Wayne Helliwell, Jr. claimed the 6th Annual Bond Auto ACT Invitational at NHMS

 Wayne Helliwell, Jr. held onto the lead in until darkness in the ACT Bond Auto Invitational at NHMS (Credit: Matt Wienarsz photo)


Wayne Helliwell, Jr. held onto the lead until darkness in the ACT Bond Auto Invitational at NHMS (Credit: Matt Wienarsz photo)

By Lou Modestino

Two-time American Canadian Tour Champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr. claimed the win in the 6th annual Bond Auto ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH on Saturday, September 20. The race was called complete on lap 44 due to darkness.

The 43 car field provided three and four wide action for the majority of the scheduled 50 lap event before being called on lap 44. Helliwell marched from his 16th starting position to take the lead on lap 16 from Turner, ME’s Glen Luce, who led the first 15 laps. Helliwell had to hold off Montreal, QC’s Patrick Laperle through the final four cautions of the event.

The race was called off due to darkness after the field took the green flag on the final restart on lap 44 and a multi-car accident occurred on the backstretch bringing out the red flag. Conditions became too dark, while clean-up was occurring and the decision was made to call the race with 44 laps complete.

Laperle came from the 25th starting position to take second for the second time in three years. Three-time Bond Invitational winner Eddie MacDonald or Rowley, MA completed the podium. 2010 Bond Invitational winner Joey Polewarcyzk, Jr. and Quebec’s Alex Labbe completed the top five. Jimmy Hebert, Glen Luce, Travis Stearns, Scott Dragon, and Tom Carey, Jr. rounded out the top ten.

The American Canadian Tour Late Models complete their 2014 point counting season next Saturday, September 27 with the Fall Foliage 200 at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY. The stars of ACT will then be back in action on Saturday and Sunday, October 4 and 5 for the 52nd People’s United Bank Milk Bowl at Thunder Road in Barre, VT.

6th Annual Bond ACT Invitational Unofficial Results
American Canadian Tour
New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Loudon, NH
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Pos. (Start) Driver, Hometown, Laps Completed
1. (16) Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Dover, NH, 44 Laps

2. (25) Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, QC, 44 Laps

3. (17) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, MA, 44 Laps

4. (23) Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., Hudson, NH, 44 Laps

5. (20) Alex Labbe, Quebec, QC, 44 Laps

6. (19) Jimmy Hebert, Williamstown, VT, 44 Laps

7. (3) Glen Luce, Turner, ME, 44 Laps

8. (1) Travis Stearns, Auburn, ME, 44 Laps

9. (12) Scott Dragon, Colchester, VT, 44 Laps

10. (33) Tom Carey, Jr., New Salem, MA, 44 Laps

11. (5) Brandon Atkins, Au Sable Forks, NY, 44 Laps

12. (21) Guy Caron, Lempster, NH, 44 Laps

13. (7) Todd Davis, Claremont, NH, 44 Laps

14. (29) Aaron Fellows, Croyden, NH, 44 Laps

15. (18) Brian Hoar, Williston, VT, 44 Laps

16. (6) Tyler Cahoon, St. Johnsbury, VT, 44 Laps

17. (31) Jeff White, Winthrop, ME, 44 Laps

18. (24) Ray Parent, Tiverton, RI, 44 Laps

19. (30) Nick Sweet, Barre, VT, 44 Laps

20. (2) Emily Packard, East Montpelier, VT, 44 Laps

21. (4) Larry Gelinas, Buxton, ME, 44 Laps

22. (28) Dany Trepanier, St-Edouard, QC, 44 Laps

23. (13) Chip Grenier, Graniteville, VT, 44 Laps

24. (32) Martin Latulippe, Vallee-Jonction, QC, 44 Laps

25. (43) Brian Tagg, Oxford, MA, 44 Laps

26. (15) Ben Ashline, Pittston, ME, 44 Laps

27. (36) Taylor Martin, Windham, NH, 44 Laps

28. (38) Stephane Descoste, Oka, QC, 44 Laps

29. (14) Rowland Robinson, Jr., Steuben, ME, 44 Laps

30. (9) Josh Masterson, Charlotte, VT, 44 Laps

31. (41) Brett Gervais, Island Pond, VT, 44 Laps

32. (10) Jason Corliss, Barre, VT, 44 Laps

33. (35) Jimmy Linardy, Somerville, MA, 44 Laps

34. (37) Matt Anderson, Franklin, NH, 44 Laps

35. (42) Josh Demers, Middlesex, VT, 43 Laps

36. (40) John Falconi, Oakham, MA, 41 Laps

37. (11) Kyle Welch, Newport, NH, 37 Laps

38. (22) Jamie Aube, N. Ferrisburg, VT, 37 Laps

39. (39) Richard Staskowski, Hope Valley, RI, 25 Laps

40. (34) Ricky Roberts, Washington, VT, 25 Laps

41. (8) Cody Blake, Barre, VT, 17 Laps

42. (26) Joey Laquerre, East Montpelier, VT, 1 Laps

43. (27) Jonathan Bouvrette, Blainville, QC, 1 Laps

Lap Leaders: Glen Luce, 1-15; Wayne Helliwell, Jr., 16-44.

Cautions: 6 (Laps 1, 13, 25, 25, 44, 44(red) Race Over for Darkness)

Time of Race: 1 hour, 8 minutes, 28 seconds

Margin of Victory: N/A