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Full Swing

The busy calendar year of Wayne Helliwell Jr.’s racing schedule is in full swing as tracks and series are coming to a close across the New England region. In a 8 day span Helliwell and his two race teams will have competed in almost as many races.

Helliwell started last Friday night at Lee USA Speedway with twin feature events behind the wheel of the Scherbon Consolidated Inc., 350 Small Block Supermodified. He would go on to take home a 3rd and 6th place on the nights events as well as regain the 2nd overall position in the championship chase.

It was then onto Canada for the Ekeys-4-Cars Unique Ford Fusion Bruce Bernhardt owned Late Model team. As race #8 of the American Canadian Tour headed to Circuit Riverside Speedway in St. Croix, Quebec. A 200 lap event that turned into a battle of lap traffic as only 10 cars would finish on the lead lap. Helliwell would bring the bright orange 27NH home in the 7th position. A win by Brian Hoar would close the championship points gap to 22 markers with just two events left.

Wednesday it was on to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the annual ACT testing event at the big 1 mile oval. In what is the only real chance to practice for the upcoming September 22nd ACT Bond Auto Parts Innovational; the Bernhardt Motorsports team tried their hand at a couple of different setups in preparations for the none points race. Helliwell had mixed feelings after the test and was left with some decisions to make before heading back for the race itself. “ We came today to try some different setups that we would not otherwise have the time to try here. On race day you only get one [tire] scuff session and that’s it… so it’s good to get these idea’s out of our system so we are not wondering what if on race day. We learned a few things today and we will be ready on the 22nd.”

This Friday it’s back to the Lee USA Speedway for another NASCAR weekly racing series event in the open wheel 350 Super. Helliwell continues to seek additional wins towards the overall national championship in the NASCAR standings. Only a win will further advance his current 14th place position in the standings. With only two scheduled races remaining he will try and make up a 38 point deficit to claim his record 10th overall track championship.

Saturday the Bernhardt motorsports team will hit the highway multiple times as they first head to northern Vermont in preparations of the American Canadian Tour Labor Day classic at the famed Thunder Road Speedbowl. A noon time scheduled practice session is planned as the teams try and dial in their cars for the Sundays big 200 lap event. The team will then load up and head an hour and a half south to Canaan Fair Speedway in Canaan, NH for the season ending 100 lap championship event. Helliwell and Bernhardt team have already claimed the 2012 Late Model track championship based on the total amount of points that can be earned in a single event. They will try and finish the year on a high note that has already included 14 victories and four 3rd places finishes at the northern New Hampshire oval.

Sunday they will head back up interstate 89 to Thunder Road Speedbowl for Bond Auto Parts Labor Day Classic and round #9 of the 2012 ACT championship. Helliwell who has lead the championship battle since a win on week three at Devils Bowl Speedway will look to hold off a hard changing 7 time champion Brian Hoar and Maine’s young gun Austin Theriault in hopes for his first American Canadian Tour Championship.

Helliwell’s busy schedule is in full gear as setup changes and car swapping has become the norm in the Pelham, NH race shop. “We’ve become very proficient in set-up changes, said Helliwell. “Things are full speed ahead around here… This will be a busy next couple of weeks, but after that it’s all downhill from there. We’re ready whether it’s 1 race or 4 in one weekend, it’s how we race.” Helliwell laughed and said, “I’m not sure that we would know what to do with ourselves if it was any different…”

Our 2012 Late Model Proud Partners -
EKeys-4-Cars / Unique Ford / Bernhardt Automotive / A Handy Company / DTB Tax / C&M Distributing / Carbonneau Insulation Co / Hillside Country Store / IICCEEE / Ford Racing / Schoenfeld Headers / Sunoco Race Fuels / The Brake Man / Joes Racing Products

Our 2012 Proud SBS Partners ~ Scherbon Consolidated Inc / Locke Crane Service / Westford Glass / Witkum Flooring / Harrington Brothers Paving

Follow Wayne:
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https://twitter.com/#!/WayneHelliwell

Eric LaFleche / VLF Photo's

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