About Me — “Horsedog” Erik Steel

I race because it’s where focus meets freedom. The moment the helmet goes on, the noise fades and the work begins—one corner, one lap, one race at a time. I’m proud to call Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, Vermont home turf, a place where discipline, preparation, and respect for the craft matter as much as raw speed.

My racing journey at Thunder Road has spanned three of its four current divisions—Flying Tigers, Street Stocks, and Warriors—with race wins in both the Street Stock and Warrior divisions. Each class demanded something different, sharpening adaptability, racecraft, and the ability to perform under pressure. I’ve also claimed victory in a Run What You Brung event, where street cars, creativity, and controlled mayhem collide—proving that preparation still wins, even when the rules are loose.

Before full-size cars, I earned wins in multiple regional competitions in radio control car racing, developing precision and race intelligence that continue to define my approach today. That same competitive mindset carried into sim racing, where I became the iRacing Legends Cup Overall Champion (2024 Season 3)—a title earned through consistency and execution across an entire championship season.

Off the track, everything I do is grounded in family. My wife Monica Lamberton and I met in 2002 and married in 2006, and she has been part of this journey from the very beginning. The name Horsedog Motorsports comes from bringing my dog, a Great Dane named Brewtus, to the racetracks—because racing is serious, but it’s also personal.

As this program continues to grow, friends, family and business support plays a meaningful role in keeping us competitive and moving forward. Contributions go directly toward equipment, preparation, travel, and doing things the right way—helping turn hard work into opportunity. More than advertising space, partnership here is about being part of a journey built on integrity, effort, and long-term vision.

This season, and every other moving forward, we are Racing for Memories—in honor of my late father, who passed in June of 2025. He was the one who instilled the values of commitment, perseverance, and pride in doing things right. Every lap turned is a tribute to the lessons he taught and the moments we shared. Racing isn’t just about wins—it’s about carrying forward what matters, preserving memories, and creating new ones along the way.

Win or lose, I show up prepared, accountable, and focused on progress. Every lap is earned.