Drew Makes It A Di Watson Memorial Hat Trick
29/12/2009 8:48:10 PM - Dean Thompson

Sunday the 27th of November the question Team Drew Motorsport was asking was, could it be done? Winning three ‘Di Watson Memorial’s’ in a row that is. The answer by the end of the night was ‘Yes’ and it was done comprehensively indeed.

Round two of the ‘Bass Highway Waste’ Victorian Modified Production Series at Blue Ribbon Raceway in Horsham turned out to be a wonderful evening for the team as it took out victory after leading all the way in the feature to defeat the current Victorian Champion Andrew Blackwell and 16 other worthy competitors.

The first of three heats began with a front row start and with the Modifieds being the first class on the race track for the evening they got the track at its hookiest and adjusted the set up accordingly. Drew won comfortably from Graham West and Gary Ainley in a heat that included the current Australian Champion Mark Carlin who unfortunately didn’t get to complete the race due to a crash.

“Mark beat me last night at Avalon in Geelong in the Christmas Cup, it is unfortunate that he got crashed out as I would have liked to have finished in front of him on the track tonight, regardless it is always tough to beat Russell Bent and Westy and we managed that in heat one.”

After starting seventh in his second heat the # 7 VZ Commodore with Justin at the wheel powered on through the field passing Ainley, Peter McCarthy, Darren Hossack, Russell Hill, Russell Felsovary and Justin Alberni along the way. Alberni finished second with McCarthy third.

The track had slickened off a bit so the team got busy trying to get the rear end to bite the track a bit more by adjusting some springs. The teams crew was kept busy assisting the sister car of Anthony Wilson also in the Ballarat # 5.

Heat three hit the track with Justin the top point scorer after two heats getting the draw to start at the back of the field. This was a tough heat because under the format the top third of the field are all in heat 3A. With Alberni, Wilson, McCarthy, former South Australian Champion Bryan Galley, Mat McClure, current Victorian Champion Andrew Blackwell and Martin Hawson all ahead of him the going would be tough.

Galley struck form and set up consistency in his VE Commodore and proved too difficult to run down, however Drew was able to pass Blackwell into second spot and get a psychological edge before the final. Blackwell finished third.

The team worked hard to get the right set up for a very slick black track for the feature race the ‘Di Watson Memorial’ and whilst they did this the venue decided to have a track grade and this changed the set up once more so the team rushed back to their car to do what they could in the 5 minutes they had left to work on the car.

With Drew on pole and Blackwell alongside followed by Galley, Hawson, Bent, Wilson, Mat McClure, McCarthy, Hossack, Darren Pottage, Alberni, Mark Symonds, West, Scott McElroy, Jeremy McClure, Wayne Ramsdale, Ainley and Chris Hayden all behind.

Drew got the best start and after an initial battle opened up a lead on Blackwell before Blackwell began to reel him back in closer. You could throw a blanket over Drew, Blackwell, Galley, Bent and McCarthy for a portion of the race before Drew and Blackwell forged ahead.

Drew maintained a couple of car lengths lead for most of the second half of the race and went on to win his third ‘Di Watson Memorial’ in succession much to the delight of his father Gary. “Well you know we damaged our best engine a couple weeks ago at Hamilton and we are working hard to get it back on track before the Victorian title so to win tonight with last year’s engine is a great achievement for the team. They deserve it because they have all pitched in and worked hard leading up to the season and since Hamilton two weeks ago. I would like to thank Neil Watson and his family for being here tonight and presenting Justin with the winner’s trophy and congratulations to the rest of the drivers for what was a great race.”

The team next race at Avalon on January the 9th for the West Coast Classic and have the Victorian title at Horsham also last weekend of January.

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
Online Signs

Written by
DMT Media
Dean Thompson
0412061208
dmtmedia@speedway.net.au

Justin Drew (C) CLT Photography 09 Cassie Tuckett

Drew with Neil Watson (C) Dean Thompson

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