HAUBSTADT, Ind. — The sun clings to the clear evening sky, slowly sliding behind a tall stand of trees in the distance behind turn two. Across the way, lush green fields roll gently, with corn and soybeans stretching and reaching upward. A neighboring farmer busily cuts his wheat, a big cloud of dust trailing his towering green machine.
Traffic flows past on Highway 41, trucks and cars hurrying north toward Vincennes or south toward Evansville. A few stragglers slow as they click on their turn signals, easing into the crowded parking lot and cruising to find an open spot.
It’s race night at Tri-State Speedway, a well-groomed quarter mile of rich dirt. Tommy and Loris Helfrich scurry around, greeting fans, preparing the track, checking the concession stands, glancing at the grandstands and worrying.
Tonight the Helfrich family marks 50 years of ownership here, an amazing milestone. To be involved in any business for 50 years is quite a feat, but the racing business? Surely there has to be an easier way.
Luckily, the Helfrich family never lost the passion needed to successfully promote short-track racing. Across three generations of racers and fans, through 10 presidential administrations and almost 20,000 sunsets, they stepped up each race night to keep the excitement flowing.
There are lots of race tracks, but when you walk into this one, it’s easy to see that intangible ingredient that separates great facilities from all the rest: pride. The place looks nice, they start on time, they entertain their customers and they treat competitors with respect.
Tommy Helfrich has been at the helm since the late 1980s, but before that it was his parents, Ed and Irma. Tom is very quick to point to his father as the real reason there is an anniversary to celebrate tonight. Ed died in early 2005, and it’s clear that he is present in the hearts of the family and staff on this night. In fact, when the MSCS sprint-car field performed their parade lap for tonight’s feature, they offered a missing-man formation in tribute to Ed Helfrich.
It’s easy to take any segment of our sport for granted. Promoters, racers, track announcers, sanctioning bodies, even media members, we kind of assume they’re all a permanent fixture at the moment. They aren’t, of course; just look around at some of the disheartening developments in our sport in recent years, where great tracks or great series now seem to be circling the drain.
The lesson is that we need to appreciate the positive things that are all around us. The fact that this track has hosted racing for 50 years, and has done so with a genuine eye toward excellence, is worth noting.
Even though they are supposed to be celebrating their golden anniversary, Tom and Loris Helfrich — along with son Blake and daughter Melanie — and their staff didn’t take the night off. They’re all busy running the show, selling the food, answering the questions and trying to make sure the customers get what they’re looking for.
From where we sit, it looks easy. That’s the mark of a master, when someone can make it look seamless, like a well-oiled machine. The fact is, Helfrich carries a hard knot in his stomach throughout the entire night, worrying about every detail and sweating through any complications  until the last person has gone home, hopefully happy.
A golden anniversary is a great time to look back and reflect, enjoying the good memories and laughing about the many bumps in the road. Sitting here in these wooden grandstands, it reminds me that we’re actually quite lucky, because Tri-State is one of many excellent race tracks that continue to thrill us, to entertain us, to encourage us and to give us enthusiasm and hope for the next generation.
Soon that old sun has faded clear from view, and the bright lights have come on over the track. Loud, colorful race cars roar around the oval, sliding and clawing. Kids lean forward in their seats, eyes wide. Adults munch popcorn and sip cold drinks, while bugs flit around the brilliant lights above them.
It’s a beautiful summer night and a beautiful anniversary. Fifty years of excitement, right here on good ole Highway 41.