“Vroom vroom, old man! I make the car do what she does!!” (Photos courtesy Jerry Helm)
The family that races together polishes trophies together.
Following in the footsteps of daughters Finley and Scotlyn Helm, Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue Chief Jerry Helm has been bitten by the car bug.
The Coupeville High School grad and former firefighter calendar heartthrob is now an officially licensed NASCAR Street Stock Division racer.
“Pops” Helm punches the pedal through the metal at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe.
Jerry Helm (right) blazes a new trail, one lap at a time.
With a little help from his main mechanic, Kasen, the family patriarch is a regular at the Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.
That puts three of five family members in the driver’s seat, with Finley and Scotlyn racing in the Washington Quarter Midget Association.
Passing cars like a young Dale Earnhardt.
Mom Lindsey is holding things down as a popular teacher at Coupeville Elementary School, while the aforementioned Kasen is champing at the bit to get his own car.
“Yeah, he definitely knows when the race cars are nearby,” dad said with a laugh. “He’s my little shop hand until he can reach the pedals.”
“Listen up, Pops. Use my tools, put ’em back where you got them from!”
Coupeville Sports 