'Oh my god': The near-miss that nearly flipped Finals script

Many drivers will end the season with ‘what-ifs’ to their name.

If Thomas Randle wins the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship, a shocking near-miss in the Gold Coast opener could prove his defining moment.

The Tickford Racing driver vaulted out of the drop zone at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 to qualify for the Semi Final at Sandown.

Randle’s finishes of ninth and seventh were enough to jump Brodie Kostecki and Anton De Pasquale, who were eliminated at the first chance of asking.

Kostecki crashed out of Saturday qualifying and was a non-starter, and could recover on Sunday. De Pasquale was penalised twice, the second knocking him out of contention.

Randle had his own moments, notably being sent into the barriers by Kai Allen late in Sunday’s race. It was a heart-stopping moment on Saturday, though, which could’ve had Randle’s number.

Cooper Murray crashed at the Beach Chicane on lap 18, with a cut tyre sending the Erebus Motorsport rookie into the barriers. The wheel came free and hit Jaxon Evans’s Camaro, which was trailing just behind.

Just behind Evans was Randle, who was running 13th after being delayed by a double-stack. The damage forced Evans out of the race, while Randle continued and finished ninth, despite hitting Murray's rear wing and swerving to avoid both Camaros.

Over team radio, Randle couldn’t believe his luck: “Oh my god, how — that was crazy! “Somehow we made it through. I have no idea how I missed that. Far out. That was amazing."

Running the numbers, a DNF would have crushed Randle’s season then and there, even before Sunday.

The Castrol Ford pilot began Saturday nine points behind seventh, and ended it 16 down. However, had he retired and each driver moved up a position, Randle would have entered Sunday 10th in the standings and 93 points down, needing a walk-off win miracle to make Sandown. Adding Sunday’s results, he would’ve missed out by 45 points.

Luck remained on Randle’s side come Sunday, following the Allen clash, further contact at the front chicane, and the issues for De Pasquale, Kostecki and Ryan Wood.

All told, Tickford delivered on its goal to get both drivers to Sandown, something co-owner Rod Nash — who celebrated 800 races on the Sunday — was proud of.

“We have a spring in our step after this weekend. Getting two drivers into the Semi Fnals, with Cam Waters and Thomas Randle both showing good speed, is a good sign as we head to our home track at Sandown,” Nash said.

"This weekend we were just strong. You couldn’t ask for any more. And you’ve got to be careful in wanting to be better with the pressure in The Finals. We just need to continue with our momentum."

Track action at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 will commence on Friday November 14. Tickets are on sale now.