Waters led the way from Dick Johnson Racing’s Brodie Kostecki and Grove Racing’s Matt Payne as the pit stop cycle began in the 35-lap race.
Payne dived in on lap 17 and DJR set up to bring Kostecki in a lap later, potentially threatening Waters’ lead with an undercut.
According to Tickford manager Matt Roberts, that’s when engineering manager and strategist Brad Wischusen sprung into action.
“Brad had one eye on Payne, obviously, and then [DJR] had set up for Brodie,” Roberts recalled to Speedcafe.
“We had to react because track position around here is king, as you saw.
“So yes, it was a reaction. It was earlier than we would have liked.”
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DJR saw Waters pitting and in turn changed its strategy, opting to keep Kostecki out for a further six laps.
He rejoined fourth but made short work of Kai Allen, chased down and overtook Payne, and then fell just 0.2s short of Waters at the flag.
Complicating the pit puzzle for Tickford, Waters’ teammate Randle had been running sixth early and was scheduled to pit on what proved the critical lap.
“We were certainly pitting #55 (Randle), and then obviously Brad overruled that,” Roberts added.
“Thankfully, Tommy saw Cam in pit lane [and chose to stay out]. It could have ruined his race.
“The pit crew worked really well, had great communication there, and we switched the cars.
“It was a big reaction and it was a split hair in the moment. Ultimately that’s what wins you races these days.”
Randle ultimately finished sixth – his best result since a podium at Albert Park in March.
It was a second Friday win in as many events for Waters, who broke a 16-month drought last time out in Darwin.
Having not done so in Darwin, Waters asked his team on the cool down lap whether he could perform a burnout and was given an enthusiastic green light.
“I said to him on the radio, ‘you’re the burnout king, go and rip it’. He deserved it,” beamed Roberts.
Roberts said there was no concern that the burnout would cause any damage to the car’s engine ahead of the weekend’s twin 200km races.
“He’s a smart driver,” he added. “He’s got engine alarms in place and he knows how to do a burnout.”
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