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Robby Gordon held off a hard charging Sheldon Creed to take victory in an entertaining Stadium Super Trucks encounter at Townsville.
The American led from the start before surviving the mandatory competition caution period and a sustained challenge from Race 1 winner Creed in the final laps.
In the end, Gordon just held on to take victory in his Matt Mingay Castrol Edge/Hot Wheels liveried truck by 0.177s.
Recovering in Gold Coast University hospital, Mingay was pleased to see his colours take the chequered flag.
“Well done Legeeend!!! It was soooo good to watch it live. Sucks from my hospital bed. But great to see you up on the top step!!,” read a post from Mingay’s Facebook account.
Meanwhile, the final place on the podium went to Paul Morris following an impressive drive from the final row of the grid.
The former Supercras driver started from the rear of the grid alongside Creed.
Morris spent the final half of the race locked in a dice with former IndyCar driver EJ Viso, before a spin and contact saw the latter drop to seventh at the flag.
Matthew Brabham benefitted from Viso’s demise to secure fourth, with Arie Luyendyk Jr fifth and Greg Gartner in sixth.
The Stadium Super Trucks return for two more races on Sunday.
V8 Utes Racing Series
Mason Barbera produced an impressive drive to claim victory in the opening V8 Utes Racing Series heat of the weekend.
The Bundaberg driver started from pole position but dropped to second behind Kim Jane at the start and was forced to follow the veteran for much of the race.
Barbara applied plenty of pressure on Jane as the laps ticked by before launching an attack for the lead on lap seven.
The Ford driver slipped underneath Jane at the hairpin but was unable to make the move stick.
Barbera tried the move again a lap later and this time judged it to perfection to take the lead.
Once in front he calmly drove to the chequered flag from Jane and series leader David Sieders.
Craig Dontas came through to finish fourth ahead of Ryan Hansford and Nathan Pretty.
Supercars co-driver Steve Owen finished in seventh after dropping two positions from the start.
Gerard McLeod, Jeremy Gray and Graham Edwards completed the top 10.
Three-time series winner Ryal Harris endured a disappointing return to the series after a mechanical issue saw him retire on the opening lap.
The V8 Utes are back in action on Sunday for two races with the first scheduled for 0855 local time.
