Former Wisconsin standout dies at 79
Red Steffen, among Wisconsin’s winningest Dirt Late Model racers from the 1960s-80s, died Monday at his Eau Claire, Wis., home. He was 79.
The 1983 winner of the Punky Manor Challenge of Champions at Red Cedar Speedway in Menomonie, Wis. won more than 100 career Late Model races, according to historian Bob Schafer, with three track championships (1970, ’73 and ’76) at Eau Claire Speedway and victories at more than 17 tracks in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He had six seasons with double-figure Late Model victory totals.
He was inducted into the Red Cedar Speedway Hall of Fame in 2013.
Besides Eau Claire and Red Cedar, Steffen was a multiple-race winners at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., River Raceway Tri-Oval in Fountain City, Wis. and Rice Lake (Wis.) Speedway among other tracks.
Dennis J. Steffen’s survivors weren’t immediately available. Visitation is 9:30-11 a.m. Friday, April 25, at Grace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire followed by an 11 a.m. memorial service. Hulke Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services is handling arrangements. Find a complete obituary at hulkefamilyfh.com.
