Jamie Whincup labelled his drought breaking victory at the Watpac Townsville 400 among the best of his career as he equalled the all-time Supercars race win record.
The Red Bull Holden Racing Team driver chalked up his 105th Supercars win after producing a faultless drive to defeat DJR Team Penske's Scott McLaughlin in Race 14.
Whincup's triumph saw him break a 14 race run stretching back to last year's Sydney 500 in December.
The victory moved the six-time champion alongside Triple Eight team-mate Craig Lowndes at the top of the category's all-time winners list.
While reaching the milestone is significant, Whincup has been striving to break his duck this season having come the closest at Winton in May.
The 34-year-old was particularly emotional following the victory, admitting it was a relief to end the winless streak.
“It's (the win) obviously up there,” said Whincup.
“It's highlighted because I haven't had a victory for a long time but we had a good car.
“We had a good car, and it's a little small reward for the dedication that's been going on behind the scene.
“We've unfortunately had no social life, grinding out making our cars faster.
“We still will continue to do that but it's just a small reward just to say that what we're doing is right, keep working hard and winning's a money can't buy experience.
“It's what we all strive for. When you don't win, if you haven't won before and you don't win it's fine, but when you've done a lot of winning and you don't it's quite painful, so we're fighting quite hard to get back there.”
Triple Eight owner Roland Dane reflected on the Whincup's moment with pride having provided Whincup the platform for all of his Supercars race wins, with the first arriving at Adelaide in 2006.
“I think so it was emotional for several reasons,” Dane told Speedcafe.com.
“Firstly, he's been pretty keen to get a win this year, and he's been close but no banana.
“Then also it's his 105th win which makes him equal all time winner with Craig (Lowndes), so I feel pretty special as well from a Triple Eight point of view having the two all-time winners equal first in our garages.”
Whincup has closed to within six points of championship leader McLaughlin in the Supercars title race.