Helio’s gassed up to win in ‘Dancing’ semifinals

LOS ANGELES - Tonight, the semi-final round begins on “Dancing With the Stars” and race-car driver Helio Castroneves is gassed up and ready to go.

“It feels amazing,” he told Access Hollywood on the American Music Awards red carpet, Sunday. “I have to say that I never thought I would [go] this far. My goal was not to be the first one eliminated and look where I am at? I mean, this is just a incredible experience.”

As fans of the show know, Castroneves, who is partnered with dancer Julianne Hough, is the last man standing in a competition that has, in most years, been dominated by the fellows. So how does he feel about representing for the boys against three fancy-footed females?

“I feel that the fans still need to be calling,” he enthused. “They need to be supportive because it is down to that scenario.”

Castroneves told Access that all of the remaining contestants are big competition on his drive for the prize.

“Mel B definitely is really good. Marie Osmond, not only is she a great person, but she has a lot of fans. And Jennie Garth? She has the whole package — so I guess all three of them are very, very tough,” he noted.

Castroneves will step things up on the show this week thanks to the choreography and determination of his partner, Hough.

“We have the cha-cha and the fox-trot, and [Hough] keeps playing a lot of tricks … hopefully we will impress the judges and move onto the finals,” he smiled.

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