"Steel City Outlaw" Tim Shaffer Signs with Williams Motorsports for 2026 Season

Updated - 01/27/2026

PARMA, MICHIGAN - The Great Lakes Sprint Car region just got a little tougher to navigate in 2026. Monday night on the Horsepower Happenings' Podcast, Danny Williams, owner of Williams Motorsports, announced that well-known Pennsylvania veteran, Tim Shaffer, is piloting the No.01 this season.

Williams told Zach Hiser and Rich Frantz that Shaffer and Williams struck the deal via a phone call to fellow car owner, Terry Busche. At a lunch meeting, Busche's phone rang with Shaffer on the other end.

"I reached out to him and we started talking," Williams said. "We're actually going to Florida here in a couple weeks to run a couple weeks of racing."

Shaffer and Williams will take the Speedweeks opportunity to work on their communication and build a relationship ahead of the season back in Michigan. Williams says they'll race the 360 in Florida as his 410 engines are not ready.

Once Williams and Shaffer settle into the season up north, Williams says they'll primarily race with the All Star Circuit of Champions, noting they won't make every ASCoC show. Williams says that Shaffer is eager to race the 360 at major shows with the Great Lakes Super Sprints. Williams notes that they're also planning to run the 360 and 410 Knoxville Nationals in Iowa.

"I want to go have fun," Williams said. "The Money and the wins will come. I don't want to fight, I don't want to argue, I don't want any drama; I want to race."

Williams says he was unsure who would drive his car, noting that three to four drivers were on the table before Shaffer called and a deal was put together.

The new pairing get their first test at Southern Raceway in Milton, Florida with the USCS Sprint Cars on Friday and Saturday, February 13th and 14th.

Shaffer's resume needs no support, a 27-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series feature winner, 69-time ASCoC winner, plus two American Sprint Car Series National Tour wins, and winner of the 50th Anniversary of the Knoxville Nationals in 2010.

This is a developing story - additional details on the partnership, including a statement from Tim Shaffer, are expected on Tuesday afternoon. Stay locked in to MARCNews.org for more information.