Autosportradio.com Show guests for Tuesday February 6th…

 Mr. Helmling has over nine years’ experience at the IEDC bringing new jobs and investments to Indiana.

A graduate of Vincennes University and the Indiana University School of Business he has a very diverse and experienced business career. His primary business was centered in retailing. He was the owner and CEO of Harold’s Supermarkets a very success supermarket operator headquartered in Vincennes Indiana. Other business interests included commercial property development, retail auto parts stores, auto racing teams and banking. Mr. Helmling was also extremely involved in community affairs in southwestern Indiana, participating and leading many civic clubs and community organizations.

In 2001 Mr. Helmling orchestrated the sale of his supermarket operations to the Kroger Company, the largest traditional grocer in the United States. In 2002 through 2008 he served as the President and CEO of the United States Auto Club (USAC) headquartered in Indianapolis, one of America’s premier auto racing sanction bodies and automotive certification organizations. Mr. Helmling had previously been one of USAC’s leading and winningest racing team owners. His drivers included Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, John Andretti, Mel Kenyon, Steve Lotshaw, Larry Rice, Ken Schrader and Stevie Reeves all USAC National Champions as well as several others who competed in the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR. He continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the ACCUS, the F.I.A. representative for the United States and as a U.S. Formula 1 Official. He also serves on the INDYCAR, ARCA and World of Outlaws appeals commissions.

Mr. Helmling joined the IEDC in 2008 to lead an effort to build the motorsports industry in Indiana at the request of Governor Mitch Daniels. His role was expanded to business development in the automotive, aviation and aerospace sectors. In July of 2016 he was appointed Senior Vice President for Global Industry and Trade Development. He has managed projects to attract and expand Fiat Chrysler Automobile, Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Toyota, Dallara, General Motors, NTN Bearings, GE Aviation in Indiana and recently Dow, DuPont. Currently he is leading the Indiana effort to attract the Amazon HQ2 project. Since joining the IEDC projects under Mr. Helmling’ s supervision have brought over $4.5 billion in new investment and over 6,200 new jobs to Indiana.

Rollie and his wife, Carol reside in Carmel IN and have 3 daughters and 5 grandchildren.

 USAC NATIONAL MIDGET WINS:

1979 USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CHAMP

In 1976 he was second to Sleepy Tripp in points and was the Most Improved Driver of the year.

In 1978 he finished second in points to Rich Vogler.

Won races at Fort Wayne indoors, Speedrome and Winchester in 1979

Won races at Fort Wayne indoors, Hales Corners and Hartford, Mich. in 1980

Won race at Speedrome in 1981

Won Night Before the 500 at IRP in 1984 and also a race at the Speedrome

Won a race at the Speedrome in 1985

Won a 100-lap indoor race at Peoria, Ill in December, 1987.

Started 2 Silver Crown races but crashed hard at DuQuoin in 1974.

Started USAC Super-Vee Mini-Indy races at Milwaukee and IRP in 1979.