Broc Feeney’s lead at the top of the Supercars standings has been dashed, as the Triple Eight Race Engineering driver finished 10th in the opening race in Townsville. Going into the 35-lap 100km sprint race at the Reid Street Park Circuit leading by a mere 15 championship points, Feeney knew he had to produce a big performance to stave off the chasing Matt Payne. But starting from 16th after his worst Townsville qualifying session didn’t help his case.
Significant fall from grace
Considering Feeney went into the Darwin Triple Crown last round leading by 90 points, it’s a significant fall from grace for the star as he looks to win the championship after spinning out in the grand final last season. Grove Racing’s Payne is now on top of the standings by 11 points after finishing third in Friday’s sprint race.
But it was Cam Waters who claimed a second win of the season and fourth victory in Townsville after he finished 0.2 seconds ahead of hard-chasing pole-sitter Brodie Kostecki. It continues the Tickford Racing driver’s hot form after winning the Triple Crown last round and moves him equal third in most Townsville 500 races won, alongside Supercars great Scott McLaughlin.
Race dynamics
Waters drove an almost pitch-perfect race after he capitalised on Kostecki’s slow start from lights out. The 28-year-old Kostecki switched gears rapidly to thrust himself back into the mix before taking his crucial sole pit stop on lap 24 as the last driver. But he couldn’t profit from the stop, as Waters and Payne streaked past the Dick Johnson Racing star and his hopes of claiming a sixth win of the season looked in peril.
Kostecki continued to hunt and on lap 34 overtook Payne on the inside lane to draw closer to Waters, but the Tickford Racing driver held his nerve to emerge victorious. Grove Racing went into the weekend leading the team championship standings for the first time and Kai Allen’s fourth alongside Payne’s podium will only strengthen their spot on top of the standings.
Full results
Last year’s champion Chaz Mostert finished fifth with Waters’ teammate Thomas Randle sixth. The race 20 results are as follows: 1. Cam Waters (Tickford Racing), 2. Brodie Kostecki (Dick Johnson Racing), 3. Matt Payne (Grove Racing), 4. Kai Allen (Grove Racing), 5. Chaz Mostert (Walkinshaw TWG).
