Defending ACT Champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr.(27NH) fights for the victory with eight-time ACT Champion Brian Hoar (37VT) at Devil’s Bowl Speedway this past Sunday, May 5 at the Spring Green 113. Helliwell earned the victory by .027 of a second. (Photo Credit: Eric LaFleche)
Helliwell’s triumph over Brian Hoar on Sunday is the closest finish in ACT’s history since the changeover to electronic scoring in 2010. A difference of just .027 of a second separated the pair at the line, and Helliwell’s victory not only pulled him back into title contention, but saved Hebert from losing the top spot to the eight-time Champion Hoar.
Hoar now sits just three points back from last year’s Rookie of the Year, with Helliwell only 18 points out of the lead. Tiverton, RI’s Ray Parent continued to prove himself as a legitimate contender with another top five at Devil’s Bowl, keeping him fourth overall and just 6 points away from Helliwell.
Two veterans, Brent Dragon and Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., used runs from deep in the field in the Spring Green 113 to jump into a tie for fifth place after coming into the event in 8th and 12th place in overall points respectively. Rookie of the Year contender Bobby Therrien backed up his top five at Thunder Road with another top ten effort, moving up two spots to seventh. Chip Grenier moved from 14th to crack the top ten in 8th, and Ben Lynch and Rowland Robinson, Jr. each bounced back from tough days at Devil’s Bowl to hold on to top ten positions in a tie for ninth.
Claremont, NH’s Luke Hinkley flexed his muscle at Devil’s Bowl en route to a seventh-place finish after running up front all day, climbing the standings from nineteenth to eleventh.
The Tour will turn next to Airborne Speedway, the site of last year’s epic showdown for the title, for a 100-lap event on Saturday, May 18. It will be the fourth point-counting event of the year for the American Canadian Tour, and a precursor to the ACT Inaugural International 500 to be held on July 20/21 at the fast half-mile track.