Helton expects to turn it up a notch in 2001 USCS chase

Palmetto, Ga. - USCS regular, Randy Helton of Palmetto, Georgia, expects to move up from his fourth place finish in the 2000 USCS "Outlaw Thunder" Tour winged sprint car standings. The fourth year racer has upgraded his equipment and expects better results against the USCS competition that he considers as strong as any 360 sprint car series in the country. He should know, as he ran every 2000 event and saw his USCS companion Kenny Adams become the top ranked 360 sprint car driver in the natiion while he and the other USCS regulars only gave away 3 wins to outside competition although, 40 drivers who won elsewhere in 2000 came to visit.

"I really learned a lot last year and saw a lot of new tracks that we will be going back to this year. That will be helpful to me. I have better cars and my Engines will come from Engine Research and should produce good horsepower, with a backup motor that we put together Ourself. I kind of had some highs and lows on the pavement last year, but I think I am improving there. I really had my dirt program going at East Bay in the Fall Nationals until we were involved in a tangle in the main event on the final night while running well." said Helton."

Helton, whose best dirt finish on dirt has been 4th and best asphalt finish on asphalt 5th hopes to register some wins this season after , "a lot of hard work in the off-season." The highlight of his career was winning the "DASH" at Sugar Creek Raceway last year with "all the heat" behind him.

Helton a Memphis native, credits his late father, Paul Helton, for creating his interest in sprint car racing while he grew up going with him to Riverside Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas, when his dad owned a sportsman (B class car ) that Hooker Hood, among others, drove. He got into his latest involvement in sprint car racing after moving to the Atlanta area, where he reconnected with USCS President Pete Walton, who had crewed the sportsman car for his dad years ago.

Walton (prior to starting USCS) was racing in the Southeastern area and Helton joined him as chief wrench in 1991 and decided to go racing himself in 1998. Helton had past experience in kart racing and drag racing.

USCS President, Pete Walton said, " Randy Helton is one of those wonderful "golden" people you meet in life that never ever lets you down. He is a friend to every one in our series and is one of the big reasons we are still going and growing. I wish him the very most success in 2001 , He deserves it, no one works harder."

Helton's #27 car is sponsored by Helton Transmissions, Action Vend, Titanium to Go, and his wife Vicky. Randy's experienced crew is Jeff Helton, Matt Helton and Ohio native and ultimate sprint car fan, Ron Newman.

-USCS-