Rhys McNally completed a lights-to-flag victory in the opening V8 Utes Racing Series of the Castrol Edge Townsville 400.
The Western Australian enjoyed a perfect day at the Queensland street circuit as he converted a pole position into a comfortable race win, on the day he celebrated his 25th birthday.
McNally made no mistakes at the start to lead Darwin winner Gerard McLeod and David Sieders on the run to the first corner.
In truth, the Stratco Holden driver was never troubled as he went on to take the chequered flag by 2.1 seconds from McLeod, who just managed to fend off Sieders to claim second position.
Adam Marjoram came home in fourth position to move into second spot in the championship standings, while Jeremy Gray was the first Ford driver to cross the finish line in fifth.
Nathan Pretty was involved in a fierce battle for sixth with Kris Walton which saw the latter come through to take the spot in the closing stages.
Craig Dontas, Kim Jane and Grant Johnson completed the top 10, while championship leader Ryal Harris was forced to settle for 12th position.
The V8 Utes will return to the Reid Park for the reverse grid Race 2 at 08:05 before a final 11 lap contest at 11:10.
Result: Australian V8 Utes Racing Series Race 1, Townsville
| 1 | Stratco Racing | Rhys McNally (WA) | Holden Commodore VE | 11 | 16:12.1028 |
| 2 | RYCO 24-7 / Transco MFG | Gerard McLeod (VIC) | Holden Commodore VE | 11 | 16:14.2898 |
| 3 | Mango Credit | David Sieders (NSW) | Holden Commodore VE | 11 | 16:14.5655 |
| 4 | Auto One / Erebus Motorsport | Adam Marjoram (WA) | Holden Commodore VE | 11 | 16:20.0807 |
| 5 | JMG Racing | Jeremy Gray (NSW) | Ford Falcon FG | 11 | 16:21.1822 |
| 6 | Rentco Racing | Kris Walton (QLD) | Ford Falcon FG | 11 | 16:22.7599 |
| 7 | Burbank Racing | Nathan Pretty (VIC) | Holden Commodore VE | 11 | 16:24.3711 |
| 8 | Just Car Insurance / Kitten Racing | Craig Dontas (SA) | Holden Commodore VE | 11 | 16:25.0016 |
| 9 | Bob Jane T-Marts / Altenzo Per | Kim Jane (VIC) | Holden Commodore VE | 11 | 16:28.4120 |
| 10 | All Purpose Pest Control | Grant Johnson (WA) | Ford Falcon FG | 11 | 16:28.9669 |
| 11 | Multispares Racing | Ryan Hansford (QLD) | Ford Falcon FG | 11 | 16:30.7536 |
| 12 | Holiday For Life | Ryal Harris (QLD) | Ford Falcon FG | 11 | 16:35.7586 |
| 13 | Team Kleen Racing / Kleen Group | Adam Beechey (TAS) | Holden Commodore VE | 11 | 16:37.1113 |
| 14 | Slideways / Go Karting Austral | Cam Wilson (QLD) | Ford Falcon FG | 11 | 16:39.5819 |
| 15 | Peters Motorsport | Mason Barbera (QLD) | Ford Falcon FG | 11 | 16:41.6154 |
| 16 | Cairns Industries / The Mission | Marcus Marshall | Holden Commodore VE | 11 | 16:43.8272 |
| 17 | Nth QLD Hard Facing | Graham Edwards (QLD) | Ford Falcon FG | 11 | 16:44.4392 |
| 18 | Skyreack / Shamick Racing | Leigh Nicolaou (VIC) | Holden Commodore VE | 11 | 16:47.1879 |
| 19 | Cetnaj Electrical Supplies | Peter Burnitt (QLD) | Ford Falcon FG | 11 | 16:48.6191 |
| 20 | RED Express / AirRoad | Charlie Kovacs (SA) | Holden Commodore VE | 11 | 16:49.1613 |
| 21 | Jesus Racing | Andrew Fisher (NSW) | Ford Falcon FG | 11 | 16:51.0694 |
| 22 | Western General Body Works | Danny Buzadzic (VIC) | Ford Falcon FG | 11 | 16:52.6817 |
| 23 | Gulf Western Oil / Aussie Stop | Richard Mork (NSW) | Ford Falcon FG | 11 | 17:08.3501 |
| 24 | Team Kleen Racing / Kleen Group | Andrew Nickolls (NSW) | Holden Commodore VE | 11 | 17:09.6226 |
| 25 | Moreton Panels | Brendon Tucker (Qld) | Ford Falcon FG | 11 | 17:10.0826 |
| 26 | Australian Conveyor Racing | Noel Edge (SA) | Ford Falcon FG | 11 | 17:11.5523 |
| 27 | OAKLANDS BUILT | Bruce Oaklands (NSW) | Ford Falcon FG | 11 | 17:12.5365 |
| 28 | iSeek Racing / ees.com | George Miedecke (NSW) | Ford Falcon FG | 9 | 16:18.9249 |
| DNF | Copyworld Racing | Michael Almond (SA) | Holden Commodore VE | 7 | 10:55.8433 |
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