Dalton claims commanding first Super2 victory in Tickford domination

Lochie Dalton has converted his first Super2 pole pole position into his first race win with a convincing lights-to-flag win in Race 5 in Townsville.

Dalton led home Tickford teammate Reuben Goodall by 1.9505s, with Rylan Gray and Nash Morris finishing third and fourth as Tickford picked up where they left off in Tasmania with complete domination.

The 22-year-old Tasmanian leapt from 11th to fifth in the points standings by virtue of his victory, whilst Gray extended his points margin over Morris to 57 points.

Gray looked to get the better start off the front row, but polesitter Dalton held his own into Turn 2, and escorted his teammate wide, allowing Goodall to slip into second at Turn 3.

Morris also got a great launch from sixth on the grid to leap into fourth and sweep the lead positions for Tickford, as Campbell Logan's launch has hampered by a clutch issue.

There was plenty of action further back in the pack as Brad Vaughan began to work his way forward from ninth on the grid, barging down the inside of Cameron McLeod at Turn 3 and forcing him into a rub along the tyre wall.

That slowed up the #92 Mustang, with Matt Hillyer attempting a move down the inside of Turn 5 and clattering into the side of McLeod. Both drivers would get away without damage.

Further back Elliott Cleary got forced into the barrier after contact with Bailey Sweeny, whilst Cody Gillis and Ayrton Hodson would bury themselves in the Turn 11 tyre wall as Gillis attempted an overtake, bringing out the Safety Car.

Off the restart, Dalton would once again drive away from the field, as Vaughan torched an outside front entering Turn 2 on the second lap after the restart, losing positions to McLeod and Jarrod Hughes.

Vaughan's left front tyre would sustain damage as a result, and although he fought tooth and nail to fend off those behind, the tyre let go as he entered Turn 3 several laps later and fired him up the escape road.

McLeod, meanwhile, would soon park up in the escape road at the Turn 7/8 chicane, where he would remain for the rest of the race, whilst the action was fierce throughout the pack.

Dalton would skip away at the head of the field whilst his Tickford teammates Goodall and Gray engaged in a heated battle for second.

Through everything the series leader threw at his South Australian teammate, Goodall managed to fend off the 18-year-old, and cleared away to the tune of two seconds by the chequered flag.

Jackson Walls was the first of the non-Tickford entries in fifth, ahead of Logan, Jobe Stewart, Hughes, Hillyer, and Ben Gomersall.

The Dunlop Super2 Series returns to the Reid Park Street Circuit tomorrow at 9:30am AEST for Race 6 Qualifying, before Race 6 at 1:35pm AEST.