Steve got his start working with his father Jerry Knapp, legendary Formula Vee and Super Vee competitor and owner and operator of Elite Enterprises and Elite Auto Sports, builder of race chassis and Volkswagen based kit cars. In his youth, Steve began along the path of his own racing career by participating in motocross events, driving Formula Vee, and later working with top engine builders who, along with his father, laid the groundwork for his future. At 14, Steve became solely responsible for the preparation and operation of his father’s two car race team. As a result of his efforts, Steve was named Land of Lakes Region SCCA’s “Mechanic of the Year.” With his son, Logan now involved in the family business, the Knapps are a three generation racing Family and Elite Engines is the product of all of their efforts.
Steve’s cousin, Tom Knapp, was running Stocker Racing, a prep shop that supported the Pro-Motion Pro Sports 2000 Series. Along with Steve’s father Jerry, Tom and Steve started talking about moving into this popular sports racing class.
Shortly thereafter, a relationship was forged with Carl Haas of Carl Haas Auto. This relationship provided Steve with a new Lola Sports 2000 and two Bertils race engines to campaign the 1986 S2000 Pro Series. Hard work and perseverance paid off as Steve went on to become the 1986 S2000 Pro Series Champion, as well as Ohio Triple Crown Winner. I n the following year, 1986, he also claimed the SCCA National Sports 2000 Championship. 1986 further saw Steve named Chicago Region SCCA Driver of the Year.
In 1987, Carl Haas appointed Craig Richey of Richey Tech, as his dealer of Lola race cars and the soon to be imported Reynard brand of formula cars. At the same time, Carl struck another deal that saw Steve move to the Richey Tech team from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to campaign the 1987 Pro Sports 2000 Championship with the new 87-90 Lola Sports 2000 chassis. That year Steve staged a repeat performance of the previous year by again becoming the S2000 Pro Series Champion.
During 1988, Steve continued with Richey Tech. He tested and developed the new Reynard FF1600 and FF2000 cars. In 1989, Steve went to work for Carl Haas Auto, then moved to the other side of the building to Newman Haas Racing. Newman Haas was just starting a test team for Mario and Michael Andretti. Steve was appointed Chief Mechanic. Steve remained in that position into 1991. Steve recalls this period as some of the most instrumental and fun-filled times of his professional racing career. “Working in such a team environment was something everyone should experience. I really learned that with thoughtful coordination, much can get accomplished in a very short time. Working along side my hero Mario Andretti and his son Michael, was something I will treasure for my lifetime. The Andretti’s are first class and they treated the whole Newman Haas organization as family.”
It was during that year that Elite Engines was born, as was his son, Logan. While running his business, Steve continued to visit racetracks looking to support his new business. A great personal and professional relationship developed during this time when he met John and Herb Miller of Miller Milling. After a seven year hiatus from driving, Steve was back in the car, making a statement by winning the extremely competitive USAC/SCCA FF2000 Pro Series National Championship competing in the Miller Milling Elite Engines’ Van Dieman. Upon winning this championship, Steve was off to Reno, Nevada where he placed the newly designed CARBIR SS2000 on pole for the American Cities Racing League event at the new street course. In 1997 he raced in the Kool/Toyota Atlantic Series with an eye on Indy in 1998.
During that year Steve continued the pursuit of his ultimate goal…winning the Indianapolis 500. In his first ever Indy race, which happened to be the 1998 Indianapolis 500, he started 23rd and drove his way to the front early in the race. He ran in the top five and raced his way to third place by two-thirds distance with great battles against Buddy Lazier and John Paul Jr. When the checkers fell for winner, Eddie Cheever, Buddy Lazier was in second and Steve was third place! Not only were they all on the lead lap, all three were on the front straightaway! The following evening at the Indy 500 Banquet, Steve was awarded the “1998 Indy 500 Bank One Rookie Of The Year” honor.
After this accomplishment, he continued to race as a professional Indy Car driver. Unfortunately he was severely injured in1999 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This injury was so severe that he was warned by his surgeon that he couldn’t really take another hit. Ignoring the surgeon’s advice, he continued to race in the IRL Series. Along with many other races during those years, he competed two more times in the Indianapolis 500, eventually retiring from driving in 2001. At this time in his life, he turned his primary focus from driving race cars to building their engines. He’s never found himself far from his racing past. To date his competitive nature is still nurtured by his business which allows him to see his engines win titles at the many illustrious tracks in and around the country.
Today, Elite Engines is one of the country's top engine builders both at the pro and amateur levels. It has become the racing industry's version of a household name. When Steve began the business, he began working on just 2.0 L Ford Pinto Engines. As his business grew and his experience broadened, he expanded his operation to include many other different types of engines. Today some of the engines Elite specializes in include: Mazda MZR, Toyota Atlantic, Sports 2000, Ford 2000, Ford Kent 1.6L, Honda Formula F, Lotus Twin Cams, Mazda/Cosworth YDX, Ford Zetec, Ford/Cosworth YBM engines.
Engines built by Elite Engines have won over 50 SCCA National Championships in Formula Continental, Sports 2000, Formula Atlantic, and F1600. Elite Engines is also the sole engine supplier for the Cooper Tires’ USF2000 Championship Series Powered by Mazda in the MRTI. In 2012, John Doonan, of Mazda Motorsports, submitted Elite Engines Inc. for their choice for the “Indianapolis Motorsports Show Engine Builder of the Year”. Steve Knapp still strives to win racing titles!
