9/4/2012
Wayne Helliwell Jr
Closing it up, in the wrong direction...
As the American Canadian Tour headed into Vermont for round #9 of the series championship Wayne Helliwell Jr. and Brian Hoar have combined to win half the series races in 2012. Sunday marked the 34th running of Bond Auto Parts Labor Day Classic at the famed high banks of Thunder Road Speedbowl. The annual 200 lap event would once again pit the duo against each other as they had both taken 3 wins on the year. Sunday would be no exception.
One of the largest car counts of the year would take on the event as a field of 44 competitors would try there chances at qualifying for the the 30 car field. Helliwell who is coming off a uncharacteristic 7th place finish at the Circuit Riverside last week in Canada was looking to rebound and further extend his points lead.
Drawing the #4 pill put him on the outside of the front row for the first heat race. For 12 laps Helliwell and former Thunder Road champion Jamie Fisher would battle side by side for the heat race win and the all important +/- passing points. Helliwell would prevail by literally a nose to take a +1 into the 200 lap event.
Starting from the 9th position Helliwell would ride there for the first 33 laps in till he found himself facing the wrong way exiting turn 4 and the cause of the first caution flag. Relegated to the back of the field he would take the opportunity to pit and further adjust the Ekeys-4-Cars Unique Ford Fusion before rejoining the field in the 29th position. Facing an uphill battle as the leaders bared down to try and lap the bright orange machine; the caution he needed happened right in front of him.
Helliwell rocketing off the front stretch as the caution flag waved on lap 71 as half the field would make their way onto pit road for new right side tires. His quick decision and the crews fast pit stop would net 13 spots off of pit road as he lined up 14th for the restart. Over the next 30+ laps he would march way to the front taking the 2nd spot on lap 111. Helliwell's unconventional line around the bottom of the track allowed for a classic side by side multi lap battle with race leader Hoar. Battling a loose condition a late race caution saw the 27NH get shuffled to the forth position on a restart. Working hard on the bottom of the track he was able to get passed Chris Michaud with 4 laps to go, to retake the second spot. While closing the gap on race leader Hoar the laps would run out. Helliwell would record his 6th top five of the year with a 2nd place performance.
Frustrated with the second place run Helliwell felt the late caution killed his chances to try for the win. "I was just pacing myself on the bottom in the middle stages of the race. The car was to free to roll the top, but it allowed me to race where no one was. You can't pass people if everyone is in the same lane. I think we were better than Brian [Hoar] on the long run… I didn't need that late yellow, it took me about 8 laps to get rolling on the bottom. Both times we've been beat here this year and i think we had a better car. We just can't seem to catch the right track position at the right time…"
Helliwell who is quick to point out even after Sunday's performance, Thunder Road is not a good track for him. "I really don't see this place as being one of my better tracks, yet we keep finishing second here. It was frustrating day followed by a frustrating finish. The positive is how we were able to rebound from the spin and get to the podium. The guys did a great job on pit road to gain all those spots. Today is a great example of not giving up."
The second place finish all but locked up the Bernhardt Motorsports third consecutive Ford Blue Oval Cup Challenge; Helliwell's 21st race of the year has him with 126 point lead with a hand full of events remaining. The win by Hoar closed the championship points gap to with in 8 points with one race remaining. The final points race heads to Airborne Speedway for the Fall Foliage 200 on October 6th. The series heads north of the border for the final time in 2012 this Saturday night at the Showdown at Autdrome Chaudiere; where the American and Canadian Tours will come together for a 200 lap none points battle.
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Eric LaFleche / VLF Photo
Article Credit: Jason Lubin
Submitted By: Jason Lubin
