V8SDS: Howard Racing Wakefield notes

MAIDEN VICTORY FOR GOLD COAST V8 SUPERCAR TEAM

Gold Coast based V8 Supercar team Howard Racing have recorded their first ever V8 Supercar victory after winning race three and the round at the second round of the HPDC V8 Supercar Series at Wakefield Park in Goulburn yesterday.

In only his second race meeting for the team, twenty seven year old Adam Macrow well exceeded team expectations taking the round win and championship lead by a remarkable thirty two points.

Macrow was impressive from the start topping the practice charts then qualifying second for the first of three races yesterday.

After fouling a plug Macrow was forced to finish the opening race on seven cylinders and managed to nurse the car home to finish fifth.

"It was a fantastic day," Macrow said. "That is my first ever round win and the first for Howard Racing.

"The first race didn't go the way we planned but we still wracked up a reasonable amount of points which put us in a good position for the second race.

"It is all about points from here on in as we now lead the championship by thirty two points with five rounds to go," he said.

The second race was a full reverse grid Macrow started from nineteenth while team owner Mark Howard started from grid position nine after finishing race one fifteenth.

Both Howard and Macrow got great starts but the race was red flagged halfway through the opening lap due to an accident between the stalled car of Jay Verdnick and race one winner Dean Canto.

After a lengthy delay to clear the track of debris the race re-started under safety car conditions.

Team principal Mark Howard said he had a very competitive day of racing, the Gold Coast Businessman was forced to swerve off track to avoid the stalled BA Falcon of Sunrise Weatherman Grant Denyer and fought back from near last to thirteenth after being turned around in race two.

"The car felt strong all weekend and seems to be getting faster and faster," Howard said.

"It was a very competitive weekend of racing and despite a few nudges and being spun off I was happy with my results and absolutely thrilled that the team had its first win."

In the final race of the day Macrow battled with Luff off the start and sat hot on the heels of the race leader for the opening laps.

Macrow maintained the pressure which forced Luff to run wide leaving the door open for the Howard Racing driver to take the lead and win the thirty lap race by over seven seconds.

After starting sixteenth Howard finished eleventh and fourteenth overall for the round.

Team manager Warren Davis said the weekend demonstrated the team's determination to produce results and challenge for the championship.

"Adam's performance was a top effort and well exceeded our expectations so early in the series.

"Mark's performance on the weekend and this year has been his best ever and his consistent improvement is obvious.

"Both drivers are focused and fit and extremely dedicated to getting results.

"Overall the team has worked so hard and there's a great level of satisfaction for them to see Adam and Mark achieving the results they are," Davis added

The next round of the HPDC V8 Supercar Series will be held at Eastern Creek International Raceway on July 8 - 10.

<pre> Round Top Five Results 1. #27 Adam Macrow Howard Racing 174 2. #60 Warren Luff Paul Cruickshank Racing 174 3. #19 Dale Brede Brad Jones Racing 168 4. #31 Mark Porter Hyundai Construction Racing 160 5. #41 Gary MacDonald Kanga Loaders Racing 148

Race Three Top Five Results 1. #27 Adam Macrow Howard Racing 30-laps 2. #60 Warren Luff Paul Cruickshank Racing 3. #19 Dale Brede Brad Jones Racing 4. #31 Mark Porter Hyundai Construction Racing 5. #41 Gary MacDonald Kanga Loaders Racing

Race Two Top Five Results 1. #68 Shane Beikoff Shane Beikoff Racing 14-laps 2. #32 Aaron McGill McGill Motorsport 3. #28 Dean Wanless Matthew White Racing 4. #19 Dale Brede Bard Jones Racing 5. #56 John Henderson Messertech

Race One Top Five Results 1. #71 Dean Canto Dick Johnson Racing 17-laps 2. #60 Warren Luff Paul Cruickshank Racing 3. #99 Tony D'Alberto Tony D'Alberto Racing 4. #41 Gary MacDonald Kanga Loaders Racing 5. #27 Adam Macrow Howard Racing

HPDC V8 Supercar Series Top Ten standings 1. #27 Adam Macrow Howard Racing 360 2. #41 Gary MacDonald Kanga Loaders Racing 328 3. #65 Phillip Scifleet Paul Cruickshank Racing 322 4. #99 Tony D'Alberto Tony D'Alberto Racing 320 5. #60 Warren Luff Paul Cruickshank Racing 318 6. #32 Aaron McGill McGill Motorsport 271 7. #37 Mark Howard Howard Racing 270 8. #71 Dean Canto Dick Johnson Racing 256 9. #31 Mark Porter Hyundai Construction Racing 238 10. #68 Shane Beikoff Shane Beikoff Racing 213

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