Michael Helwig has been a dominant force in the Sportsman Class so far this year. Helwig scored his fifth win of the season Saturday night and is well in control of the Sportsman class early in the season. He is one of the smoothest and craftiest drivers on the race track, and is a lot of fun to watch wheel an outlaw kart. The race began with Leana Kenyon and Daniel Becker up front for the start. Kenyon would get the initial call on the start leading the opening lap. Becker though, would make the move and take over the top spot. He looked to have a strong enough car to contend for the win but trouble would strike for the driver of the #22S. During a yellow flag Becker pulled the kart to the infield while leading the race. He climbed from his kart dejected and was done for the race due to a mechanical failure of some sort. At that point Leana Kenyon took the lead back once again but Josh Young and Michael Helwig were there knocking on the door. When the race restarted Helwig was on a mission as he and Young both were able to get by Kenyon and would exchange sliders lap after lap for a few laps before Helwig was able to complete the pass. In the end Helwig would take the checkered flag a little more than a second ahead of second place finisher, Josh Young. For Young it was his first top five of the season, as he has been fast all year but just hasn’t been able to put together the whole night, so it was good to see him on the podium. Leana Kenyon hung on to finish in the third position. Alec Justeson had a solid night but just didn’t quite have the car to compete for the win, as he finished in the fourth spot. The top five was rounded out by the #16B of Mike Moore. Michael Helwig was the Hard Charger of the race as he charged from his 8th starting position to pick up the victory.
In qualifying it was Brian Seim who picked up Fast Time honors by just .006 over Michael Helwig. Seim’s lap of 10.901 was enough to top the entire 23 kart field for the sportsman class for his first Fast Time of the season. Seim was also the Main Event winner during Points Race #4 earlier this season.
The Sportsman class was the only class with three heat races on Saturday night. Leana Kenyon picked up the win in the opening heat race. It marked her second heat race win of 2017. Daniel Becker picked up his first heat race win of the season by way of winning the second heat race. Josh Young now leads all drivers this season at Cycleland with four heat race wins. He picked up his fourth by winning the third and final heat race for the Sportsman class on Saturday night.
Mike Moore picked up the trophy dash win. It was his first trophy dash win of the 2017 season. It was cool to have him and his whole team out on the track for the trophy presentation. His interview after the trophy dash was emotional and inspiring. He didn’t want any of the credit; he gave it all to the people around him, and the people who support him. Mike Moore is one of the really good guys in the sport and it was great to see him have a solid night all around.
After Saturday night’s Points Race #6 Michael Helwig extended his points lead to 91 points over second place driver Shawn Fogarty. For Fogarty, second place in the standings has not come easy as he has fought motor problems through the first few races of the season. Saturday night was the first night all year they didn’t have an issue with the motor, it looks as though they may have found the problem and can now focus on trying to reel in Helwig for the Championship. Leana Kenyon sits third in the points standings 101 points behind Helwig for the top spot. Kody Hunderman sits fourth in the standings 135 points out of the top spot. While Brian Seim rounds out the top five as he sits 149 points behind out of the points lead in fifth.
We will be back in action this Saturday night with Points Race #7 on tap. Action is set to kick off at 5:30pm with Open karts hitting the track for Hot Laps. With Qualifying and Heat Races to follow for all classes. For ticket information and/or directions to the racetrack please visit www.cyclelandspeedway.com or call the track phone at 530-342-0063.