BRS: B_Helvey Escapes Hotel California
- Published ()
- Bellstar Racing Series
After slogging through the ranks of the Bellstar Racing Series, starting almost a year ago, driver/owner B_Helvey of the nvmaX machine finally made it to the series top division, the Outlaw Series. It didn't take long for Helvey to make his mark, winning an Outlaw Series race in only his second outing. Needless to say, his performance has served notice to some of the bigger teams that a one man shop can still run with the big dogs.
Starting from the pole position for the 125 lap event was the Sonopress Multimedia car of sonicphile who posted a qualifying speed of 176.974 at the two-mile track. Although the field got off cleanly at the drop of the green, the first of nine cautions would come out on lap 2 when Sandman55 lost it in Turn 1. The field got going again when iggyis spun out on lap 13 to bring out another yellow.
Some rough racing ensued for several laps once the field got the green again, with some spins and cars banging each other and the wall, but no yellows until a pair at laps 32 and 38. While all this was going on, B_Helvey and Runner-BRS were feeling each other out as both had extremely strong cars in the early part of the race. Unfortunately, Runner-BRS would see his engine break while under a caution flag midway through the race. Another spin by a damaged iggyis on lap 50 would setup one of the most memorable moments of the race.
On getting the green, the field came around and while running fairly close together, B_Helvey spins himself on the exit to turn 4, across the front stretch, into the grass, and back up into the patch of the field. Fortunately, the entire field made it by - Crash*PIK-BRS but only a tiger's whisker.
The field tried to regroup, but was struck by yet another yellow on lap 63 and then shortly thereafter on lap 77. But that would be it as the remaining laps were run under the green flag.
As the laps wound down, it was a three way race between B_Helvey, shfty40 and sonicphile. This soon turned into a two car race as shfty40 stayed glued on the back of B_Helvey's bumper, lap after lap. That is, until lap 114 when shfty40 finally had to yield to the demands of his gearing and make a pit stop for gas. This let B_Helvey drive away to his first victory in the BRS Outlaw Series.
After running two large tracks - Talladega and California, the series heads back east to the short track at Richmond for the Sourmash 160 presented by River City Racing. Some of that sourmash may be needed afterward to take the edge off of everyone.
Criminal Motorsports Hollywood Classic 250 Race Winner - B_Helvey Pole Award- sonicphile Front Runner Award - B_Helvey Hard Charger Award - Crash*PIK-BRS Headache Award - Runner-BRS Points leader after 2 events - FlasH-BRS