Memorial service honors memory of the late Steve Engel
DALLAS (Sept. 21) -- Family, friends, fans, and fellow racers gathered Saturday evening at the Racers For Christ tent at the Texas Motorplex to honor and remember Pro Mod racer Steve Engel, who passed away earlier this week as a result of the injuries he sustained in a crash during the recently completed 54th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.
A full contingent of racers and crew personnel from the JEGS ProMod Challenge was joined by NHRA regulars John Force, Larry Dixon, Ron Capps, and Morgan Lucas. Engel always pointed to Force as the racer he admired most.
RFC Chaplin Larry Smiley honored the Bristol winner with numerous remembrances as well as passages from the bible. Smiley spoke of Engel as not only a great racer, but as an inspiring man, and the audience shared tears and laughs as they remembered Engel.
Smiley also reminded the audience that officials with the JEGS ProMod Challenge have created the Steve Engel "Big Man, Big Heart" Award, which will be handed out annually to the Pro Mod racer that best exemplifies Engel's gregarious spirit and generous nature. The award will be accompanied by a $10,000 cash prize that will be donated to the charity of the recipient's choice in Engel's name.
The 49-year-old Engel is survived by his wife Tonya and sons Stevie and Michael.
