By Lou Modestino

Wayne Helliwell, Jr. recorded his second career Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS) win at Star Speedway in the Star 100 by surviving a green-white-checkered finish.

Nottingham, NH driver Babe Branscombe took the lead after pole-sitter Joey Squeglia, Jr. spun his tires to start the race. Branscombe led the first 14 laps before Squeglia, Jr. overtook  Branscombe, and put his Auto Mart Trucks + Cars/PH Electric Chevrolet into the top spot. Squeglia, Jr.set a fast pace as the laps ticked by until lap 41 when Dennis Maxfield went around in turn 3, bringing out the first caution of the night.

The old adage “cautions breed cautions” was true on the night, as the field saw five cautions in eight laps, one of which Squeglia, Jr. relinquished the lead to Helliwell, Jr. as Squeglia, Jr. fell off the pace in a hurry as cars stacked up behind him, Then Nashua, NH’s John Salemi spun in turn 3. Squeglia, Jr. decided to pit and then rejoin the field just in time for the green flag. Helliwell, Jr. had a new dancing partner in the form of Matt Frahm. Frahm, from the fifth starting spot worked  Helliwell, Jr. multiple times over, but could not unseat the Dover, NH driver.

Another green flag run saw Helliwell, Jr lead Frahm, Larry Gelinas, Barry Gray and Brad Babb, who recovered from an early race bobble which dropped the youngster out of the top-10.

The field then bunch back up after a spin involving early race-leader Branscombe. Helliwell, Jr. would come out on top from multiple restarts until the final showdown after a spin by Derek Griffith on lap 98 set up a green-white-checkered finish. Helliwell, Jr. had Larry Gelinas on his outside door, who was hungry to pick up the victory after losing a race at Lee USA Speedway in a green-white-checkered finish to Joey Polewarczyk, Jr.

Helliwell, Jr. got the jump when the green flew but Gelinas put the fans on the edge of their seats by sticking a nose underneath Helliwell, Jr. going into the final corner. Gelinas and Helliwell, Jr. made contact resulting in Gelinas sitting in the infield with Helliwell, Jr speeding off for the victory. Frahm  inherited the second spot as a result of a Gelinas’ spin while Bobby Baillargeon fought his way to a third place finish after duking it out with Babb in the final few laps.

Helliwell, Jr., who started in the sixth spot, the win at the Star 100 was his first in the series since Riverside Speedway in September of 2013. Helliwell, Jr said this win is satisfying for the team because they have struggled with their Pro Stock since the Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in April.

“We went out leading (the Icebreaker) with a flat right front and since that race we’ve struggled with this car,” Helliwell, Jr. commented. He went on,“The last two weeks we’ve done a lot of work like a trip down to Virginia to put the car on a pull-down machine (a machine that checks vertical ride rates and travel limits). With this being it’s (the car) first time out, I’m happy with the results.”

Frahm, who took the point lead after Larry Gelinas finished 16th in the Star 100, kept his eyes on the big picture. “The car had really good grip on the outside, but just not enough to get by Helliwell, Jr.,” the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver stated. “We definitely had a good points night.”

Baillargeon used up most of his race car to pick up his season’s best third-place finish in the Star 100. The Kingston, NH driver engaged in a spectacular battle with Brad Babb for the last portion of the race, driving from the 14th starting spot to his podium finish. “The car was good but it wasn’t great,” remarked Baillargeon. “We started deep in the field, waited, and bided our time, and then let everything unfold in our favor and it worked out well.”

Babb finished in the fourth spot, with Dillon Moltz once again fighting his way back to a fifth spot. 2012 champion Bobby Cabral, Squeglia, George Helliwell, Branscombe and Barry Gray completed the top-10. With Helliwell, Jr’s win the series has seen 7 different winners in as many races. Gelinas, Cabral, and Branscombe scored heat wins.

The Granite State Pro Stock Series has announced another race to be added to their schedule. The series will join the Super Modifieds back at Star Speedway on September 6th as part of the Star Classic. The GSPSS will be back in action next Sunday, August 24th at Hudson International Speedway.

STAR 100 RESULTS

8/16/14

POS (Start) Driver Hometown

1. (6) Wayne Helliwell, JR Dover, NH

2. (5) Matt Frahm Hampstead, NH

3. (14) Bobby Baillargeon Kingston, NH

4. (8) Brad Babb Windham, ME

5. (7) Dillon Moltz Waterford, CT

6. (3) Bobby Cabral Kingston, NH

7. (1) Joey Squeglia, JR Derry, NH

8. (10) George Helliwell Derry, NH

9. (2) Babe Branscombe Nottingham, NH

10. (12) Barry Gray Belchertown, MA

11. (17) Mike Parks` Walpole, NH

12. (16) Tommy O’Sullivan Wilbraham, MA

13. (9) Josh King Vernon, VT

14. (15) Cory Robert Canaan, NH

15. (18) Jesse Smith Hermon, ME

16. (37ME) Larry Gelinas Buxton, ME

17. (22) John Salemi Nashua, NH

18. (11) Derek Griffith Hudson,

19. (19) Todd Stone Middlebury, VT

20. (20) Dennis Mitchell Fitchburg, MA

21. (19) Adam Norton Ludlow, MA

22. (13) JD Miller Manchester, NH

CONTINGENCY AWARDS Winner

AR Bodies (Hard Luck) Larry Gelinas

Bond Auto Parts (Last car on lead lap) Larry Gelinas

Crazy Ed’s Powersports (Hard Charger) Bobby Baillargeon

Draco Springs Award (Most positions gained) Bobby Baillargeon

Five Star Stock Car Bodies (5th place finisher) Dillon Moltz

MacLellan Metal Finishing (Heat #1 Winner) Larry Gelinas

MacLellan Metal Finishing (Heat #2 Winner) Bobby Cabral

MacLellan Metal Finisheing (Heat #3) Winner Babe Branscombe

Racer’s Depot (Random drawing) Mike Parks

RB Performance (4th place finisher) Brad Babb

RB Performance (7th place finisher) Joey Squeglia, JR

Sherwood Wheels (10th place finisher) Barry Gray

Sunoco Race Fuels (Heat #1 Winner) Larry Gelinas

Sunoco Race Fuels (Heat #2 Winner) Bobby Cabral

Sunoco Race Fuesl (Heat #3 Winner) Babe Branscombe