We'll be in, or we'll be on a tilt tray, says Cam Waters
Waters fought his way to crucial Sandown 500 podium
Tickford star just one point outside top four
In one respect, it proves that Cam Waters will be throwing everything at Sunday to qualify for Adelaide. In another, it spells danger for his fellow Finalists.
The Tickford Racing driver pieced together his best day in months on Saturday, racing to the podium in the Penrite Oil Sandown 500.
Heading into Sunday, Waters is just one points behind Triple Eight rival Broc Feeney, who holds down fourth place in the standings.
Waters has a fighting chance to make it, something that slipped away 12 months ago when he ultimately crashed his way out with Matt Payne.
“It’s just full attack tomorrow and I think we’re probably better on [the Soft] tyre as well, which is good,” said Waters, who claimed his first podium since Townsville in July.
“[I’ll] just go there and throw everything at it and either we’ll be in or we’ll be on a tilt tray.”
Waters jumped eventual winner Brodie Kostecki and pole-sitter Matt Payne in the second round of stops, only for Kostecki to charge his way past in a thrilling battle.
Kostecki and Payne got past, with Waters falling into the clutches of Chaz Mostert. The old teammates clashed at Turn 4, and Mostert bailed out of it, fearing a penalty.
Waters hailed the reigning champion’s smarts to redress the incident.
“I haven’t seen it and I didn’t know how far up he was,” Waters said of the Mostert clash.
“It’s hard to know where he got me but apparently it was quite in the back, behind the rear wheel.
“So he probably did the right thing redressing and we played on, which was cool.”
Critically, Waters has speed, something he didn’t have at Sandown last year: “We had a pretty fast car at points in [today’s] race.
“The last stint hurt us a little bit, but all in all, a lot better than 12 months ago when we had a horrid Saturday.
“I’m pretty happy to get a trophy, get some good points and we’ll come out swinging tomorrow.”
