Keller remembers 'Big Guy' Helwig as gentle person
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Saturday, August 16, 2008
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BROOKLYN, Mich. – Jason Keller went over to car chief Steve “Big Guy” Helwig’s home Thursday to play cards and see his friend, who had been battling leukemia the last couple of months.
Helwig was having a good day and in good spirits and played with the CJM crew members for about an hour.
The next morning, he died.
Keller said Saturday morning that he was still numb from losing his good friend, whom Keller had worked with for about eight years.
“We played [cards] for about an hour, so I’ve got that memory to hold on to,” Keller said Saturday morning prior to qualifying at Michigan International Speedway. “He was having a real good day. … It’s a great memory.
“He laughed. He yelled at us some when he lost. It was just like we were playing cards in the hotel room. He had a good day.”
The 53-year-old Helwig earned his nickname from his imposing 6-foot-8 frame. He joined Cicci-Welliver racing with Mike McLaughlin in the mid-1990s. He then went to ppc Racing and has spent the last couple of seasons helping the new CJM Racing team. Many ppc employees landed at CJM, and Keller and crew chief Todd Gordon made it a priority to hire Helwig.
“He was one of the guys that could organize and wear a lot of different hats,” Keller said. “He came in and is the reason that this team is where it is and how it is and he’ll be missed a lot. He already is.”
Helwig was diagnosed in late June and made it to the track when he could since the diagnosis. His last race was two weeks ago at Montreal.
Known for not wearing shoes whenever he could get away with it and for his standard line of “Beauuuuutiful” to describe how things were going, Helwig was a popular figure in the Nationwide Series garage.
“Everyone knew how many years that he had been in this business,” Keller said. “He led by his actions. If he had to lead by yelling, he would. But he’s as gentle a guy as you’d ever met. He was just a genuine guy.”
Helwig's visitation is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. EDT at Raymer Funeral Home in Huntersville, N.C. A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19 at the funeral home. The team requested that memorials in his honor be made to: Perception Ministries (PMC Life), 736-D St. Andrews Rd., PO Box 134, Columbia, SC 29210.
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Jason Keller
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