'I'm as good as those guys': Tickford rookie aiming to rock Supercars establishment

Reuben Goodall might be a name that most Supercars fans aren't familiar with, having plied his trade in the DUNLOP Super2 Series since 2024.

However, he plans to change that when he makes his main game debut next month in Townsville.

Announced Monday morning as the first driver to steer Tickford's wildcard Mustang in 2026, the 22-year-old got his first chance behind the wheel of the #5 entry at a test day at The Bend Motorsport Park hours after the announcement.

Goodall's first taste of the main game will come on the gruelling streets of North Queensland, where he will join Matt Stone Racing wildcard Cameron Crick to form a 26-car grid, before he joins Thomas Randle for the Ryco Enduro Cup.

The South Australian charged to two runner-up finishes at Townsville in last year's Super2 support races, and is looking to turn that form into a headline-grabbing debut in the top tier.

"I've had a podium there in the Toyota 86's as well, so it is a little bit of a happy hunting ground," said Goodall on Monday at The Bend.

"I think the Supercars Championship is very, very competitive, and if we can battle inside the top 10 that's an awesome achievement, let alone talking about the podium.

"Look, we're gonna try our best to win like we always do, but if we finish in the top 10 I'll be happy with that."

The 2026 Supercars field is dominated by youth, with the grid that started the season in Sydney the youngest ever assembled in championship history.

Rylan Gray, Zach Bates, Jackson Walls, and Jobe Stewart all raced against Goodall in the development series last year, Gray winning the title as one of Goodall's teammates at the dominant Tickford Autosport outfit.

Goodall was arguably the series' most improved driver last year after a tough rookie campaign in an ex-Triple Eight Commodore, finishing fourth off the back of five podiums in 12 starts.

Having finished ahead of the likes of 2024 Super2 champion Bates last year, the South Australian isn't one to shy away from the belief that he is worthy of his shot in the wildcard.

"There's a lot of guys I raced against who have made their debuts this year, and I may or may not have finished in front of them in some races, continued Goodall.

"You don't just rock up thinking that you're going to come last, but you've also got to put a realistic expectation on it.

"I'd love to be in the top 10, I think that would be like winning a race in the DUNLOP Series for me, the same sort of level of achievement, that's really what my target is."

Last year Gray used an impressive wildcard campaign, highlighted by a strong run to 13th in last year's chaotic Repco Bathurst 1000, to springboard into a full-time drive at Dick Johnson Racing.

With a lot of questions yet to be answered as to the make up of the 2027 Supercars grid, Goodall is wanting to send a statement to teams that he is ready to be the next man up from the Super2 production line.

"Hopefully we'll be having a conversation in about six months' time about my full-time announcement, that's really the next box to tick in my career.

"After I've done Bathurst and made my debut at Townsville, fingers crossed in a few months' time there's a full-time announcement."

Goodall finished the opening round of the DUNLOP Super2 Series in third, with Round 2 of the 2026 development series to be held at the upcoming betr Darwin Triple Crown from June 19-21.

The South Australian's main game debut will come three weeks later at the NTI Townsville 500 from July 10-12. Tickets for both events are on sale now.