By Lou Modestino
Eddie MacDonald of Rowley, MA completed the sweep by winning all three American Canadian Tour events at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, FL. His third win in four days came on Wednesday, February 18 in the second 100-lap segment of the American Racer Challenge Cup. His two wins in the American Racer Challenge Cup segments earned him the overall Challenge Cup win.
MacDonald came from deep in the field after the inversion of Monday night’s finish in the first segment. Two-time ACT Champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr. tried to play spoiler to MacDonald’s perfect week as he led the way up through the field. The duo made it inside the top ten until Helliwell spun to bring out the second caution of the event on lap 28. MacDonald continued to work his way toward the front methodically, while Helliwell came tearing back through the field.
MacDonald made it inside the top five just after the halfway mark and Helliwell joined him with just thirty laps remaining. By the time the third caution flag of the event flew on lap 66, the pair were nose to tail inside the top five with defending ACT Champion Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. dogging their every move.
Early leaders Brad Babb and Keith Rocco remained in a battle for the lead on the lap 66 restart. As they fought side-by-side MacDonald made a three-wide move to take over the lead. Helliwell got caught in traffic for several more laps until he got around Babb to take over second with 11 laps to go. He set his sights on MacDonald’s back bumper and started cutting into his lead. Helliwell did all he could to get to MacDonald, but ran out of time.
MacDonald crossed the finish line with Helliwell on his back bumper. Polewarczyk, Babb and Série ACT Champion Alex Labbe completed the top five in the segment. Keith Rocco, Daniel Descoste, Josh Demers, Rowland Robinson, Jr., and Ray Parent earned top tens in the segment.
Eddie MacDonald claimed the overall American Racer Challenge Cup win with two wins for two points. Wayne Helliwell, Jr. took second overall with two second place efforts for four points and Alex Labbe took third with a third and fifth place finish for eight points. Sophomore driver Josh Demers (5th, 8th – 13pts) and two-time Thunder Road Champion Nick Sweet (4th, 11th – 15pts) completed the top five overall. Keith Rocco (13th, 6th – 19pts), Ray Parent (11th, 10th – 21pts), Brad Babb (18th, 4th – 22 pts), Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. (21st, 3rd – 24 pts) and Brandon White (10th, 14th – 24 pts) completed the top ten.
The second leg of the American Racer Challenge Cup was completed with just four cautions in 44 minutes and 54 seconds. MacDonald edged Helliwell by .232 seconds.
That completes ACT’s three events at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, FL. The stars of ACT will head back north and have a couple months off before starting their 2015 season at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH on Sunday, April 12.
American Racer Challenge Cup Overall
ACT Unofficial Results
New Smyrna Speedway – New Smyrna Beach, FL
Pos. (Start) Driver, Hometown, Seg. #1, Seg. #2, TOTAL
(3) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, MA, 1, 1, 2
(8) Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Dover, NH, 2, 2, 4
(9) Alex Labbe, St-Albert, QC, 3, 5, 8
(7) Josh Demers, Montpelier, VT, 5, 8, 13
(6) Nick Sweet, Barre, VT, 4, 11, 15
(13) Keith Rocco, Berlin, CT, 13, 6, 19
(12) Ray Parent, Tiverton, RI, 11, 10, 21
(20) Brad Babb, Windham, ME, 18, 4, 22
(5) Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., Hudson, NH, 21, 3, 24
(15) Brandon White, Kahnawake, QC, 10, 14, 24
(11) Pete Yetman, Peru, MA, 6, 18, 24
(17) Aaron Fellows, Croydon, NH, 9, 17, 26
(10) Donald Theetge, Boischatel, QC, 7, 19, 26
(19) Tom Carey, Jr., New Salem, MA, 15, 12, 27
(16) Brandon Atkins, Au Sable Forks, NY, 14, 13, 27
(23) Emily Packard, East Montpelier, VT, 12, 16, 28
(1) Travis Stearns, Auburn, ME, 8, 20, 28
(18) Daniel Descoste, St-Joseph, QC, 24, 7, 31
(26) Rowland Robinson, Jr., Steuben, ME, 22, 9, 31
(14) Edward Leclerc, Jr., Taunton, MA, 16, 15, 31
(2) Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, QC, 17, 22, 39
(4) Jean-Pierre Ouimet, Terrebonne, QC, 19, 22, 41
(21) Jeff Rocco, Wallingford, CT, 20, 22, 42
(22) Dylan Smith, Concord, NC, 23, 22, 45
(24) Kyle Welch, Newport, NH, 25, 21, 46
American Racer Challenge Cup Segment #2
ACT Unofficial Results
New Smyrna Speedway – New Smyrna Beach, FL
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Pos. (Start) Driver, Hometown, Laps Completed
(16) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, MA, 100 Laps
(15) Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Dover, NH, 100 Laps
(17) Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., Hudson, NH, 100 Laps
(1) Brad Babb, Windham, ME, 100 Laps
(14) Alex Labbe, St-Albert, QC, 100 Laps
(4) Keith Rocco, Berlin, CT, 100 Laps
(19) Daniel Descoste, St-Joseph, QC, 100 Laps
(12) Josh Demers, Montpelier, VT, 100 Laps
(18) Rowland Robinson, Jr., Steuben, ME, 100 Laps
(6) Ray Parent, Tiverton, RI, 100 Laps
(13) Nick Sweet, Barre, VT, 100 Laps
(2) Tom Carey, Jr., New Salem, MA, 100 Laps
(3) Brandon Atkins, Au Sable Forks, NY, 100 Laps
(7) Brandon White, Kahnawake, QC, 100 Laps
(20) Edward Leclerc, Jr., Taunton, MA, 100 Laps
(5) Emily Packard, East Montpelier, VT, 100 Laps
(8) Aaron Fellows, Croydon, NH, 100 Laps
(11) Pete Yetman, Peru, MA, 97 Laps
(10) Donald Theetge, Boischatel, QC, 85 Laps
(9) Travis Stearns, Auburn, ME, 55 Laps
(21) Kyle Welch, Newport, NH, 0 Laps
DNS Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, QC
DNS Jean-Pierre Ouimet, Terrebonne, QC
DNS Jeff Rocco, Wallingford, CT
DNS Dylan Smith, Concord, NC
Source: ACT Tour PR