4/30/2012
Wayne Helliwell Jr
Bridesmaid Again!
Wayne Helliwell Jr. once again found himself the bridesmaid for the second straight event with the American Canadian Tour, this time at the famed Thunder Road Int'l Speedbowl for the Merchants Bank 150. Much like the first series event it was an epic battle with eight time ACT champion Brian Hoar for the win.
The Dover, NH driver statistically has very little track time at the Vermont Speedbowl having only raced there a hand full of times. Fresh on everyone’s mind on the Bruce Bernhardt owned team was 2011 season ending Milk Bowl in which Helliwell failed to qualify for. “The goal was a top 10 finish coming here, said Wayne.” We thought that was realistic for us; I haven’t had much success here and coming off the Milk Bowl we would have been happy with a 10th place finish today.”
Helliwell rolled off in the 9th starting position for the 14th annual event after a +2 and a second place finish in his heat race. Content to ride and save his car he would stay in top six till lap 70 brought the red flag out. During the red flag the team talked in length about an issue with the left rear wheel. Deciding to use the open red flag to check the issue and bolt on new right side tires they would fine a loss left rear wheel missing lug nuts. “Sometimes it just better to be lucky than good, said Wayne. If that red flag hadn’t come out we might not have finished this race.”
Rejoining the field in 21st position after the restart Wayne would drive his way into the top ten by lap 100 and into the lead on a lap 109 restart. Rocketing past reigning Merchant Bank 150 Champion Nick Sweet; Wayne would lead 26 laps all together. With 22 laps to go and Brian Hoar in tow the déjà vu from two weeks earlier at Lee USA speedway began. Hoar would snatch the lead on the restart and Wayne would spend the remaining laps glued to rear bummer of the 37VT. “Brian (Hoar) was loose and I could really roll through the turns, we battled hard all the way to the end. We didn’t need that last yellow for sure, said Wayne. “The outside is the place to be on the restarts here, he (Brian) did what had to do. I would have done the same. It’s disappointing but really rewarding all at once, we didn’t win but I never expected that kind of run today.”
The team heads to Devils Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT next Sunday May 6th for the Spring Green 112. What is being billed as “round three” of the Hoar, Helliwell battle expects to be just that, a battle. Wayne is hoping for a “cleaner” result than last year’s event when he found himself ankle deep in the mud a 100 yards off the backstretch. ”It’s never good when they need a tractor to come get you. We had a really good car there last year before all the mud, so I’m looking forward to getting back there. I’m really proud of where this team is right now, Bruce and I can’t wait for Sunday.”
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, VT, six miles north of Exit 2 on US Route 4. For more information, call (802) 265-3112 or click www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com.
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Article Credit: Jason Lubin
Submitted By: Jason Lubin
