Whincup continues to tear into 'Frosty's' lead with seventh win of the year

Jamie Whincup has collected his 82nd V8 Supercar victory and seventh this year. Garth Tander and Shane Van Gisbergen filled out the rest of the podium.

Jason Bright led the race from pole position and held off the Red Bull duo to lead the opening lap. The safety car was needed just once during the entire 88 lap event and that was on the second lap. Dale Wood and Jack Perkins slammed the wall and went off course after a collision, and their stationary cars were the reason for the full-course yellow.

Some pitted, some did not under the caution. Jamie Whincup took over the lead after staying out, but pole-sitter Jason Bright fell back to seventh after opting to pit. Unfortunately, he was penalized for a wheel spin during said stop, forcing him to serve a drive-through. He would only manage to work his back up to 17th.

Lowndes' terrible weekend got no better in the third race after some engine dramas sent him into the pits on numerous occasions en route to a gutting 23rd place finish. Championship leader Mark Winterbottom came home sixth, but his lead is much smaller than when he entered the track at the start of the weekend.

Just 96 points separate Winterbottom and Whinup now. Behind the top three finishers, it was James Courtney, Nick Percat, Mark Winterbottom, Chaz Mostert, Scott Pye, Scott McLaughlin, and Will Davison rounding out the top ten. Percat had one of his best showings this year at Townsville, laying down results of fourth, ninth, and fifth. The series now heads to Queensland Raceway.