Shane Helms: 'Tony Stewart is the only guy that can resurrect the All Stars'

Chad Kemenah

Chad Kemenah and the rest of the Renegade Sprint Series will be under Tony Stewart's All Star Circuit of Champions banner next season. (Jeremy Elliott | jelliott@pennlive.com)

Renegade Sprint Series founder Shane Helms knows there is going to be some disappointment and hurt feelings.

But he also knows what is best for Sprint Car racing and its competitors. And in the end, that's what Helms and the Renegades were all about.

So when Helms and Rob Hunter made the decision to step aside, fold up shop and sell the Renegades to Tony Stewart, it was the right tact. The mission statement of making the sport better was met.

Stewart came to an agreement with Guy Webb, majority owner of the All Star Circuit of Champions, to buy the series. But first, the three-time NASCAR champion purchased the Renegades from Helms and Hunter.

The move ended the feud between the two Sprint Car factions and united drivers and teams under the All Star Circuit of Champions banner.

"I think a lot of us are sad," Helms said. "The Tim Shaffers, Danny Smiths, Greg Wilsons, Chad Kemenahs, I know they wanted to follow through and finish what we started.

"That is the disappointing part, but the upside is that you get a guy that has Tony Stewart's resources and vision of what Sprint Car racing should be. He can do what we wanted to do quicker than we could ever imagine."

Continued Helms, "I don't have the finances to right all the wrongs that happened. I know Tony is doing what he can to make everyone whole."

Helms and others had issues with Webb and the way he handled business. It came to a head during the Ohio Speed Week show at Wayne County Speedway, and the Renegades came to fruition out of that frustration.

Being a leader of change is never easy, especially in motorsports. You can run into resistance and a dream can fall apart.

There was resistance, some self imposed. But Helms stayed the course and was on pace to open the series' inaugural season in 2015.

Now that the Renegades have sold interest to Stewart and combined with the All Stars, some fans and industry types might view the project as a failure.

"Not at all," Helms said. "I believe that Sprint Car racing is in better shape. I believe leadership is accountable and genuine. I believe Stewart and his people care about doing the right thing by promoters, owners and drivers.

"I believe Tony's star power opens the opportunity to attract dates, better purses, sponsors and better point funds.

"My hope is that some day, we all look back and can say that when this took place, that a lot of things got righted. That it took somebody to stand up and say Sprint Car racing is in trouble. That what we did led to it being better."

Helms thanked the drivers, guys like Greg Wilson, Tim Shaffer, Chad Kemenah and Danny Smith, that have supported him. He knows that if it wasn't for the support of those men, the Renegades wouldn't have existed.

And in turn, there is a good chance Tony Stewart doesn't negotiate a purchase the All Star Circuit of Champions.

"Those guys were great," Helms said. "Andrew Palker, Travis Philo, Ryan Myers, Bob Hampshire, Cody Swanson, Cole Duncan, Dean Jacobs, Brian Kemenah, Paul Kistler, Larry Helms and Mike Linder, I would go to war with all those guys anytime, anywhere.

"I think what we did made tomorrow better than yesterday, and I think Tony Stewart is the only guy that can resurrect the All Stars."

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