Helliwell Repeats As New Hampshire Champ
Earned Fourth Track Title At Lee Despite Division Change
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Driver Wayne Helliwell Jr. thrived in 2011 despite a major change in his NASCAR Home Track’s featured division.
Helliwell, 34, of Dover, N.H., won his fourth consecutive NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track championship at Lee (N.H.) USA Speedway in 2011. His most recent track title was accompanied by his second consecutive NASCAR state championship.
The big variable between the 2010 and 2011 seasons was Lee’s switch in NASCAR Division I status to small block Supermodifieds. Helliwell’s previous championships came in the full bodied Late Models and Sportsman cars.
The adjustment to the winged open wheel division seemed natural to Helliwell.
“I drove a Supermodified twice back in 2005 and it felt really good,” Helliwell said. “I won one and finished second in the other.”
Still, when Lee officials elevated their small block Supermodified division to the track’s NASCAR Division I, Helliwell was uncertain about his plans for 2011.
“I walked into a driver’s meeting and Lee’s flagman Brian Callen told me the Witkum family wanted to know if I’d be interested in driving for them,” Helliwell said. “I made a phone call to Ed Witkum and one thing led to another. It seemed like a good fit, so we teamed up.”
The Witkums are longtime participants in the International Supermodified Association. The seat of their small block Supermodified at Lee opened up when Eddie Witkum Jr. moved on to ISMA competition.
“Looking at the big picture I’m pretty proud of what we accomplished,” Helliwell said. “Ed Witkum Jr. left some pretty big shoes to fill in that car.
“In opening day practice we were the fastest car. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. It was like I had been racing Supermodifieds all my life. We finished second in the first feature race of the year. That was a big confidence booster.”
Helliwell’s 2011 racing record in 16 starts included three wins, 13 top-fives and 16 top-10s. He bested Dave Sanborn by 28 points for the Lee track championship.
Helliwell has been racing at Lee since he was 15 years old. He won his first track championship there in the Street Stock division in 1992. Through several divisions over the years since then, Helliwell now has nine championships at Lee.
The small Witkum team includes car owner Bob Witkum, crew chief Eddie Witkum, and crewman Scott Sherburn. Sponsors include Sherburn Consolidation and Witkum Flooring.
Helliwell and his wife Jill have three daughters: Brittany, 16, Elisabeth, 14, and Brooke, 5. Helliwell is an installer for Mammoth Fire Protection.
Sources: Paul Schaefer/NASCAR PR