Tracking Success!
- Pamela Palongue
- Jun 5
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 20
The Steding family has been incredibly successful in the world of drag racing, with three members of the family hitting the track.
The Stedings’ need for speed began with Kurt Steding, who started drag racing at the age of 40. Unlike many racers, he didn’t have any family members who were in the sport. He decided to try bracket racing, which allows the drivers to have a handicap (similar to golf) for amateurs. After just two years of success, both locally and in Ohio, Kurt turned pro. He has been racing nationally—and winning—since 2019. He has amassed more than 25 national wins and placed 2nd in the world in 2024 in the Pro Boost Class. His car will run 210 miles per hour in just 3.6 seconds.
Kurt has been racing for 12 years, and now his son Ethan is already a professional at 17. Ethan races in the Pro Street Class and has won world championships as both a junior amateur dragster and as a professional driver in 2024. He was Rookie of the Year and is the youngest professional drag racer in the country, and the youngest world champion in Pro Drag Racing Association history.
Kurt’s daughter Lily is also making her mark in the sport of racing at 15, as a Pro Junior Dragster. Despite the misnomer, this is an amateur class. But in case you think it resembles a soap box derby, her car will top out at 85 miles per hour in 7.9 seconds!
She is also having great success, and you can see her car pictured on the cover of this issue. Lily does not have her own sponsored pit crew yet, so Kurt takes care of all the racing maintenance on her car.
The Stedings have been racking up an impressive list of sponsors, however, including Red Line Oil, which supplies all their oil; Hoosier Tires, which keeps them in rubber; Ty-Drive Transmissions and NGK Spark Plugs. These sponsors are invaluable since the cars run through tons of equipment. For example, they will use 1,200 spark plugs in a single season.
Kurt’s wife, Wendi, does not race, but she is the No. 1 fan of her husband and children. She can always be found down by the track, supporting them and cheering them on in their efforts.
Despite Ethan and Lily’s youth, they are mature in their driving skills, and none of the three Stedings have had any wrecks. The cars are equipped with state-of-the-art safety equipment, and Kurt feels that one of the reasons the family has been so successful is the high-level equipment they use and superior cars they run.
Ethan and Lily have also been able to make excellent grades in school while competing. Ethan just graduated from Chartiers Valley High School in May.
Both enjoy the competitiveness of the sport and trying to always improve their racing times.
For Kurt, it’s all about family. “I’m really enjoying the family aspect of racing. It’s almost like camping at the racetrack.”
And with 400 drivers who usually show up to compete each weekend, it’s a close-knit community where everyone knows each other. One thing is for certain: In the racing world, everyone knows who the Steding family is now.
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