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 As a kid, he always dreamed of being a racer. He delighted in engine classes in school, and watched his favorite pro driver Matt Kenseth dominate time and time again. At the end of his senior year of high school, Jeff Steenbergen made his dream a reality and began racing. Steenbergen landed a position with a sprint car pit crew and yearned to
pilot such a machine himself. He attended an open wheel driving school and tried his hand with a sprint car. He faired quite well and started looking at different series to race in that were more affordable.
Jeff's search led him to the Formula Indy Racing Association (FIRA) and he blew the competition away. After picking up Rookie of the Year and finishing second in points, he discovered an opportunity to compete in the last two races in the Mid-American Truck series. He stayed with the series two more years, running fulltime, and procured Rookie of the Year honors with a top three points culmination, not to mention two-time Best Appearing Truck, and a championship to top it off in 2002. To add to the list of accomplishments, he even took the checkered in the Road America race in which the Mid-Am cars and trucks race together. Not only did Jeff prevail, he left the field in the dust, coming across the line with an eight second lead. Competing in series such as he has, Steenbergen's been around on the map.
Jeff is married to well-known motorsports journalist and promoter Natasha (Fabian) Steenbergen and is competing full-time on the Midwest Supertruck Series tour and is in the title chase at the Slinger Super Speedway with the late model.
2000 Objective: To grasp the basics of auto racing and fulfill his need for speed
Accomplishments
Formula Indy Racing Association (FIRA) Rookie of the Year
Second in championship point standings
20 starts; 2 wins (Rockford, IL; Columbus, WI); 1 fast time; 17 top-five finishes
1 preliminary race win
2001 Objective: To make solid run in stock truck competition and establish winning team
Accomplishments
Mid-American Super Truck Series Rookie of the Year
Third in championship point standings
11 starts; 1 win (Madison, WI); 4 top-five and 10 top-ten finishes
1 preliminary race win
Top three finish in career first road course race (Road America)
2002 Objective: To win championship and road race and embellish on driving skills
Accomplishments
Mid-American Super Truck Series Champion
14 starts; 1 win (Road America); 1 track record; 9 top-five and 13 top-ten finishes
Best appearing truck award
2003 Objective: To expand setup knowledge with fabricated chassis and racetracks statewide
Accomplishments
Limited Late Model
Various length events at multiple tracks to gain experience
1 win; 7 top-five and 12 top-ten finishes
5 preliminary race wins
2004 Objective: To build and drive top LLM and prove self as racer and learn more about car
Accomplishments
Limited Late Model (April-July)
9 starts; 2 wins; 2 top-five and 5 top-ten finishes
3 preliminary race wins
Ran other events in a Midwest Sportsman and different Limited Late Model through end of season
2005 Objective: To be a strong competitor in the LLM division under the guidance of veteran car owner LeRoy Stofflet
Accomplishments
Limited Late Model
Mid-American Sportsman
1 win; 7 top-fives and 17 top-ten finishes
4 preliminary race wins
2006 Objective: To gain more chassis knowledge and experience in setting up fabricated and stock stub vehicles and make a run at 2 championships.
Accomplishments
Limited Late Model
Midwest Super Truck
9 top-fives and 11 top-ten finishes
2 preliminary race wins
Set fast time in Midewst Supertruck Series in four out of the five races
that had qualifying.
2007 Objective: Become a top limited late model racer in Wisconsin and win
a Big 8 feature.
Accomplishments
Limited Late Model
1 win; 6 top-fives and 8 top-ten finishes
2 preliminary race wins
Won Big 8 Series feature at Jefferson Speedway.
Set fast time at Slinger Nationals and Jefferson Speedway.
2008 Objective: Become a top limited late model racer in Wisconsin and win
a Big 8 feature.
Accomplishments
Legends car on dirt
1 win; 11 top-fives and 15 top-ten finishes
3 preliminary race wins
Finished 4th in Wisconsin Dirt Legends Series points as a rookie.
Finished 4th in INEX National Semi-Pro Dirt Legends points as a rookie.
Career Stats:
- 10 Feature Wins
- 21 Preliminary Race Wins
- 8 Fast Times
Here are some quick facts about Jeff Steenbergen that you may not have known.
Jeff is employed an engine technician at Briggs and
Stratton in Milwaukee, WI.
Jeff enjoys landscaping and making vinyl graphics in his free time, and
racing in several online racing leagues with many of his real-life competitors.
Jeff and his wife Natasha celebrated their third wedding anniversary May 28,
2008. They have no children.
Jeff has previously raced Midwest Super Trucks,
Limited Late Models, Mid-American Stock Cars, Go-Karts, and Formula Indy Cars.
2008 is Jeff's first season racing on dirt after seven
years of racing on asphalt.
Jeff does not consider any one place his home track
Madison, Jefferson, Slinger, Dells, and WIR are all the same distance from his home in Waupun.
Jeff chose the number 62 because it was his number in high school football. Jeff graduated Waupun High School in 2000.
Jeff is 26 years old and this is his eighth season racing.
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