Feeney wins Race 5 after Payne/Waters crash
Broc Feeney wins shortened Race 5 after dramatic crash
Matt Payne and Cam Waters crashed out disputing the lead
Feeney led home Will Brown and Chaz Mostert in 10-lap race
Broc Feeney has won Race 5 following a dramatic accident that saw Matt Payne and Cam Waters crash out fighting for the lead.
Feeney’s pathway to victory No. 3 of the season was aided by the incident, with Payne and Waters colliding into the final corner.
The #88 Red Bull Ampol Chevrolet managed to avoid the drama to win the race, leading home championship leader and teammate Will Brown (#87 Red Bull Ampol Chevrolet).
Heading into Sunday’s finale, Brown leads Feeney by a reduced 12 points, with Chaz Mostert (#25 Mobil 1 Optus Ford) unable to overhaul Brown in a thrilling final-lap battle.
Mostert, who will start on pole for Sunday’s race, claimed the five fastest lap bonus points, and a third podium from five starts this season.
However, it was a bruising encounter for Ford rivals Payne and Waters, who were the only retirees from the shortened race, which was neutralised by the Safety Car after the crash.
“Mate, I'm pretty bloody excited about that one," said Feeney, who is three points behind Brown in the fight for Larry Perkins Trophy honours.
"Yeah, another ripper start, which was great, we've been working on that. Far out, those boys were racing for sheep stations at the start there. That was pretty wild.
"So, yeah, I just tried to settle in, I knew something was going to happen at some point. Just tried to capitalise when I could and, yeah, unfortunate for those guys. They've been super quick, but, another Red Bull one-two. How good.”
Payne (#19 Penrite Ford) launched from his career-first pole position, but was demoted to second through Turn 1 by the fast-starting Waters (#6 Monster Energy Ford).
Feeney and Brown moved to third and fourth, with Mostert dropping behind Jack Le Brocq (#9 TFH Hire Chevrolet) to sixth.
Le Brocq loomed to pass Brown at Turn 3, but slid wide in the Turn 4/5 complex and ceded the position.
On lap 2, Payne pounced on Waters, who gave the Penrite Mustang a nudge into Turn 11. Payne ran long and moved back to drivers’ left, colliding with Waters and taking both Mustangs out of the race. The impact saw Waters’ car ride the wall, with Payne spinning and crashing into the barriers.
Feeney and Brown went through, while Waters slammed the passenger door on Payne’s car in frustration as the Penrite Ford sat trackside.
Race Control advised of no further action, with Feeney leading the field to green on lap 7 from Brown, Mostert, David Reynolds (#20 TRADIE Beer Chevrolet), Le Brocq, Tim Slade (#23 Nulon Chevrolet), Todd Hazelwood (#99 TFH Hire Chevrolet), Richie Stanaway (#26 Penrite Ford), Ryan Wood (#2 Mobil 1 Truck Assist Ford), and Nick Percat (#10 Bendix Chevrolet).
Mostert bowled a wide at Turn 8, but caught up to Brown and haunted the points leader to the end. Notably, Mostert had a crash into Turn 3, but Brown opened the steering and ensured Mostert had to go the long way around Turn 4.
Feeney, meanwhile, raced away to victory by 1.7911s, with Brown denying Mostert to secure a third Triple Eight one-two in five starts this season.
The final race of the MSS Security Melbourne SuperSprint weekend starts Sunday at 10:25am local time.
