DREW BRANNON SWEEPS GOODYEAR SERIES/DESOTO SERIES DOUBLE - - (New Smyrna UPDATE Also)
Getting young Brannon lots of seat time against some of the best late model drivers in the south has meant long hauls from their Miami race shop. Not to mention the long nights repairing the occasional crashed car or ill handling chassis. And then there’s the “cubic dollars” it takes to get the hundreds of sets of race tires, plus race fuel, transporter gas, hero autograph cards, team t-shirts and even keeping everyone fed on race day, that plays a big part in the whole picture of a late model season. All of which means long hours to make it all work for everyone.
Drew Brannon was disappointed after his last visit to DeSoto Super Speedway. You'll recall he qualified 6th and was going to start on the pole when the ASA packed up and left the speedway. Saturday night at DeSoto, Drew redeemed himself. In a big, big way.
The Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series has been one the two focuses for the Brannon Specialties team in 2007. Along with the Goodyear series, the team has used the DeSoto based Turner Tree & Landscape Limited Late Model series to get that all important experience. This weekends race had the two series combined at DeSoto Super Speedways high banks. Giving points for both series for one effort.
Remember the challenge Drew’s father gave the young racer earlier in the year. He revised it a few weeks back, challenging Drew to win a Goodyear or DeSoto race for a shot at the ASA Nashville race in November.
Drew took advantage of the opportunity and gained maximum points on both sides by setting fast time at 15.099 over fellow competitor and friend Justin Larson at 15.126. Then comes the always nerve racking pill draw for the inversion. Drew pulled the zero pill and got his pole start he lost last weekend.
Drew started the race by winning the drag race into turn one and never looked back.
One hundred laps later the 14 year old was thanking the team.
” I have to thank my team, we have a new car chief, Mike Thomas, and shop man, Tom Hedin, the owner of South Park Auto Care. They have both come on board and it has made a big difference in our preparation, practice and results.” explained Drew in victory lane at DeSoto. “But, crew chief Bobby Beauchemin and I have learned better communication and the whole team is really clicking right now.”
The win moved Drew to 5th in the Goodyear Points Championship and recovered one of the points spots lost when the Team missed the last DeSoto LLM run.
The NEW Drew Brannon T-Shirts are in and will be on the web-site soon. Visit DrewBrannon.com for your opportunity to get a shirt before they’re gone.
UPDATE OCT-20TH NEW SMYNRA SPEEDWAY: Brannon Racing unloaded a fast car Saturday morning. First practice had the #08 Blue Bullet running fast laps on old tires. Unfortunately for the Brannon Specialities Team Drew's final lap at speed in practice resulted in an apparent collapsed right front wheel. Sending this years workhorse chassis into the wall had, breaking off the fuel pump and burning the car very badly.
Drew exited the car quickly, stubbing a toe on the wild exit. The car and chassis were determined to be beyond repair. So the team will decide the next course of action after a few days of considering their options.
It is most likely we will see young Drew in action next at the ASA Late Model Series visit to Nashville.
Visit the DREW BRANNON FAN CLUB pages for more info on your favorite driver or call BILL GREEN at (941) 920-3370 to get on board for the 2008 sponsorship season as several opportunities and packages are still available.
