STEVE GRAY-RACING FROM SHADES OF GRAY TO THE CHECKERS IN 2001

Cool, calculating and very precise. All commodities that make a stock car driver a successful champion. Steve Gray or "The Iceman" as he has been nicknamed has all of these championship qualities. The 25 year old Penn Yan resident has lived up to this billing time and again and thrives on the dream that he will soon be doing it as a full time profession. With 8 career Sportsman victories dating back to June 27, 1998 when he grabbed his first checkers at "The Land of Legends", Canandaigua Speedway, up to last years 2nd place finish in the season ending point's standings, Gray is a real threat to become a dominant force in the Sportsman ranks on the ultra fast ½ mile oval located at the Ontario County Fairgrounds and on the entire DIRT circuit in 2001.
Gray, who is a mechanic for one of his most prized sponsors, Document Reprocessors, started his racing career in 1995. He first hopped aboard a Street Stock owned by his Uncle Dave McQuay and was immediately hooked. After showing potential behind the wheel of his uncle's ride, Gray purchased his own from John Moravic. Over the next few seasons, Gray would compete in the Street Stock ranks in cars purchased from Derek Excell and Tanya Hance before purchasing his first Sportsman ride from Eldon Jensen and beginning his assault in the Sportsman division in 1998.
Fast forward to the present and the success through hard work and a dedicated team concept for Gray and his entire crew. Gray and his crew come prepared this season with a 1999 and 2001 TEO chassis both powered by motors out of the shops of Ontario Offshore Performance. Sponsors for 2001 include Document Reprocessors, Lozier Analytical Group, Comstock's HVAC, Comstock's Machine, and Ontario Offshore Performance.
"I can't say enough about my main sponsor, Document Reprocessors. They have really stepped up their efforts over the last 2 years and I need to especially thank Eric & Muriel Lundquist (owners of Document Reprocessors). The company has a whole family type relationship and I am looking forward to my association with them for many years to come," Gray explained to me.
Gray will soon find out personally about the family concept, as he and fiancé Stacy VanSickle will be married on July 22. Three-year-old daughter Laurle complete the family scheme for Gray but all are very involved with him in his future racing career. Of course, every championship driver is always quick to point out the tremendous crew that helps him race to the front of the pack week after week and "The Iceman" is no exception.
"My Crew Chief Jeff Blakesley and Gary Fields have been with me since the start of my career and I owe them a great deal of thanks. We also have Doug Smith who is a Street Stock driver, Jim McClure, and my fiancé Stacy VanSickle. Without all of them my efforts may not be as successful as they have been. I also need to give a special thanks to Quentin Schwartz who follows us just about everywhere even towing our second car on many occasions. Quentin is another of the people from Document Reprocessors we appreciate so much" he told me.
Asked of his plans & goals for 2001, "The Iceman" coolly and quickly responded that he is setting his sights high by competing regularly at Canandaigua, Cayuga County, Rolling Wheels, and the entire 2001 Dig Safely New York Sportsman Super DIRT Series and aiming for each championship title. With the help from his tremendous sponsors, he may be well on his way. He currently leads the points at CCFS with 2 feature wins to his credit, rides 4th in the points at Canandaigua with one victory only 17 markers out of the top spot, sits 3rd in points at Rolling Wheels only 12 points behind the 2 leaders, and is 9th in the early Super DIRT Series standings.
Beyond 2001, Gray has made early plans to forge on with his career by making the jump to the 358 and big block Modified ranks next season. Already the sponsors, namely Document Reprocessors have begun to make major plans with Gray for 2002 by even talking of a team mate, much the same way Sweeteners Plus have worked their team. With thoughts of a career change to full time driver status, this could be just what "The Iceman" needs to establish himself as a championship contender for many years to come.