7/23/2012
Wayne Helliwell Jr
50/50... The TD Bank 250
Heading into the 2012 TD Bank Oxford 250 Wayne Helliwell Jrs.’s track record at Oxford Plains Speedway has been less than stellar. In fact he has not finished the majority of the events he’s competed in at the Maine Oval.
Helliwell is quick to point out that Oxford is his Arch Nemesis’ or his Kryptonite. It’s a track that he has struggled at throughout his career. He has had flashes of brilliance from time to time; like finishing 7th in both American Canadian Tour events in 2011. But those finishes came after taking ACT series provisional’s.
As the Bruce Bernhardt owned Ekeys-4-Cars, Unique Ford team prepared for this year’s TD bank 250; they were optimistic with their chances after multiple successful test sessions. As well as a strong running car in the early season ACT tour event at Oxford.
Before the start of their heat race Helliwell said, “Its hero or zero time right now… You think you have it figured out but this place has a way of slapping you upside the head.” From his 5th starting position Helliwell would go on to lead his heat race and finish 2nd to qualify for the Oxford 250 in the 8th starting spot.
With his best starting position in any race he’s entered at the Oxford, Maine oval Helliwell would ride right around the top 10 for the first 40 laps. Using lap traffic and working his way through 3-4 wide action he would move up to the 5th position before a caution on lap 135. The yellow would bring all but two cars on the lead lap to pit road. The Bernhardt Motorsports team would bolt on 3 fresh tires and fill the car full of fuel; besting everyone off pit road but Jeff Taylor to restart where he entered the pits in the 5th position.
“The guys did an unreal job in the pits, said Helliwell. We would have been first off pit road if I hadn’t of gotten stuck behind the lap cars entering [the pits]. Jeff [Taylor] just got to his box before we did that’s the only reason he beat us.
Being beat off pit road didn’t matter as just after the restart Helliwell would take the lead from Shawn Martin on lap 139. Working the bottom of the track Helliwell would open up a sizable lead and go on to lead 41 laps.
Joey Pole who restarted in the 10th position after the pit stop worked his way by the bright orange 27NH on lap 180. Battling a loose race car; a restart on lap 205 would bunch the field up for a final time. Helliwell would spin his tires and settle back in behind the 97NH, in-till lap 222 when Jeff Taylor would take second from him.
As the field began to get strong out over the last 25 laps; a fresh tired Austin Theriault would battle to the outside of Helliwell with 4 laps to go and take over the 3rd spot. The running order would stay the same as the field completed lap 250. Joey pole would win his first TD Bank 250, followed by Jeff Taylor and Austin Theriault in 3rd. Helliwell would nail down the 4th spot and take home his largest payday of his career, over $8,000 dollars.
“There is a god… Helliwell joked after the event. So many years coming here, I finally figured it out, finally... These guys did awesome today. We worked on it all weekend and finally have a positive outcome at this place. I just got to free at the end, without that it would have been a lot more interesting.”
Helliwell’s 4th place finish was his best ever in any event at Oxford Plains Speedway. The Dover, NH driver was satisfied with the overall outcome of the race but disappointed about what could have been. “I’m 50/50 right now, Helliwell said. “One minute I’m happy about it, the next I’m pissed off for being so close. At the end of the day we made progress here. I’m comfortable in coming back and being competitive.”
The “almost was” is hardest thing to swallow for the Bernhardt Motorsports team. “We had something today, without a doubt we had a car that could win today. To say that about this track, about this race is a victory in it self, Bernhardt said.
The Bernhardt/Helliwell team will not have time to rest as they head back out next Saturday with the American Canadian Tour. The series heads to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Maine. A track that Helliwell finished 2nd at in 2011; they’ll look to rebound and hope to make it one spot better this year. “I’m excited to go back there, said Helliwell. “We have great program for that track, it will be like déjà vu from the [Oxford] 250 with all same people racing for the win. We’re looking forward to it.”
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Katie Buxton Photo
Article Credit: Jason Lubin
Submitted By: Jason Lubin
