Brother Sister Racing Duo to Complete in 67th Annual Turkey Night Grand Prix

JoJo Helberg having already captured the 2007 California Asphalt Sprint Car championship and currently maintaining a stronghold of second-place in his first year competing in the USAC, Western States sprint series is just as thrilled to take the green as this is his last points race of the 2007 season. “Last year we had some engine trouble, but this year, we’re ready. The field is impressive, but coming off the 2007 USAC season with mostly top-five finishes gives me more confidence than I had last year coming into this race. My goal is to finish up front and the car my dad has given me should get us there.” Helberg shared.

Jessica Helberg, the only female NASCAR Drive for Diversity driver spent most of her 2007 race season piloting late model stock cars, not sprint cars. Helberg, after placing 4th in points for the Whelen All-American Late Model series in Roseville, CA for Bill McAnally/Richard Childress Racing in the #20 Napa Auto Parts chevy, welcomes the opportunity to return to her roots and muscle the Helberg family-owned #4 Consani/Beast Chevy at Irwindale. “The agility of the sprint car is unmatched. After driving all season in a late model, just the thought of getting back in the seat of my sprint car raises my heart rate. I love my sprint car and I love Irwindale; together we brought home a fifth-place finish last year at Turkey Night, and I have high expectations for myself this year as well.” Helberg said.

Jessica recently returned from the Nascar Drive for Diversity combine where she competed for one of the 8 rides available, is currently evaluating options to continue her development toward the upper ranks of stock car racing. “I still love the way the sprint car makes me feel, how up on the wheel you need to be and sheer maneuverability they have, but stock cars are where I need to be to move forward in my career. No doubt about it though, stock cars are fun and allow you to lean and use momentum to travel the track and get up front.”

JoJo, just 17 and in his senior year in high school is spending the racing off-season weighing his college options based on race-tracks, race teams and opportunities around the nation. “Whether it is Indiana, running my sprint car, or North Carolina moving into a late model, or staying back in Northern California doing both, it’ll be racing and school in 2008 for me. I’ve been doing it for 10 years; I can’t imagine life without it.”

About Helberg Motorsports. Helberg Motorsports is a family owned race team in Santa Rosa, California. The team is owned by second generation, former late model racer Joe Helberg. www.helbergmotorsports.com