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Homer Drew drove his first race in 1955,
at the Oxford Plains Speedway, but he went on to make Beech Ridge
his “home” track. It was there that he won an impressive five
championships, the first coming in 1967. The next year, 1968, saw
Drew win both the class A (modified) and class B (late model)
titles. He took down 2 more championships, in 1972 and again in ’73.
Drew won over 400 features in his
career, and is the only driver to have won at all six Maine tracks;
Beech Ridge, Oxford, Unity, Arundel, Speedway 95, and Wiscasset
Raceway.
Oxford’s Getty Open was an open
comp series run in the early 70’s, and Drew dominated the series. On
four different occasions, Homer blew his motor during the race, and
was able to coast across the line and into victory lane. In 1972
alone, he won 5 of the 7 100 lap Getty Open races.
A story that epitomizes Homer’s
career happened in his familiar red #P38. While leading a modified
race for longtime owner Bob Bushey, Sr., the steering wheel came off
in Drew’s hands. Using his bare hands on the steering column hub,
Drew held on for six laps, until he got a red flag. When he pulled
into the pits, Bushey asked his driver why he was pitting. Homer
handed him the steering wheel. Bushey quickly returned to the car,
and handed Homer a pair of vice grips. Homer not only went back out
and finished the race, but he took down the victory, steering the
car with the vice grips. |
