9/19/2017
Inside Line Promotions
Helms Overcomes Violent Crash to Score Runner-Up Result With All Stars
(Photo by SprintFun Photos)
Inside Line Promotions – BEDFORD, Pa. (Sept. 19, 2017) – Caleb Helms earned his third podium finish of the season with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions last weekend and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
The doubleheader weekend in Central Pennsylvania got off to a rough start for Helms, who capped the opening night on Friday at Selinsgrove Speedway in Selinsgrove by going for a wild ride down the backstretch.
“I was on the outside in turns one and two,” he said. “We were about even as we were leaving the corner. Another driver jumped up and hit my car. His right rear came in behind my left front and slammed me into the wall. I really thought he could see me. I had nowhere to go and couldn’t stop. I hit the wall pretty good and then turned around so it flipped over. Then I got drilled by another driver who had nowhere to go.”
Helms, who started the night by qualifying third quickest in his group before he placed third in a heat race, was battling for a top 10 early in the race when the collision resulted in a nasty crash. The impact destroyed the race car and forced Helms to pull down the back-up car for Sunday’s weekend finale at Bedford Speedway.
“Racing is up and down all the time,” he said. “I was thankful that I was safe and that everyone else was safe. That was disappointing because that was the car we won with and had been running well with. I want to thank Roger Campbell and Brandon Spithaler and their teams for helping us.
“The next night makes it all worth it. You’re able to overcome that setback, keep your nose to the grindstone, do what you need to do and things fall into place and you get a reward.”
Helms timed in fourth quickest in his group, which lined him up on the pole for a heat race. He won the heat to lock into the dash, in which he placed second to start the main event on the outside of the front row.
“We didn’t get off to a great start, but then we started making decent laps,” he said. “People were throwing crumbs on the top of the track. I got into them right before the first yellow. I lost a lot of speed and momentum and Trey (Starks) got underneath me. The next lap he had a mechanical problem so that put me back in second. I moved my wing back and adjusted to stay underneath the crumbs. I was able to run anywhere. I drove through the corners and carried speed across. Brian (Brown) would run low in turns three and four and we were running middle to high and making some good ground on him. In the other corner I had been running high and he moved to that groove. I wanted to stay out of his dirty air so I tried to make the middle to bottom work, but it wasn’t that good. We got beside him a couple of times coming off turn four, but never had enough to make a pass.”
Helms ended with a second-place finish, which was his second podium in the last five All Star races.
He is scheduled to compete at Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio, on Friday with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series and on Saturday with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions.
QUICK RESULTS –
Sept. 16 – Selinsgrove Speedway in Selinsgrove, Pa. – Qualifying: 3; Heat race: 3 (2); Feature: 24 (11).
Sept. 17 – Bedford Speedway in Bedford, Pa. – Qualifying: 4; Heat race: 1 (1); Dash: 2 (1); Feature: 2 (2).
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio, with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series and Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://HelmsRacing40.wix.com/HelmsRacing
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Caleb_Helms40
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Helms.Motorsports
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Ferguson
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“We use the Ferguson water works division for our pipe materials, fittings, water line stuff, etc., with our family business,” Helms said. “We are very grateful for their support and look forward to a lot of success together.”
Helms would also like to thank Big Jerk Jerky, Helms Construction Inc., Tommy Tire and Helms and Sons Excavating for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
Article Credit: Inside Line Promotions
Submitted By: Shawn Miller
