However, his championship-winning car is a write-off and he will need to drive in a borrowed car or undertake a “miracle” build of a new car to compete in the remainder of the Newcastle Series Championship and the Australian titles in May.

“First lap, first race, first run of the night and everyone pulled up in front of me and I didn’t pull up,” Wakeman said of his crash which ended his quest for a sixth straight feature win in 2018 including the NSW Street Stocker title

“I knew my good luck streak would come to an end, but I didn’t think it would be so violent.

“The car’s a complete write off. I’ve got to chop everything out of it and put it all into a new shell.

“I’ve had bigger hits in demolition derby I’m all right, but it was surprising how much damage it did do considering I never felt a great deal.”

Wakeman, a father of two, said the safety equipment in the vehicle did it’s job.

“We’ve got five-point racing harnesses with three-inch wide belts and that makes a hell of a lot of difference. Then neck-braces and stuff like that cut down the risk of getting hurt as well,” he said.

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The close-knit racing fraternity immediately offered support and the use of vehicles to complete the season.

“I’ve had a few people offer me their cars.  I had a guy told me to come and get his car and bring it back at the end of the season, do what I want with it,” Wakeman said.

“It’s incredible the amount of trust people have. Even on the night people were saying ‘jump in and race with me’. because the race we were having was 50-laps and you normally have two drivers.

“I thought ‘No, I can’t wreck two cars in one night’.”

Wakeman is weighing up his options, but admits it will be hard to let go of the car he had so much success in. 

“That car was probably the best car I’ve ever had,” he said. “I’ve had that car for four seasons and I couldn’t count how many trophies I’ve won in it. Three state titles, a Sydney championship and two seconds and so many features .

“I do have another car I can re-shell into but it will take a lot of work and a lot of favours to get it all done in time. Maybe a miracle might happen.

“I think until I can actually get mine going, I’ll have to borrow a car to keep racing.

“There are three rounds, perhaps four if a rained-out round is rescheduled, left in the Newcastle series.

“We’ve got a double-header at Easter at Gilgandra and Dubbo. 

“I’ll be back on the track at the Easter long-weekend. I don’t know if it will be my car or someone else’s