Local race car driver Heath Helton has spent the last several years carving out a name for himself on the asphalt, most recently at Salem Speedway in Indiana. Now, he’s eyeing the next step in his racing career.
Helton, an Apollo High School graduate, has been racing regularly for about 6-7 years, primarily in a class of cars that he said resemble late 1990s-style NASCAR Cup cars. With around 650 horsepower under the hood and eight-inch tires, he said the cars are high-performance machines, and Helton has made the most of his time behind the wheel.
“I won seven straight last year — four CRA races and three in a row at Salem,” Helton said. “We hit on something with the setup, and it worked. But then the rules changed at CRA, and now I’d have to spend a lot of money and take penalties just to keep racing with them.”
That shift in regulations forced Helton to scale back his schedule, going from more than 20 races a season to only about six or seven. He now races exclusively at Salem Speedway, one of the few tracks still allowing his current car configuration.
Helton’s ultimate goal is to move up into the late model division and run events at iconic tracks like Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway — a venue he admires for both its racing history and vibrant atmosphere.
“You’ve got country music, cowboy boots, racing — it’s just a cool place to be,” he said. “But you’re talking about a $100,000 car and a big budget for the season. That’s not something I can do without help.”
While Helton has existing sponsors that help cover his current efforts, he’s looking for new partners to support a move into higher-level competition. He’s even put his current car up for sale, hoping to use the funds toward building or buying a car that meets new racing standards.
“It costs me about $1,000 out of pocket every time I go to a race,” Helton said. “Unless I finish first or second, I don’t make that back. I love racing, but I want to be in a place where I can compete without being penalized just for having the car that I do.”
Despite setbacks, Helton remains motivated and grateful for the support he’s received from local fans and friends who have followed his racing journey.
“They like seeing us win and beating other people,” he said. “A lot of them have pitched in to help make that happen.”
Helton can be found on Facebook, where he often shares updates from the track. He welcomes anyone interested in sponsoring or supporting his next chapter to reach out.
For now, Helton continues to push forward — on the track and off, driven by both passion and potential.
