Pither grabs pole for Super2 finale

Points leader Chris Pither has claimed ARMOR ALL Pole Position for the final race of the 2018 Dunlop Super2 Series, at the Coates Hire Newcastle 500.

Pither grabbed pole on Saturday and did so again on Sunday, slotting into top spot early and staying there for the remainder of the 15-minute session.

He ended up 0.3140 seconds clear of Brodie Kostecki while chief title rival Paul Dumbrell was third.

Garry Rogers Motorsport driver Pither only needs to finish the final race seventh or higher to take the crown, even if Dumbrell wins, as he holds a 59-point advantage.

Garry Jacobson also starts the final race in mathematical contention, but is 129 adrift with 150 available.

Turning a 1:11.9153s, Pither was the only driver into the 1:11s barrier, as was the case in qualifying on Saturday.

That takes Pither's record to six poles for the season and the ARMOR ALL Pole award for the 2018 season.

"Coming into the weekend at a track I didn't race at last year we needed to be strong in qualifying to keep us out of trouble and have some clear track to try and make the most of it," said Pither.

"We put ourselves in a good position, but like we said yesterday, it is the race that counts and we're in the right spot, but we need to focus on that now and hopefully we can have a strong finish to the year."

Jacobson will start Sunday's 20-lap affair, his 100th Super2 race, from fourth on the grid.

Eggleston Motorsport's Will Brown and Jacobson's MW Motorsport team-mate Alex Rullo will then share the third row.

Kurt Kostecki grabbed seventh, ahead of Holden drivers Macauley Jones, Bryce Fullwood and Jordan Boys, who rounded out the top 10.

There was late drama for Matt Chahda, who speared into a slowed Jake Kostecki on a blind corner within the final minute, the session ending under red flags.

That, though, did not impact the top three positions, as Pither, Brodie Kostecki and Dumbrell had already returned to the pits.

Jacobson was on a flyer but crossed the control line moments before the red flag appeared, and although it didn't affect his lap, he was not able to improve.

The final race of the season and weekend will kick-off at 2:25pm AEDT Sunday.