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Second Best

The 2015 season kicked off with bang for the Pelham, NH based Bruce Bernhardt Motorsports Team as they grabbed three-straight podium finishes in Florida. A February break from the frigid temperatures and mounting snow brought the American Canadian Tour series to New Smyrna Speedway for the first time since 2011.

The trek south featured three 100-lap races in the sunshine state with two of them counting towards the overall championship. The American Racer Cup brought 27 Teams from New England and Eastern Canada to compete for over $40,000 in prize money.

After a heat win Helliwell rolled from 6th starting position in the Sunday night feature, falling as far back as 10th he would fight back to grab a third place finish by inches at the checkered flag.

The Dover NH, driver knew after the first night what changes needed to be made. “We were decent Sunday, the car had speed, said Helliwell. “ It’s hard to tell in practice but in the heat we could see how Eddie [MacDonald] was beating us… Then Patrick [Laperle] did the same in the feature, rolling the middle [of the turn], that’s where they were making up time. I couldn’t cut on the bottom like they could that’s were the speed was. That’s what we worked on in practice [Monday].”

The work paid off, as he would better his podium finish with a second place for night number two. The problem was the same guy kept winning; Eddie MacDonald would go two-for-two and grab his second straight victory.

Rain would win on the third night but in doing so it allowed the EKeys-4-Cars, Butler Macmaster Ford Fusion Team to regroup and look at what changes they could make to get better.

“We knew after the first few laps the changes worked on Wednesday, said Helliwell. “We had good piece. We really didn’t practice at all; we ran maybe a dozen laps…The cold was coming [for feature time] and you can defiantly over adjust for that.”

Whatever the strategy was it worked; Helliwell started 17th and was battling for 7th when lap-26 contact between him and Joey Polewarczyk sent the 27NH around in turn-three. He would restart 20th and 13-laps later found himself back in a battle for the top-five.

“Really we just needed one break on a restart, stated Helliwell. “I’ve never cheered so much for other drivers. I was yelling in my helmet trying to help them complete a pass. Our lanes just won’t go… I was trying to be smart and save my stuff, every caution hurt us."

Helliwell would break free and grab the second position with 13-laps to-go; but fall short by half a car length at the line. Earning back-to-back second place finishes and second overall for the American Racer Challenge Cup; Eddie MacDonald would complete the sweep of three-straight wins.

“Eddie has been the class of the field all week, stated Helliwell. “But tonight i think we had the better car, it showed at the end. We just ran out laps. Congrats to him, he won everything… Normally we would be happy with top-threes but tonight i feel like it got away from us. Were in one piece and there is a lot of winter left to tune [on it] for Lee [USA Speedway].

As the Team settles back into the snow Helliwell moves on to the annual charity karting event, the DT 100 for Make-A-Wish. The 7th running of the event featuring 100+ drivers from all walks of motor racing. The charity race has help raise just under $125,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. An event Helliwell is a previous winner in and looks forward to each winter.

“It’s a great event for a great cause,” he stated. “I enjoy running it, there are so many different types of drivers there, it’s a lot of fun.”

Next Event

What: The DT-100 for Make-A-Wish - http://dt100race.com/
Where: Maine Indoor Karting Center - Scarborough, ME
When: Saturday February 28, 2015

Wayne Helliwell Jr. and Bernhardt Motorsport's would like to thank their proud partners: 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

Follow Wayne:
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