Drew A True Sportsman According To Peers In Vmpa
28/06/2009 6:05:28 PM - Dean Thompson

Team Drew Motorsport has rounded out the 08/09 Speedway season with a wonderful showing at the recent Victorian Modified Production Association awards night taking home the prestigious Sportsman Award voted on by all other drivers at each round.

The Team Drew crew turned out in force at Bendigo with Gary and Helen Drew, Jason Evans, Wayne Sherman, Josh Fort, Rachel, Sam Drew, Tara and Justin Drew all there.

Highlights of the season included winning back to back Di Watson Memorial’s as a result of winning at Nyora Speedbowl at the start of the season, where the team also won round one of the VMPA season as a result. This was done with a broken driveshaft as the team was to find out as they put the car in the race trailer.
The team also were the best presented crew on the night.

The biggest highlight during the season though was winning round four of the 'Bass Highway Waste' VMPA season at home track Avalon Raceway ahead of local rival Mark Carlin who had been the man to beat during the night and led most of the feature race until Drew made an outside pass to take the lead on the last lap and go on to win. The win took place in front of a packed house as a support event to the National Super Sedan series on the same night at the Place for Pace.

At the Victorian title at Warrnambool in February the team once again proved their standing as one of the top three teams in the state of Victoria when at one stage battling for second with Michael Hetherington behind a rampaging Andrew Blackwell. Drew was unfortunate not to finish the race as a result of an incident during racing, giving the team a spur for the next two VMPA rounds.

At Horsham and Hamilton Speedways to round out the Victorian season the team finished second twice behind Blackwell in the feature races however took out round honours at both events by virtue of most points through the evening accumulated with heats finishes, cars passed and feature result and cars passed.

Through the season each driver in the VMPA votes on the best sportsmen at each round. This year Justin Drew was named the VMPA Sportsman. As testament to his standing amongst competitors they voted Justin Drew top Sportsman at 3 out of the five rounds he contested and with all the votes tallied at the end of the season Drew was the overall Sportsman of the Year.

After receiving the honour Justin said “I am humbled by the acknowledgement from my peers of my standing amongst them as a true Sportsman of the class. I race to win and whilst I came up short this year for the championship and title races and that causes it’s own frustrations and disappointment’s I get back on the track as quick as I can to do it again the following week. Anybody is welcome to ask for help and I will offer it where I think somebody needs it. We need each other to help our sport grow and I’m privileged to have received your votes this season, thank you.”

Drew didn’t have far to wait before he was up on stage again to receive the best presented car and crew award. This award is presented by track representatives at each round and Drew took out the votes at Nyora and Swan Hill and a couple of second places at Horsham and Hamilton.

In the overall point score for the season Drew finished third behind Blackwell and Graham West. Drew didn’t make it to Mildura and had mechanical issues at Swan Hill and wasn’t that far off the mark and could have gone further if the case was different. With Mildura no longer clashing with Avalon Raceway events in the coming season the team will be looking to complete all rounds of the VMPA and aim to take out the season point score.

At the Australian title in Albany in West Australia Team Drew Motorsport with crew chief Damian Smith were once again in the top half dozen cars in the country with a strong qualification for the final and running in the top 5 for most of the race until the car and driver pulled out of the race due to damage. Justin wanted to thank ‘Profire Pyrotechnics & Blasting P/L’ who came onboard with sponsorship specifically to help the team get to Albany.

TDM thanks its major commercial supporters:

Damian & Sandra @ Circletrack Racecraft – (Damian Smith)
John @ Colac Toyota
Stewart @ Cunningham Plumbing
Profire Pyrotechnics and Blasting P/L
Justin Drew Plumbing
Ray @ Archibald Builders
John @ M & W Engine Services
BKM Electrical
Phil @ PDR Differentials and Drive Shafts
McCann’s Plumbing Plus
Bob & Pat @ Ipta Fibreglass
Mark Haby Motors
Pete’s Paint and Panel
Wayne @ Smooth Suspension
Phil @ Geelong Tune Up Specialists
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Written by
DMT Media
Dean Thompson
0412061208
dmtmedia@speedway.net.au

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