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.
Ethan’ s car. Photo by Tara Bowker.
Family hug after Ethan won the world championship. Photo by Luke Nieuwhof.
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 highlevel 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. n
Ethan Steding after a run. Photo by Tara Bowker.
Lily Steding and her car. Photo by Robert Richard.
Wendi Steding, the family’ s biggest fan. Photo by Luke Nieuwhof.
CHARTIERS VALLEY ❘ SUMMER 2025 9