7/10/2012
Wayne Helliwell Jr
5th in the nation.
Wayne Helliwell Jr.’s consistency and win percentage continues to impress the esteemed motorsports media representatives around the country. For the second straight month Helliwell is featured on the short list of the top ranked drivers in North America as well as NASCAR’s newest division Euro-Racecar in Europe.
The July edition of the Hunter Index has Helliwell ranked 5th overall in NASCAR’s combined regional touring, weekly or international series. **The Index was designed as an opportunity to compare the top drivers from the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series all the way up to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. It also encompasses drivers from the NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, and Euro-Racecar.
The Hunter Index named after the late Jim Hunter a long time NASCAR employee is released the first week of each month. The voting panel is made up by a select group of 14 members of the motorsports media from around the country. Each month from April till November the panel votes on the 10 best drivers in the combined NASCAR series.
At the time of the July Index release Helliwell had 9 wins, 13 top 5’s, 14 top 10’s in 14 overall starts in his 2012 NASCAR season. More impressively is Helliwell’s combined stats come from two different types of asphalt short track race cars. Helliwell pilots an open-wheeled winged small block supermodified for Ed and Bobby Witkum on Friday nights at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH and a full bodied NASCAR/American Canadian Tour style late model for Bruce Bernhardt at Canaan Fair Speedway in Canaan, NH each Saturday night. Helliwell has since added another win to his now 17 starts on the year. This is Helliwell’s second time being voted to the list and a improvement from his 10th place vote in the June 2012 edition of the Index.
Never one to give himself any credit Helliwell’s thoughts on the Hunter index felt as if he was not sure why he was even on the list; “I was shocked when I was 10th or even made the list last month, said Helliwell. I’m very humbled by the voters for even considering me. We race in this little state of New Hampshire and don’t really think of people as noticing the racers up here… So to be included on something like this means a lot. We just stay focused each week and go out to compete at the highest level we can. Something like this makes our sacrifices to get to a level to even be considered worth it… I’m just appreciative of the opportunities I have and try and make the most of them. It’s very humbling.”
The full list of the July Hunter Index can be found at: ** http://hometracks.nascar.com/Hunter-Index_DJ-Kennington_Adds_July_Award_To_Hot_Start
Article Credit: Jason Lubin
Submitted By: Jason Lubin
