March 21, 2009 (Anaheim, Calif.) -- In the 2008 off-road racing season, racer Heidi Steele firmly established her place in the sport’s history by becoming the first female to ever win two major championships in the same season. Tonight, Steele made her mark on the record books for a second time, becoming the first women ever to earn the prestigious “Driver of the Year” title by Ryan Communications Group’s (RCG) Dirt Sports magazine.

Last season, Steele, co-drivers Rene Brugger, Tim Lawrence and Danny Street Jr., and her Desert Assassins team took their Lucas Oil/Yokohama Tire Ford Ranger to championships in both the Class 7SX champion for the SCORE International series and Class 7100 in the Best In The Desert series. In the process, Steele’s effort claimed three event wins and SCORE’s Toyota Milestone award for completing every mile of every race last year. The team’s campaign was also supported by American Racing Wheel, Fox Shox, Alpine Stars, Currie Enterprises, Camburg, MasterCraft, VP Race Fuels, Danzio,Deaver and Motive Gear.

Wife of television personality and SCORE Trophy-Truck racer Cameron Steele, Heidi joins an illustrious group of “Driver of the Year” honorees that represent some of the sport’s best including the late Jason Baldwin (2004), Shannon Campbell (2005), Carl Renezeder (2006) and last year’s winner Rob MacCachren. This year’s runner-up group of driver’s included SCORE Trophy-Truck champion B.J. Baldwin, CORR Pro2 and Super Buggy champion MacCachren and rock crawling legend Campbell, who also won two titles in 2008.

“The process of selecting our “Driver of the Year” is a difficult one, as each season there is always so much great talent to choose from,” explained Marty Fiolka, group editorial director, Ryan Communications Group. “However, in light of her great and historic achievements during the 2008 season, it is an honor to bestow this award to Heidi Steele. She is not only a champion driver, but an outstanding person that really represents the very best of the Dirt Sports Nation.”

In choosing each of their past winners, the panel of judges make their final determinations based upon drivers posting a championship performance, their ability to represent both the sport and their sponsors in a professional manner, and their ability to rise above the competition in a significant manner.

“It’s an incredible honor to be named Dirt Sports Driver of the Year, a true highlight in my five year racing career considering the many talented racers in the various off-road racing series. I am grateful that Dirt Sports has taken many factors into consideration for this award, including winning two championships in one year and the challenges of competing in a more limited class. This is a truly amazing and unforgettable feeling,” said Steele, who received her honors tonight at a special ceremony at Anaheim’s Menage Hotel co-sponsored by Bully Dog, Speed Technologies and Blue C Advertising.

As part of their award, winners grace a special edition of Dirt Sports magazine via special photo shoot by noted photojournalist Boyd Jaynes. The “Driver of the Year” feature will be part of the magazine’s just-released March/April 2009 issue, which is being mailed to subscribers and available at this weekend’s Off-Road Expo in Pomona, California, as well as next week’s SNORE General Tire Mint 400 in Las Vegas.

Ryan Communications Group (RCG) is a multi-media communications business providing full market coverage that connects the consumer as well as the business trade market segments. Current properties include Dirt Sports magazine, Dirtsportsonline.com, Dirt Sports newsletter and E-zine, Off Road Industry Magazine, Offroadindustryonline.com, Off Road Industry Newsletter and E-zine.