Battle defends Star Classic McKennedy Memorial win in 350 Supermodified return

When Jeffrey Battle’s 350 Supermodified was sold earlier this year, it seemed New England’s most dominant driver in the discipline had decided to give the rest of the field a break.

Then plans changed.

Battle, reunited with his winning car, stormed to victory in Friday’s Dennis McKennedy Memorial 79, the first of two Supermodified crown jewels anchoring Star Speedway’s 61st Star Classic weekend.

Over six decades, the Star Classic has evolved from the Epping, N.H. speedway’s major race for big-block winged Supermodifieds into New England’s premier race weekend celebrating the boutique racing platform. In keeping with Supermodified racing’s own evolution over the last quarter-century, the weekend incorporates big features for both touring-style big-block Supermodifieds and the 350 Supermodified platform that prevails as Star’s top weekly division.

A scion of the Witkum family that pioneered 350 Supermodified racing in the late 1990s, Battle has been the division’s dominant force, winning feature races and track championships at Star and beyond. The open-wheel wunderkind from Dunstable, Mass. swept both Supermodified features at last year’s Star Classic, the first time a driver had done so.

Battle hinted that, with his focus turning to big-block Supermodified competition, he might cut back on his extracurricular racing. And he did exactly that, stepping back from Tour-type Modified racing and selling his family-owned 350 Supermodified to focus on his big-block program and his life away from the track.

The car didn’t stray too far. Fellow Supermodified pilot and cousin James Witkum was arranging plans to wheel Battle’s former car in 2027 for car owner John Rowe. But Witkum planned to finish the season for car owner Red MacDonald, which meant Battle’s car remained much as he had last raced it.

Rowe opted to roll out the familiar No. 14 for Battle one more time.

After years of co-headlining an open-wheel centric Saturday card, the Dennis McKennedy Memorial 79 anchored this year’s Friday-night program, the second of four scheduled days of racing at the quarter-mile oval. Star’s own 350 Supermodifieds were bolstered by arrivals from the New Hampshire-based 350 SMAC touring program as well as entries from out of state, with a field of 29 entries vying for 23 spots on the starting grid.

Dave “Hollywood” Helliwell edged out teammate Scott Watts in time trials, with Star weekly point leader Bobby Timmons III clocking in third. Tommy Tombarello and Dwight Souther, Jr. claimed consi victories, with Ohio’s Clayton Karl earning a long-haul promoter’s option to start shotgun on the field.

Helliwell shot out to an early lead over James Witkum and Timmons, while Battle and uncle Eddie Witkum, Jr. worked their way forward from the back half of the top ten. The elder Witkum and Timmons reeled in Helliwell on a long green-flag run, with Witkum testing Helliwell’s grasp on the top spot. Ill-timed lapped traffic, though, kept Witkum or Timmons from making a move.

Battle, who started seventh, closed in on the fight for the lead, making quick work of James Witkum and getting by Timmons for third in traffic. Timmons picked up nose wing damage in the scramble, but kept in touch with the top-three battle.

Eddie Witkum continued to pressure Helliwell out front, but lapped cars allowed Helliwell to keep Witkum at bay.

Timmons eventually lost control of his compromised car on lap 50, spinning down the frontstretch to bring out the first caution flag. On the restart, Battle charged past his uncle and into second, breathing down Helliwell’s neck with clear race track ahead. Timmons tried to make up ground from the rear, but on his way through the field, he got together with John Leonard, taking on further damage and drawing another yellow flag. Timmons ducked into the pits, done for the night.

The green flag waved again with 56 laps complete, and Battle wasted no time getting around Helliwell for the lead. A spin for P.J. Stergios and Ben Seitz brought the yellow out once again on lap 60.

Eddie Witkum worked his way past Helliwell for second on the ensuing restart, setting off in pursuit of his nephew. But in the final 19-lap sprint to the checkers, no one had anything for Battle, who coasted to his fourth career Dennis McKennedy Memorial victory.

In addition to his wins in the event named for the late father of Star alumnus and open-wheel ace Jon McKennedy, Battle won the last running of the race when it was named in honor of his own uncle, the late Randy Witkum.

Eddie Witkum held on for second with Helliwell clinging to third. James Witkum initially thought he had made a last-lap pass on Helliwell for third, but scoring confirmed the pass came after the checkered flag flew.

Battle’s younger brother Ryan, who won the Star Classic in 2023 when a big-block race was not sanctioned, finished fifth, placing descendants of the Witkum family in four of the top five positions.

Mainers Ben Tinker and Rusty Poland were sixth and seventh, ahead of Star weekly points challenger and consi winner Souther. Matt Swanson and Seitz rounded out the top ten.

Timmons, who can still clinch his second Star track championship next week, was scored 19th after his early exit.

With James Witkum reaffirming his plans to drive Battle’s car in 2027, Friday’s feature win could be the final 350 Supermodified triumph for a driver who has dominated the division throughout the Northeast.

And with his focus solely on his big-block car, Battle has continued his reign of terror. Battle leads the New England Supermodified Series points with six wins in defense of his title last year. In the last two seasons of NESS competition, only twice has he missed the podium, finishing sixth in the 2025 season opener and finishing fourth at Oxford Plains Speedway this August.

Earlier in August, Battle won his first International Supermodified Association feature, topping Maine’s Mike Ordway, Jr. to win at Oswego Speedway, the New York oval where Supermodifieds were born.

Battle’s departure from the 350 Supermodifieds opens doors for the rising stars of the division. It also comes at the expense of rivalries that thrilled fans beyond the checkered flag.

But it’s not to say he won’t be back again.

Unofficial Results
ArmorTech 350 Supermodifieds | Dennis McKennedy Memorial 79
Star Speedway, Epping, N.H.
1. (14) Jeffrey Battle
2. (39) Eddie Witkum, Jr.
3. (X80) Dave Helliwell
4. (45) James Witkum
5. (21) Ryan Battle
6. (19) Ben Tinker
7. (44) Rusty Poland
8. (23) Dwight Souther, Jr.
9. (9) Matt Swanson
10. (10) Ben Seitz
11. (57) P.J. Stergios
12. (F80) Scott Watts
13. (07) George Helliwell
14. (1) Tommy Tombarello
15. (9X) Paul Buzel
16. (31) Cody Hodgdon
17. (69) Clayton Karl
18. (47) Jim Storace
19. (13) Bobby Timmons III
20. (12) John Leonard
21. (29) Justin Harris
22. (5) Joey Scanlon
23. (79) Griffin Miller

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