The Vixen Crew
Vixen Motorsports was started in 2022 by Garrett Helfers and his dad Mike. Garrett has worked as a mechanic, welder, fabricator, machinist…you name it, he can do it! He has been working for Dan’s Diesel Performance full time since 2017. Garrett had been around truck pulling with Dan for several years before him and his dad had the idea to build their own pull truck and team. His dad Mike, who works as a field mechanic for MJ Electric during the day, has been Garrett’s partner in everything truck related for the Vixen crew. Mike’s love for everything trucks and horsepower is the reason Garrett is so driven to become the best. His mom, Colleen, has been the behind the scenes go to for whatever else the guys may need. While the Vixen pull truck is primarily worked on by Garrett and Mike, they have many friends who have leant a hand when needed.
The 2022 pull season was a short start for the crew, but Garrett was awarded Rookie of the Year with the Illini State Pullers. 2023 was ran as a full season with ISP. Garrett and Vixen finished the season as 2 place point holders in the Hot Street class. The 2024 season was a game changer for the Vixen crew, with Garrett finishing as the Hot Street points champion, as well as receiving the ISP 2024 Puller of the Year award.
As the 2025 season begins, The Vixen Crew has decided, for several reasons, to pull with Badger State Truck Pullers. They are excited for the year and look forward to a fun, successful season!
Vixen motorsports is currently revolved around the pull truck, but Garrett and Mike offer their expertise to whoever may need it, and are happy to help others with their diesel trucks!
To read a little more about Vixen and the team, check out this article by Engine Builder Magazine ‘s Diesel of the Week
For those who are unaware of what truck pulling is and all it entails….
Truck pulling is a competitive motorsport where modified trucks pull a heavy sled along a straight dirt or clay track. The goal is to pull the sled down the track as far as possible. Although speed is recorded, distance is the determining factor. The sled has a heavy weight box that moves forward on the sled as it’s being pulled. The weight on the box can change, and the speed of the box changes depending on how fast the truck pulls it, but the rate at which it moves stays the same per class. The sled and weight box combines weigh around 43,000 pounds! Trucks can be stock, but are generally mildly modified, or heavily customized. Each class of trucks has different limitations and rules they need to abide by. Whoever pulls the farthest, wins! There are many different organizations, most with similar classes amongst them all. When apart of an organization, the person who has the most wins and points throughout the season, may win their class overall for that organization for the season.