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Paul Morris has come out on top in a see-sawing battle with Robby Gordon in Race 1 of Stadium Super Trucks at the CrownBet Darwin Triple Crown.
Bill Hynes started from P1 and headed the field to Turn 5 before Greg Gartner edged ahead as the took the jump on the run to the ‘Valley’ hairpin.
However, Hynes hit the rear of Gartner’s truck and half-spun #410 at Turn 6, allowing Matthew Brabham through to the lead and Gordon second.
Gordon closed in and outbraked Brabham into Turn 1 on Lap 3, then the third-generation racer ran well wide at Turn 10/Turn 11 and let Morris through.
‘The Dude’ took over the lead for the first time when the race restarted after the first of two competition cautions, and the Top 2 continued to swap positions until Morris got ahead for good at the start of the last of 11 laps.
Gordon and Brabham rounded out the podium, ahead of Gavin Harlien, Jeff Hoffman, Greg Gartner, Craig Dontas, and Hynes.
A shootout will set the grid for Race 2 tomorrow at 1145 ACST (1215 AEST) with the race itself starting at 1510 ACST (1540 AEST).
Touring Car Masters
John Bowe has edged Steven Johnson in practice for Round 3 of the Touring Car Masters at Hidden Valley.
Bowe set the fastest time in the cooler morning session, a 1:12.82s, and that effort stood up for the rest of the day.
Johnson had edged Bowe by just over 0.01s in Practice 2, but the #17 Mustang finished 0.1s adrift of the #18 Torana on combined times.
Bowe was nursing broken ribs after a race-ending pile-up at Winton, while Johnson is battling a nasty cold.
Jason Gomersall was another back on track after a post-Winton rebuild and finished up third-fastest for the day in the #35 Torana.
The rest of the top 10 was Bruce Williams (Torana), Adam Bressington (Camaro), Winton round winner Eddie Abelnica (GTHO Falcon), Ryan Hansford (Torana), Tony Karanfilovski (Trans-Am Mustang), Andrew Fisher (GTHO Falcon), and Adam Garwood (Torana).
Jim Richards was 15th in his return, now back in the Falcon Sprint after missing Round 2 due to a crash in Adelaide.
TCM will return to the track on Saturday for Qualifying at 1055 ACST (1125 AEST) and Race 1 at 1435 ACST (1505 AEST).
Improved Production/Commodore Cup/HQ Holdens
Adam Uebergang has taken pole for the local support category despite only completing three laps during qualifying.
The Queenslander finished the session 0.6s clear of Tim Playford, with Barry Smith another 0.5s adrift.
Super2 Series driver and Darwin native Bryce Fullwood set the fast time in Commodore Cup class in sixth outright, while Peter Cusato was first in the Under 2L class in eighth and Brett Osborn led the Holden HQs in 21st.
The first two of three races will take place on Saturday, with Race 1 starting at 0840 ACST (0910 AEST).
