss a race, he was always there with his father helping him wrench on the car or just cheering from the sidelines. It was at the young age of 15-years-old when Steve got his very own race car. “In 1979 I started racing at age 15. I got into racing with my dad, I had been going with him to the track since I was a kid. I first started on the 1/8-mile dirt track at the Fairgrounds, later I moved up to the ½ mile asphalt track,” added the Strafford native. When the Fairgrounds Speedway closed down, Steve’s racing career continued on. Steve then started racing at Bolivar Speedway and later I-44 Speedway with tracks all across the Midwest mixed in as well. Holt later went on to be one of the few drivers to ever beat Larry Phillips here at I-44 Speedway.
Steve’s racing career has not slowed down much. He plans on running a full season again in 2018 with good friend and crew member, Jim Proe. Steve and Jim met each other in the pits in 1995 and remained friends for quite a while. When I-44 Speedway re-opened as an asphalt track Jim and Steve began working together and their relationship has grown since then. “The best thing about working with Steve is his experience. You learn a lot of things from him since he has been doing it so long,” stated Proe. Jim and Steve have one common goal in mind for the 2018 season, and that goal is to have a better season than last year. Holt’s 2017 season was plagued with motor issues, but Steve is confident that the problems have been resolved and is looking for big things in 2018. “I would like to win 20% of the races I start. I want to have a good time and get along with everybody,” added Holt. All of us here at Lebanon I-44 Speedway wish Steve the very best of luck this season and cannot wait to watch the No.35 Pro Late Model fly around the high banks!
Be sure to join us this Saturday night, August 4th, for an exciting night of short-track racing and pro wrestling from the Ringside Championship Wrestling association. The gates will open at 6:00 and wrestling will start at 7:00 next to the VIP Tower. Admission is $15 for adults in the Grandstands and Tier Parking, kids 10 & under are free! To keep up with news and updates you can like our Facebook page at Lebanon I-44 Speedway, follow us on Instagram at @i44_Speedway, or follow us on Twitter at @i44speedway and visit our website at www.i44speedway.net!
By Dylan Bates

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