The Flying Brick Cider Co Sports Sedan Masters at Redline Raceway this year had some predicting a head to head between one of the event organisers Leigh Bourke and Mildura race driver Jake Drewett, in the end that is what it became however not in the fashion many thought pre-event when Drewett and Bourke found themselves at opposite ends of the starting field.

Nine heat races were held in order to determine a qualifying order, of which six would participate in a pole shuffle and then the twenty lap feature event would be held.

Drewett won the first ten lap qualifier against Leigh Bourke by almost seven seconds with local Ballarat racer Lucas Conder next across the line. The track was sensational and Drewett almost broke into the 15 second bracket on his way to the win.

Hot on the heels of his last start final win at Redline at the previous meeting, Craig Phillips won his first heat against Dale Smith by less than a second in a close battle between the two with Dales father Russell in third place at the line.

Co event organiser Nathan Fawns won the next qualifier with Kayla Knox and Mildura’s Aaron Graham the top three. Both Phillips and Fawns keeping the local fans happy as they are club members of the venue.

Bourke then defeated Phillips in the third heat however it did not come easy as he had to chase his mates Fawns who was out front and Phillips in second, before Fawns car broke down and Bourke got past him a few laps later. Bourke over Phillips and Dean Pictor in the fourth was the result.

Drewett won his second heat race with Dale Smith again a second and Kayla Knox continued her consistent results with another top three placing. Incredibly Drewett also broke through into the 15 second bracket when he timed a 15.976 second lap during the race. It proved to be the fastest for the night.

Closing off the second round Chris Rieck picked up a victory over Scott Smith and no relation, Russell Smith.

Dale Smith closed out his two earlier second placed results with a win in his final qualifier whilst Daniel Carter finally got around the race track without a flat tyre eventuating after doing a tyre in each of his first two heats. Wayne Alberni fixed his car after early damage in heat one and secured a third placed result. Drewett had a fail to finish when he ended up with a flat, the no result put him back in the qualifying to fifth spot after the final round finished.

Bourke won his final qualifier ahead of Rieck and Russell Smith with all three qualifying in the top six for the evening and making the pole shuffle along with Dale Smith & Drewett from the previous qualifier.

The last qualifier to make the top six was Phillips who made sure of it by taking a second win for him in his recently re painted ‘white falcon’, the white paint apparently proving significant according to those around him. Scotty Smith placed second and Aaron Graham third with the latter two assuring themselves a mid field starting position in the final.

In the pole shuffle an extra prize was up for grabs for the driver that advance the most places and Drewett started well as he picked off Russell Smith first, then Rieck, Dale Smith, Phillips and then in the final battle he secured the pole position getting the win over Bourke.

Event announcer Dean Thompson then stepped up and offered Drewett the chance to win more money if he elected to start the feature at the rear of the field and go on to win the race supported by Howard Race Engines and Flowcraft. Drewett accepted the challenge and started sixteen cars further back than Bourke and Phillips at the front of the line-up.

Once again we were ready for a Flying Brick Cider Co Sports Sedan Masters with the Geelong based brewery the naming rights sponsor putting up the cash to allow first prize to be covered, a cool $500.

When the green flag dropped and lap one was done, Drewett was up into twelfth spot with Bourke leading Dale Smith. After a couple of caution flag periods and a lap later, Drewett was ninth. Bourke led Phillips, Rieck, Dale Smith and Graham with Drewett now up into sixth.

Bourke had a gap between himself and the chasing pack and the last thing he needed was more caution flags as Dale Smith followed in second with Rieck and Drewett now fourth ahead of Phillips.

At lap fifteen Drewett had moved up to second and caught and passed Bourke on lap twenty two before another caution created a sprint to the finish line. The final sprint finished with Drewett winning from Bourke by less than half a second, Rieck, Dale Smith and Phillips rounding out the top five.

Other finishers from there include Carter in sixth, Pictor, Alberni and Danny Spurr.

There were a number of awards up for grabs by various supporters for the evening, here are the results of those awards:

Hard Luck Award supported by Ipta Fibreglass – Chris Bradley
Hard Charger in the final Australian Racing Products – Daniel Carter
Most Spots Advanced in Shoot Out supported by PP Designs – Jake Drewett
Lucky # 7 Qualifier supported by Mental Racewear – Aaron Graham
Best Looking Car & Crew supported by Westcoast Trailers – Pauly Botheras
First Car Out in the Feature supported by Fawns Racing – Chris Bradley
Top Placed Newish/Rookie Racer supported by DMT Sports Media – Daniel Carter
Scratched Up Car supported by Ripper Stickers – Kevin Brogmus
First Lady Qualifier supported by Conder Automotive – Kayla Knox
Unlucky 13th in final supported by O’Meara Racing – Aaron Graham
Drivers Choice Driver supported by Laser Plumbing – Craig Phillips
Mad Midget Quick Time supported by Pakenham Towing – Jake Drewett
Last Running in the feature supported by Pakenham Towing – Phil Botheras
10th and 11th Classified Result supported by Style on Sturt – Russell Smith and Darren Ward
Pole Shuffle Quick Time supported by RJ & CK Trezise Cartage – Jake Drewett
Best Kept Car through the night supported by Exhaust Bros – Scotty Smith
Best Paint Job prior to stickers supported by Crowies Paints – Dean Pictor
Back to the Front win supported by Howard Racing Engines and Flowcraft Cylinder Heads – Jake Drewett

Organiser Leigh Bourke spoke with media after the event. “The Drewett car is a marvellous machine and the Drewett boys both can race and it is a credit to the team for winning from the rear of the field. It was pleasing that everybody seemed to have had a good time, there was some great sportsmanship shown and some great racing on track. Thank you to Redline and all the sponsors for supporting our class and this event. “

Written by
Dean Thompson
DMT Sports Media
with Dean Miller Photography
For the Flying Brick Cider Co Sports Sedan Masters

Dean Miller Photography captured this image of the winner Jake Drewett