4/26/2015
Wayne Helliwell Jr
"Finally..."
Wayne Helliwell Jr. spent his racing life growing up the New Hampshire oval Lee USA Speedway. Helliwell has piloted just about every division the track has run at some point and been successful doing it. Three track titles and more than three dozen victories across 5 divisions at the Lee, NH track.
But one event has eluded him above all others The American Canadian Tour New Hampshire Governors Cup. Helliwell has been competing in the event since the mid-90’s and has either come up the bridesmaid or had some strange problem prevent him from getting the win while running competitive; brunt ignition wires, broken distributor rotor, flat tires you name it.
The running of the 25th annual event didn’t start out anymore promising for the driver that has reeled off four-straight top-4 finishes in 2015. With a worst finish of 4th coming at the Thompson Speedway Ice Breaker.
The Bruce Bernhardt owned Ekeys-4-Cars, Harpoon Brewery, Bulter Macmaster Ford Fusion unloaded to a motor problem during Saturdays open test season for the ACT cars. Helliwell with a miss in the engine spent the better part of Saturday diagnosing the problem.
“Spark plug,” stated Helliwell. “Its always the smallest cheapest parts that give you the most trouble. We did some routine maintenance over the week and changed the plugs. Brand new out of the box it was faulty.”
While fixing the spark plug issue and finding speed in the car Helliwell was again frustrated after his heat race when he faced tire issues. Even though he moved the 27nh from his 9th starting position to a 5th place finish earning the pole for the 150-lap event, he wasn’t pleased.
“The tires went crazy in the heat race,” stated Helliwell. “We lost ¾” of an inch of stagger. I was really frustrated… I thought its always something with this race… I wasn’t sure if we could get it fixed…”
Helliwell would roll from the pole position and lead the first 77-laps of the event, not something he intended to do. Using a strategy to conserve his tires he purposely slowed the race pace down.
“I only planned on leading the first couple of laps to start, stated Helliwell. “I thought for sure someone would go bye me… We were running almost 17-second lap times. I just wanted to conserve and run my pace. I ran as hard as i needed too when i needed.”
Just before the 100-lap mark, weather was in the area and the races intensity picked up. A battle with former Governors Cup winner and Lee USA Speedway regular Eddie MacDonald ensued.
‘I could see Eddie coming behind me, stated Helliwell. “He was a little better in the middle of the race. Even with the drizzle, I thought it was still to early to run that hard with 50 or so laps left.”
Helliwell’s conservation mode would pay off taking the lead for the final time on a lap-117 restart. He would go on to claim the victory by three car lengths over Windham, ME driver Brad Babb.
‘Finally…,” stated Helliwell. “This means a lot me, to Bruce, to this Team. To have my whole family here. It hasn’t been from lack of trying. I’m proud of everyone for the effort and working so hard to get us here. We struggled for sure throughout the weekend. Feels good to get this behind us now.”
The Pelham, NH based Team will look to continue their winning ways when they head to the high banks of Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, VT next weekend for the 17th annual Merchants Bank 150. An event Helliwell is the defending winner of.
“We’re looking forward to going back,” stated Helliwell. “I think we have a better overall package now than we did when we won there. It should be a good time…”
Next Event
What: The Merchants Bank 150
Where: Thunder Road Speedbowl - Barre, VT
When: Sunday May 3 - Post time 1:00PM
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
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Article Credit: Jason Lubin / Welded Media
Submitted By: Jason Lubin
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