Wayne Helliwell Jr. Picks Up First Career Granite State Pro Stock Win at Riverside 100
GROVETON, NH — Wayne Helliwell returned to the Granite State Pro Stocks and added his first GSPSS win to his resume. The defending ACT champion started on the front row, and never looked back, leading all 100 laps to win the group’s first ever visit to the Groveton, NH 1/4 mile oval.
The event got off with a bang, as several cars got together on the opening lap. Points leaders Jeremy Davis and Mike O’Sullivan were caught up with Tom O’Sullivan. All cars were able to continue.
Mike was involved in the second incident on the 17th circuit when he and Josh King tangled. On lap 22, Jesse Smith spun while battling with Jeremy Davis, with Davis getting called for the assist.
The tough lap was 24, when Eric Sands spun. The caution came out again on the same lap when Mike Parks, Barry Gray, Bryan Mason and Brandon Lambert got together.
The final caution came out on lap 35 when championship contender Matt Frahm saw his chances go out the window when he suffered an engine failure.
Through all of this, Helliwell continued to show the way, opening up a very comfortable lead over Larry Gelinas. They pair raced first and second throughout the event with Derek Griffith third.
As the race wound down, Gelinas started to close in on the E-Keys4cars Ford Fusion. The pair raced nose to tail over the final few laps, but the Gelinas HVAC Impala was no match for Helliwell on this night.
Derek Griffith started to lose ground to the leaders, and was the only car remaining on the lead lap with Helliwell and Gelinas, but was trying to hang on with a right front tire that was losing air. After crossing under the white flag, the tire came off the wheel, forcing Griffith into the wall. The race completed, and the 2012 GSPSS AR Bodies Rookie of the Year was credited with a third place finish after reviewing the score sheets. Jake Vanada finished fourth with Barry Gray, coming back from his earlier incident, rounding out the top five.
Mike O’Sullivan recovered from his opening lap and lap 17 incidents, and finished sixth. This, countered with Jeremy Davis poor finish, gives O’Sullivan the championship points lead with only two events remaining.
The next stop of the Granite State Pro Stock Series tour is this coming Saturday, September 14. This will be the last ever event on the Canaan Fair Speedway asphalt. Jeremy Davis was the winner on May 4th when the GSPSS last visited the 1/3 mile oval. Jeremy is the 2012 Canaan Speedway champion, and will be looking to make history, as the last driver to win at the Charlie Eliot built speed plant, as well as getting back to the top of the championship standings.
For more information, check out our website at gspss.net, or find us on Facebook under Granite State Pro Stock Series.
1) Wayne Helliwell, Jr Dover, NH
2) Larry Gelinas Buxton, ME
3) Derek Griffith Hudson, NH
4) Jake Vanada Berkley, MA
5) Barry Gray Belchertown, MA
6) Mike O’Sullivan Springfield, MA
7) Brandon Lambert
8) Jesse Smith
9) Phil Meany Gardner, MA
10) Josh King Vernon, VT
11) Eric Sands Farmington, NH
12) Tom O’Sullivan Wilbraham, NH
13) Bryan Mason
14) Matt Frahm N Salem, NH
15) Jeremy Davis Tamworth, NH
16) Mike Parks Walpole, NH
17) Luke Shannon
18) Zig Gino Canaan, NH
Sunoco Fuel Heat Winners: Barry Gray, Matt Frahm
Performance Unlimited Performance of NH ½ way leader bonus: Wayne Helliwell Jr
AR Bodies Hard Luck Award: Mike Parks
Bond Auto Parts award, given to the last driver on the lead lap: Larry Gelinas
Sherwood Wheel $50.00 gift certificate 5th place finish Award: Barry Gray
Ricky’s Real Racer award, given to the driver who picks up the most positions in the race: Jake Vanada
Sources: Kevin Boucher/Granite State Pro Stock Series PR