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Oxford 250!!

Career defining moments for a racer can be everything from getting that first top-5, to winning their first race, to grabbing a championship. Wayne Helliwell Jr. has been fortunate enough to have had his share. A first street stock win at 14, a first late model track championship at 20. A first touring series win at 35, a third American Canadian Tour title at 38; the list is lengthy.

But Sunday night in Oxford, ME he knocked what many consider the ultimate moments off his career list, the victory of all victories. One that regardless of past accomplishments he’ll be defined by.

More than two decades in the making, the 39 year old Dover, NH driver earned a victory in The 43rd Annual HP Hood Oxford 250. The biggest event in Northeast short track racing and arguably the toughest single day asphalt race in America; Helliwell came out on top of a thrilling 40 lap side-by-side duel with two-time winner Travis Benjamin.

What worked out as the right decision to pit on lap 159, almost didn’t happen

"We were trying to discuss [it] when the yellow came out there, but we were walking over each other [on the radio]," said Helliwell. "Fortunately they waited to open pit road… I heard Bruce [say pit] when I was in the middle of [turn] three and four. I thought it was way too early to use our four [tires]. But in the car you're not sure what guys are on what strategy, if guys will pit again. It worked…"

Helliwell rejoined the field in 18th place with 40 lap fresher tires. By lap 179 he was back to fifth.

"You get everything you can with fresh tires," he said. "You have a limited number of laps where they’re a huge advantage. I heard three-wide more than a couple times from my spotter. It was fun... You can't race like that anywhere else but Oxford."

A Lap 212 restart saw Helliwell grab second from Ben Rowe and pull side-by-side with Benjamin in the same corner. For 40-laps Helliwell worked the low groove on the track, inching his way even and ahead of the Petit Motorsports car of Benjamin.

With 6-laps to go the pair caught the lapped car of Garrett Evans running in the third groove entering turn-three. It was just enough to slow Benjamin's pace and allow EKeys-4-Cars / Rydemore.com Ford Fusion to pull ahead. Helliwell would go on to claim the 43rd Annual Oxford 250 by three car lengths.

A victory that seemed always out of reach, in part for his struggles at the Maine track for so many years, was finally his.

“Unbelievable, I don't even know what to say..." said Helliwell. ”I mean this is what it's all about; for drivers growing up in the Northeast there is nothing bigger or more important than this race…I never would have thought it was possible. I know we've had some good runs, but this is different. There's so many variables that play out here. I'm just so proud... of Bruce, the whole Team. We knew going in if we didn't beat ourselves we had a shot. We got beat leading laps last year. The car was so good; we got caught out way too late. We weren't doing that again, and it paid off."

Helliwell and the Bruce Bernhardt led Team earned a career high payday pocketing $29,500 for the win; leading a total of 45 laps during the event.

The historic win brings fewer things for Helliwell and Bernhardt to accomplish together. As the Team has scored 14 combined championships and more than 70 wins over the last 10 years.

"We joked going into this that we would retire if we won this race," said Helliwell. "We probably won't do that... We may take a few weeks off though [laughing]."

Wayne Helliwell Jr. and Bernhardt Motorsport's would like to thank their proud partners: Rydemore.com • EKeys-4-Cars • Unique Ford • Bernhardt Automotive • Pro-Turf Landscaping • DTB Tax • C&M Distributing • Harpoon Brewery • Butler MacMaster Performance Racing • Spectro Performance Oils • IICCEEE • Ford Racing • Schoenfeld Headers • Sunoco Race Fuels • Bassett Wheels • Joes Racing Products • Quarter Master • ARP Bodies • Welded Media • Mangus Transmissions • Coastal Candle Company • VDL Fuel Systems • PEM Racing Gears • KRC Power Steering • DRP Performance Products • Firestorm Graphics • W.A.R Shocks • Allstar Performance • Rouleau Racing Dynamics

Follow Wayne:
https://www.waynehelliwelljr.com
https://www.facebook.com/WayneHelliwellJr
https://twitter.com/#!/WayneHelliwell
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Troy Bregy Photo's.

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