A hardworking local family in Silver Bay has been giving our community a powerful voice in the Minnesota speedways. The VanHouse family has long been recognized as a force to be reckoned with, backed by generations of racing history.
It all started with Steve VanHouse, a staple in the Silver Bay community and along the North Shore, who raced cars for about 5 years and competed in snowmobile and dirt bike racing for a decade. Once he had his two boys, the tradition carried on:
Derek, Steve’s oldest son, got into racing in the early 2000s, competing in motocross for nearly ten years alongside race cars before stepping back.
Deven, Derek’s brother, caught the bug at age 16 when Steve returned to racing in 2001. Deven loved spending time with his dad, working on cars, and being around the track.
Fast forward to today: Deven is now in his 24th season, having started actually racing in 2002. He raced motocross and moved on to cars, and now his 12-year-old son, Gage, is following in his family’s footsteps. Currently in his 5th season of go-kart racing, Gage took 1st place in Rice Lake on July 10, 2026.
The Grind Behind the Glory
Racing requires immense dedication. In between races, the family puts in 4 to 5 hours a night on preventative maintenance and tire prep. When a car wrecks, they often work all night after returning late from the track just to have it ready for the next day’s race. You can’t miss a race when you’re competing for points!
The roles have shifted over time, but they remain in each other’s corners. Instead of Deven serving as his father’s right-hand man, Steve is now in Deven’s pit crew, building lasting memories. In time, Deven will most likely step into his son’s pit crew full-time, building on a legacy that makes their hometown of Silver Bay proud.
2026 Season Highlights
Deven competes in two divisions: Modified and Midwest Modified. His main home track is Gondik Law Speedway in Superior, WI, which happens to be his favorite track. He also races in Hibbing, Proctor, and occasionally Thunder Bay.
So far this year, Deven has claimed 3 feature wins. He recently placed in the top 4 and top 2 during a Friday night event at Gondik Law Speedway, followed by an impressive 1st-place finish at Proctor last Sunday. I was impressed and surprised when attending last Friday’s races in Superior. All of a sudden, I heard Deven’s name announced. It added a whole other element of fun, cheering on one of our very own. It truly was a pleasure watching him perform and show off his talents.
Q&A with Deven VanHouse
What is your favorite thing about racing?
“I enjoy the adrenaline and the joy of winning.” He also likes combating the challenges that arise when things aren’t going well, like figuring out how to make the car faster.
How long do you plan to keep racing?
“I plan on racing for sure until I hit 30 years. At that point, Gage will be old enough to step into a big car if he has the passion. Then I’ll focus on him. If he decides not to, I’ll probably keep racing.”
What advice would you give someone starting out?
“You have to be willing to put a lot of work in, and don’t give up when things aren’t going your way. The best way to learn is to start helping out a friend who races, be around the sport, and pay close attention.”
Show Your Support!
Show up and cheer on our local driver! While the team currently has vintage shirts from a decade ago, new merch is planned for next season.
To catch Deven in action, check out the schedule on the Gondik Law Speedway website or Facebook page for upcoming Modified and Midwest Modified races. Mark your calendars for the Northern Nationals in Superior on September 11th and 12th! You won’t want to miss it!
