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OUTLAWS: Helliwell, Bernhardt Expand Racing Options in 2014

Posted By Tj Ingerson On January 24, 2014

Categories: American-Canadian Tour | Granite State Pro Stock | Pro All Stars Series

Two-time ACT Late Model Tour champions Wayne Helliwell, Jr., and Bruce Bernhardt will chase after different series in 2014. (Eric LaFleche/VLFPhotos.com photo)PHOTO: Two-time ACT Late Model Tour champions Wayne Helliwell, Jr., and Bruce Bernhardt will chase after different series in 2014. (Eric LaFleche/VLFPhotos.com photo)

Back-to-back ACT Champs forgo third title run

--by T.J. Ingerson
(@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor

PELHAM, N.H. --
Two-time ACT Late Model Tour champions Wayne Helliwell, Jr., and car owner Bruce Bernhardt announced on Friday that the team will forgo a run at a third straight championship with the Vermont-based series.

The team has elected to run an “outlaw” type schedule, which will include partial season runs with the ACT Late Model Tour, Pro All Stars Series North and South Super Late Models, and Granite State Pro Stock Series.

“We’re looking to expand on things,” Helliwell said in a press release. “We have no plans to stick to any one series this year. We have a new Pro Stock that is just about complete. We’ll be running all of the traveling (Late Model) series at some point this year.”

Since first teaming together in 2008, the duo have enjoyed much success with multiple championships at Lee USA Speedway, three NASCAR Whelen All-American Series New Hampshire state championships, a championship at Canaan Fair Speedway, and two ACT Late Model Tour championships.

“We achieved more than we ever thought was possible with ACT,” Helliwell said. “We want to get away from running a full-time series for a few years. We built this pro stock chassis about a year ago and have just been waiting until the time was right to finish it.

“It’s just the next step for us.”

Bernhardt and Helliwell competed in the Granite State Pro Stock Series event at Riverside Speedway last season, an event in which they won. A want to race more often, and perhaps a desire to race without pressure of points, is what led to the decision.

“We just love to race,” Helliwell said. “Circumstances prevented us from running more than we really wanted to last year. (In) years past, we have already competed multiple times a week. It just comes down to racing when and what best suits our team.”

While the team hasn’t, and likely won’t, set a definitive schedule for 2014, they’ll still be a recognizable figure in northeast motorsports.

“It’s all unknown right now,” Helliwell said of the schedule. “We have compiled all the schedules together and will chose as we go. I know there will be a lot of multi-race weekends.”

Bernhardt’s and Helliwell’s first race of the 2014 season will be a twin-bill at Thompson Speedway on Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6 for the Ice Breaker with the Granite State Pro Stock Series and Thompson’s Late Models. The team will then trek back to their hometrack for the ACT Late Model Tour 150 at Lee USA Speedway on Sunday, April 13.