Coopersville's Tim Steele has put together the ultimate dream team when it comes to local short-track stock car racing.

      Steele, a retired three-time ARCA champion who now is a car owner, is pulling out all the stops to win the prestigious Snowball Derby. The 300-lap Late Model race will be run Dec. 6 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla. The winner will receive $20,000.

     Check out Steele's team:

     -Tom Thomas of Grandville will handle the driving duties. Thomas is a three-time Berlin Raceway track champion, with two of his titles coming in the Late Model division.

     -Grand Rapids native Johnny Benson Jr. will join the crew and work as Thomas' spotter.

     -Chip Caputo of Grand Rapids will serve as Thomas' crew chief. Caputo's lengthy career has included working as crew chief with Benson and Steele during the past two decades.

     "I never won this race as a driver," Steele said. "I would sure like to do it as a car owner. I feel that we have all the pieces of the puzzle to go down there and win it.

     "Between Tommy, Johnny, myself and Chip, with the four of us working together, working towards one common goal, I have a super good feeling about this. God willing, we will win it."

     Thomas drove Steele's No. 16 HS Die stock car to victory in the Oct. 10 CRA Super Series race at Berlin. It was the first time Thomas raced for Steele. It went so well, they agreed to team for the Snowball Derby and will use the same car.

     Benson is the defending NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion, although he lost his ride in June because of a lack of sponsorship. Benson has been sidelined from competition since being injured in a Supermodified race at Berlin in June.

     "We are really excited to have Johnny on the team," Steele said. "Tom and Johnny are good friends and they will work well together."

     The Snowball Derby field will include NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch.

     Past winners include Darrell Waltrip, Donnie Allison and Butch Miller of Coopersville. Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin and the late Dale Earnhardt have competed in the race.