Dalton sweeps Townsville, storms into title fight

Lochie Dalton has stormed to his maiden Dunlop Super2 Series round win after completing a perfect weekend in Round 3 at the NTI Townsville 500.

Dalton got the jump on his Tickford teammate Rylan Gray at the start and was never headed as the team swept the round podium for the second consecutive round with.

The Tasmanian started the weekend 11th in the standings after a difficult home round, but by virtue of his 300-point weekend has now leapt to fourth in points, just 126 points behind Gray.

When asked how he feels to break through for a maiden round win in his third season in Super2, Dalton said: "Relieved.

"It's been a long journey to get here, it's been a long time in Super2. I can't thank my family, Tickford [enough], Andrew Walter and the Walter family, they've backed me for so long now.

"So to stick with me until now is awesome, I wouldn't be anywhere without them."

There was an awkward moment as the cars gridded up prior to the formation lap, as Jobe Stewart and Cameron McLeod collided driving to their grid slots, with McLeod scuffing the front left corner of his #92 Mustang.

The series leader missed the jump completely, and got a slow launch to compound his misery, allowing Reuben Goodall through to second and Jobe Stewart to sail around the outside and jump into third from sixth on the grid.

Gray would eventually work his way back by the Erebus Commodore, but by the time he made that move on Lap 6, his two teammates had already cleared out at the front of the field.

After starting fifth, Brad Vaughan dropped back through the field, with Bailey Sweeny moving by on Lap 10, and Nash Morris doing the same two laps later.

There was plenty of action further back in the pack, as former teammates Zach Bates and Campbell Logan had a fierce fight for 10th, and Bradi Owen and Mason Kelly came to blows at Turn 5 as they battled deep in the field.

Ayrton Hodson and Max Geoeghegan both had to pit with tyre troubles, whilst Round 1 winner Jordyn Sinni was forced into retirement after his Eggleston Motorsport Commodore threw a fan belt.

All eyes were on the battle for fourth in the closing laps, as Sweeny ranged up onto the back of Cameron McLeod, launching a move at Turn 11 that McLeod fought back from immediately.

Sweeny then pulled a bump and run on McLeod at Turn 13, which saw the BRT driver quickly slapped with a five second penalty, which dropped him from fourth to sixth in the final running.

Round 4 of the 2025 Super2 Series is a return to Queensland Raceway at the Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440 from August 8-10. Tickets for the event are on sale now.