Atlanta, Ga – The 1st Annual Randy Helton Memorial race is scheduled for Saturday, June 21, 2008 at East Alabama Motor Speedway. The high-banked speed-plant located seven miles West of Phenix City, Alabama on US Highway 80 West was the late O’Reilly United Sprint Car Series driver’s favorite race track. The race is so named to commemorate the late Randy Helton from Palmetto, Georgia. Helton, 47, passed away on March 30, 2008. Helton raced regularly with the series for the last decade. Prior to starting his own career as a racer, Helton was also the crew chief for several seasons for O’Reilly United Sprint Car Series Founder and President, Pete Walton.
Helton started during the 1998 season as a rookie driver with the O’Reilly USCS after purchasing a former Frankie Kerr piloted and Stan Shoff owned J & J Auto Racing car from Walton. One of his top accomplishments over the past several seasons was setting fast time and leading the main event before experiencing tire troubles at East Alabama Motor Speedway during the June 16, 2007 O’Reilly USCS event at the track.
The event itself will offer several special awards including commemorative trophies and plaques. The race will also feature another special race, the Randy Scott Memory Dash memorializing retired USCS driver Randy Scott, 60, from Franklin, Georgia who also passed away on May 11, 2008. Scott, who raced as part of a two-car team with son, Jeremy Scott for several years in the series. Scott retired as a driver four seasons ago to help his son better concentrate on his racing efforts. Jeremy Scott also from Franklin, Georgia will compete in the June 21, 2008 event at East Alabama Motor Speedway.
The Randy Helton Memorial Race is part of a winged sprint car double-header weekend for the series that begins on Friday, June 20th at Penton Raceway in Penton, Alabama located about one hour North of East Alabama Motor Speedway. Both races will award O’Reilly USCS Southern Thunder championship points.
The Saturday night event at East Alabama Motor Speedway also will award national championship points.
For additional information on Penton Raceways please visit www.pentonraceways.com For more info about the Randy Helton Memorial Race at East Alabama Motor Speedway visit www.eamsdirt.com For rules and other information on the O’Reilly USCS please visit www.uscsracing.com or call 770-460-RACE.