06/09/2026
This year we are Honored to host the Tim Van Horn Sr. 30 Lap memorial in Honor of Tim Sr.
Tim was a true racer and a stable in the 600-mod class. Here is a little back story on Tim written by Keith Inglin.
Tim Sr. was surrounded by racing his entire life. Working in a trucking business he worked hard, and driving a race car was a late love in his life.
He lost his father at the early age of 50 and when he turned 41, he also suffered a cardiac emergency. Coupled with a diagnosis of diabetes, he was pragmatic about his time on this planet.
A fellow racer named Kyle Gardner introduced the Xcel class to Tim Sr. and he purchased his Xcel in 2008.
For a few years, he raced when time permitted and while never a winning car, he was competitive and loved the series. He was lucky enough to have help from the Mady’s and Geezer. They talked setups and tweaks like many of us do mutually benefitting by collaboration.
He didn’t just love Xcel racing, it was remarked, that if you did not know where he was, you might find him at the food stand enjoying a hot dog and holding a coke. He was that type of guy.
Inevitably, his health concerns stopped him from participating, and he turned the franchise over to his son Timmy in 2012.
Though not actively driving, he remained part of the series well after his helmet was on the shelf. He often was just behind the scenes helping without the fanfare. Along with supporting the team and the relief driver, he was active in the Xcel community and a frequent communicator with Doug during his time as a non-driver.
Fora time, one of the teams had a side-by-side and it was trailered to tour events as sort of an unofficial Xcel tow/push truck. When there was an appeal to help fund flashing safety lights, Van Horn Sr. was instrumental in the purchase of that equipment.
He was known to care about safety and some of the improvements in our series can directly be accredited to his insight.
There was a team in the chase for the championship who like many were down on their luck nearing the end of the season. Tim Sr. agreed that if the need was there, they could use his equipment to chase the title. Turned out they didn’t end up calling on him, but his selfless manner and willingness to help would have been offered and that is the reason so many people looked up to him.
He was only 58 years old when he passed has left behind three children including Tim Van Horn whom you have met at the track.