Matt Payne converted a three-stop strategy into race victory in this evening’s Townsville 500 finale on the Reid Park Street Circuit.
Saturday’s protagonists Cam Waters and Chaz Mostert once again battled for podium places in the closing stages, with the Tickford Mustang prevailing for second ahead of the Walkinshaw Andretti United Mustang.
Championship leader Will Brown was involved in a first-lap incident, from which he never recovered. He was the last car to cross the line in 24th.
The Red Bull Camaro’s difficult day brings Broc Feeney, who was seventh despite Lap 1 contact of his own, to within 78 points of his teammate.
Mostert remains third in the standings but ate a good chunk into Brown’s lead to now sit 174 points adrift. Waters is fourth in the Driver’s Championship, while Payne’s victory elevates him into the top five.
Ryan Wood also ran a three-stop strategy, climbing from 12th on the grid to sixth place.
Andre Heimgartner was 11th, Richie Stanaway 14th and Jaxon Evans 21st.
Pole-sitter Jack Le Brocq got proceedings underway with a slow launch at the front, which gave Waters, starting from second, an uncontested run into Turn 2.
His Tickford teammate followed through from fourth to take second, as did Will Davison from fifth, seeing the pole-sitter drop from first to fourth before Turn 1.
Payne got a good start and climbed from 10th to 7th over the opening lap, while Wood entered the top ten at the expense of Feeney, having started 12th.
Brown was tagged into a spin by David Reynolds and nosed into the wall at Turn 3 on Lap 1, taking damage to his front and left rear. Feeney was also involved in Lap 1 trouble and was squeezed against a tyre barrier, with the momentum loss dropping him out of the top ten.
Mostert, too, was a fast starter and moved to third on Lap 7, with Payne’s march forward continuing as he climbed to seventh. Passes on Le Brocq and Davison followed to leave the Kiwi fourth, two seconds behind the leading trio of Waters, Randle and Mostert at the start of Lap 10.
Payne quickly joined the lead group before Mostert passed Randle on Lap 11, and he followed suit two tours later at Turn 2.
Rain threatened the race through the mid-stages, with the track declared wet but the weather system never eventuating.
The Kiwi was the first of the lead four to stop, coming in on Lap 19. Mostert followed shortly after when Waters began to build a gap, losing track position to Payne, who took on less fuel.
The Monster Energy Tickford Mustang was over six seconds clear of Randle when the latter stopped on Lap 29, with Waters remaining out until Lap 31.
Payne shot to the lead when Waters stopped, with Wood emerging as a contender, having stopped early and sitting fourth.
By Lap 41, Mostert was 15 seconds behind Payne, and he came in for his second stop that tour, with the Penrite Racing entry following suit two laps later, as did Wood.
Waters returned to the overall lead on Lap 51 but had Payne, who still needed to stop again for fuel but required a significantly less drop fast approaching.
The Kiwi was on the rear of the Tickford Mustang on Lap 59 when Waters stopped. Mostert was a further 11 seconds down the road, also needing to stop again but requiring slightly less fuel than Payne.
Payne visited the pit lane for the third time on Lap 60, as did Mostert, and he emerged six seconds ahead of Waters and nine ahead of Mostert.
The advantage grew over the closing stages, with Payne sitting as much as 9.5 seconds clear of the field. The margin reduced over the final laps as Payne cruised with victory all but assured.
Mostert caught Waters entering the final ten laps, and the two battled for second. The Tickford entry would hold the position and pull a slight gap ahead of the chequered flag.
Le Brocq was fourth, a further 7.5 seconds adrift as the first Camaro.
Randle was fifth, ahead of Wood, Feeney, Mark Winterbottom, Cameron Hill and James Golding, who completed the top ten.
Brown never recovered from his Lap 1 incident and damage and was the last car home.
Supercars return with the Sydney SuperNight on July 19-21.
Header Image: Penrite Racing
