OSWEGO, N.Y. – Dave Helliwell dominated the second half of Sunday’s inaugural 350 winged SMAC Supermodified Classic at Oswego Speedway, passing race-long leader Mike Scott on lap 13 of the 35-lap feature and never looking back.
Despite a lengthy caution period with 10 circuits remaining, Helliwell – a long-time veteran of the Northeast short-track racing scene – never faltered. He pulled away on the final restart and beat Scott to the finish line by a comfortable margin of 2.699 seconds.
Helliwell’s victory came in the second race for the new Super Modified Atlantic Charter division, a new touring series for 350 winged small-block supermodifieds that debuted this season. The tour previously raced at Maine’s Wiscasset Speedway.
“I was wondering how everyone would regroup there for that second leg, when we had 17 or 18 laps left, but things worked out pretty well for us,” noted Helliwell. “It’s an honor to win the first race at Oswego Speedway for these cars … it’s a special place and Classic Sunday is a special time.”
Scott hung on to the runner-up spot, but simply couldn’t muster a challenge to Helliwell in the final laps.
“After the year I’ve had, I could have just finished the race and I would have been happy, but to come out with a top-three finish in my first time here at Oswego … that’s amazing,” said Scott. “Honestly, to lose to somebody like Dave, I’ll do it every day because he’s a great racer and a great guy.
“This is just a good day all around.”
Steve Duphily completed the podium, followed by Scott Watts and Mike Spurling.
Mike Seavey, Billy Osborne, Dave Sanborn, Jim Baker and Bobby Timmons were the rest of the top 10.
The finish:
Dave Helliwell, Mike Scott, Steve Duphily, Scott Watts, Mike Spurling, Mike Seavey, Billy Osborne, Dave Sanborn, Jim Baker, Bobby Timmons, Mike Keddy, John Leonard, Sparkey MacIver, Justin Storace, Dan Martineau, Rich Eaton.
