Broc Feeney ensured he goes to the bp Adelaide Grand Prix in the fight for the Repco Supercars Championship by taking victory in Race 31 at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500.
After a battle with Anton De Pasquale early, Feeney was able to master the mixed conditions not aided by oil left from a previous support race and add another victory to his season tally.
DEWALT Racing’s De Pasquale led the early stages, but was able to maintain second ahead of another storming Will Brown performance, which also secured a Finals berth.
While Brown scythed his way through the pack from 17th on the grid, it was a tale of woe for Monster Castrol Racing’s Cam Waters and Repco Bathurst 1000 winner Matt Payne for Penrite Racing.
The two were knocked out of the Finals following a clash resulting in significant damage to the pair of Ford Mustangs. Waters had already been controversially penalised following a clash with Brown at Turn 2 placing his Finals chances in jeopardy.
A frustrated Waters then clashed with Payne leading to a puncture for the Monster Castrol Racing entry and steering damage to the Penrite Racing Mustang.
Both in turn dropped out of Finals contention, which allowed Payne’s teammate Kai Allen to nab the final spot just like at Bathurst.
Allen ended the race sixth behind Mobil 1 Optus Racing’s Chaz Mostert despite a spin and Brodie Kostecki in the lead Shell V-Power Racing Team Mustang.
Following Allen home was James Courtney for Snowy River Racing, Bryce Fullwood in the Middy’s Racing Camaro, TRADIE Racing’s David Reynolds and Andre Heimgartner in the R&J Batteries Racing Chevrolet.
Thomas Randle was also eliminated after trailing Cooper Murray and Aaron Cameron in 13th.
Conditions were changeable early as steady rain lasted throughout the opening stint before drying soon after the second sequence of stops.
Many drivers including Mostert and Fullwood were caught out, but only had minimal damage.
Cam Hill went off in the opening laps exiting Turn 9 and ended the race many laps down.
Luck for Ryan Wood further diminished when a hub problem hampered his run as he too ended the race many laps down.
Feeney takes back the championship lead after losing it to Mostert after Race 30.
Next up for the Repco Supercars Championship is the bp Adelaide Grand Prix on November 27-30.