By Brian Liskai
FREMONT, Ohio – One is a former sprint car driver and the other a former dirt truck rookie of the year. Both are promoters at Fremont Speedway. Rich “I can drive anything with wheels” Farmer and Larry “Hollywood” Helms will square off Saturday, June 16 at The Track That Action Build in a six lap grudge race aboard 410 sprint cars.
“Rich is always bragging how he beat Andy James (former sprint driver and track promoter) and Mike and John Bores (late model drivers and promoter of Attica Raceway Park) in their match race. So, I’m going to take him to school…call it sprint car 101,” said Helms, tongue in cheek. “After I lap him in just six laps, his track time will be limited to a water truck and tractor.”
Farmer, who was Fremont Speedway’s 2000 dirt truck rookie of the year and holds two feature wins at the track, said Helms should have just stayed retired.
“He will feel like he’s driving the grader when I go by him,” joked Farmer.
Helms began a racing tradition in his family with his son, Shane and now his grandson Caleb carrying on the family tradition. During his driving career, Larry won two features at Fremont. He got his nickname “Hollywood” because of the ever-present sunglasses.
Farmer, who also won features at Sandusky Speedway, has fielded sprint car teams over the years and is no stranger to driving one. He has competed in the 305 sprint division on occasion.
The match race will be part of the action on Crown Battery Night that will feature 410 and 305 sprints and dirt trucks. Farmer said – as has become a tradition on Crown Battery Night – there will be an Australian Pursuit race. The rules are simple, when you get passed, you are out of the race.
Gates will open at 4 p.m. Saturday with racing under way around 7 p.m.
Go to www.fremontohspeedway.com for more information.