Jessica Helberg

Age: 18
Hometown: Petaluma, California
Education: Graduated Student Body President from Rancho Cotate High School
2005 freshman~ Sonoma State University, California, Pre-Nursing student

Career Highlights
• 2004 Graduate of The Lyn St. James Invitational
   Driver Development Program
• Established new track record at The Fall Nationals
   in an Open kart in October, 2004
• 2004-05 Student Body President for Rancho
   Cotate High School
• Aug 2004- Three top 3 finishes at the new English Creek Speedway three day event in Knoxville,
   Iowa in August 2004
• 100 laps at Mesa Marin in a stockcar as a part of the Dan Holts Racing Experience in June, 2004
• 2003-2004 Silver Dollar Speedway- 9 heat race wins, 10 top five main events, 2nd in points, and
   “Rookie of the Year”
• February 2004- First female driver to win an Open Division main event at Silver Dollar Speedway
   in February
• Open intermediate Main Event winner at Cycleland Speedway after only two starts in July, 2003
• Established new track record at Yuba City Fairgrounds in a 125cc kart in August, 2002

Driver Biography
Jessica Helberg, a native of Northern California was surrounded by fast racecars and racecar drivers while growing up. Her grandfather and father raced at the local dirt track where she had attended races since a very young age.

Jessica’s Brother Joseph was expected to be the third generation driver of the family and raced his first outlaw-kart race in 1999. One year later, after watching from the pit grandstand, Jessica begged her father to give her a chance behind the wheel. Her first race was a near victory and it was in that moment that she had discovered her passion, and began her career in racing at the age of 12.

It was not long after Jessica was knee-deep in racing and sacrificed the social life of a regular teenage girl to compete at the local outlaw kart tracks. Being a popular and gifted student in junior and senior high school, as well as a swim instructor and lifeguard, it was challenging to fit racing into her already very busy schedule. Yet, she quickly discovered racing to be the most stimulating and satisfying way to spend her time.

After a great first year in the stock class, Jessica moved up to the more powerful 125cc class where she spent two seasons battling with the west’s best drivers on the QRC All-Star Tour.

At the start of the 2003 season and having three years of competitive racing under her belt, both she and her father believed it was time for more power. The next step was Open Class outlaw karts powered by 500cc engines. Having the same weight to horsepower ratio as a 360-sprint car, Jessica quickly learned the delicate throttle control and patience that it took to drive a much faster kart. Jessica went on to claim victory in only her second race. Very soon after that victory, Jessica became the first female to win an Open Class main event at Silver Dollar Speedway’s indoor track. She finished her first season as Rookie of the Year and second in points.

In August of 2004, the Helberg Motorsports team made the best decision of their 40 years of racing when they decided to attend the Inaugural Outlaw Kart Nationals in Knoxville, Iowa. After Jessica’s outstanding performance of three top-three finishes against well-known drivers such as NASCAR’s JJ Yeley and Knoxville Champion John Kearney, she caught the eye of Des Moines radio personality, John Katich.

John invited Jessica to be on his radio program, the Full Throttle Racing Show. Being impressed with Jessica’s ability to drive a car and speak to the public, John contacted seven-time Indy 500 competitor, Lyn St. James. Days later, Jessica was invited by Lyn to attend the Lyn St. James Foundation Driver Development Program at Phoenix International Raceway. Jessica was one of only twenty-four female drivers from around the country including Canada and England accepted into the 2004 program. The programs focus was providing drivers with the necessary tools, in the areas of media, driving, communication as well as both physical and mental agility to prepare them for a successful career in motorsports.

Throughout the 2002, 2003 and 2004 seasons, Jessica has raced in California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Iowa, and Missouri. She has several feature wins and holds the track record for The Fall Nationals in Hartville, Missouri and Yuba City, California. With focus and determination, she has mastered interpreting both the track and car, and adjusts her response to the conditions in order to finish out front.

With a few years of concentrated racing experience and an obvious passion for the
sport, Jessica and her father recently decided to propel her career forward with a move into a more competitive level of racing. After much thought, and exploring all of the possibilities, together they believed non-winged asphalt sprint car racing was the path to take.

During 2005, Jessica has been competing in the CASA (California Asphalt Sprintcar Association) series as part of a bigger plan to gain the experience needed to be competitive in the USAC Western Sprint series. After nine races, she has eight top-ten finishes and two top-five finishes, is currently fifth of thirty-four competitors in the point standings, and is a strong contender for “Rookie of the Year”. She is only the second rookie in CASA history to post fastest qualifying time.

Jessica continues to shine on and off the track, attracting much attention with her fans, as she has a following that includes men, women and children of all age groups. Jessica is a bright and focused young woman that looks for every opportunity to race and finish out front.