4/8/2014
Wayne Helliwell Jr
Maiden Voyage
This past weekend kicked off the 2014 racing season for Wayne Helliwell Jr. and the Bruce Bernhardt Motorsports Team. The annual Ice Breaker event at Thompson Motorsports Park saw the debut of a brand new chassis for the Pelham, NH based Team.
Helliwell’s self-designed super late model saw its maiden voyage at the 5/8-mile oval as they joined the Granite State Pro Stock Series for their opening event of the season.
After topping the speed charts in both practice seasons on Friday, Helliwell raced his way from 9th starting position to finish 4th in his heat race. With the series random draw inversion of seven-cars putting the EKeys-4-Cars, Butler MacMaster Ford Fusion on the pole for the 50-lap feature event.
Helliwell rocketed to a sizable lead from the start. Until problems struck at lap-17; “The car started to get really loose on entry and lose the nose through the center about three-laps before”, stated Helliwell. Lap-20 would put an end to his chances for a victory as a flat right front tire would bring the 27NH machine to a stop, relegating him to a 17th place finish.
“Sure it’s disappointing”, stated Helliwell. “But it could have been much worse… A right front flat usually ends with a destroyed car at this place. So to have just a flat tire, I’ll take that any day.”
For the first time out with a brand new car Helliwell was extremely happy and proud of how the car preformed.
“I have no complaints,” stated Helliwell. “The car was really good. It got better every time we got on the track; it reacted well to changes and I was super comfortable in it. We were at the top of the speed charts all weekend and leading when we got the flat. In all it was a good weekend. It definitely made the effort all winter long worth it…”
Putting Thompson behind him, Helliwell turns back to the American Canadian Tour as the series opens their season at his home track of Lee USA Speedway this coming weekend.
The annual New Hampshire Governors Cup 150 kicks off 2014 late model action as the two-time defending series champion looks to put his name onto a trophy that has thus far eluded the Dover, NH pilot.
“We've had great 100-lap cars at Lee [USA Speedway[”, stated Helliwell. “There always seems to be something that gets us in the last half of the race… “
Helliwell and Team owner Bruce Bernhardt go into the ACT season with a different outlook as they announced back in January they will not defend their title in 2014; opting for an outlaw type schedule with both late model and super late model events planned.
“Sure you could say there is less pressure to just go out and get wins”, stated Helliwell. “But with Lee [USA Speedway] there is always pressure to perform. It’s our home track people expect us to be good there. I think overall it’s just business as usually for us. Maybe with some newly added fun in there…”
The fun will start this Sunday at 1:15PM at the Lee, NH oval.
Next Event
What: New Hampshire’s Governors Cup
Where: Lee USA Speedway – Lee, NH
When: Sunday April 13, 2014 1:15PM
Wayne Helliwell Jr. and Bernhardt Motorsport's would like to thank their proud partners for their support in 2014: EKeys-4-Cars • Unique Ford • Bernhardt Automotive • Pro-Turf Landscaping • DTB Tax • C&M Distributing • Butler MacMaster Performance Racing • Carbonneau Insulation Co • IICCEEE • Ford Racing • Schoenfeld Headers • Sunoco Race Fuels • Bassett Wheels • Joes Racing Products • Quarter Master • ARP Bodies • Welded Media • Mangus Transmissions • Coastal Candle Company
Photo: Katie Buxton
Article Credit: Jason Lubin / Welded Media
Submitted By: Jason Lubin