Craig Lowndes won back to back V8 Supercars races in Tasmania on Saturday to put him without touching distance of a historic milestone.
Lowndes needs just one victory to become the first man to win 100 V8 Supercars races.
On Saturday’s evidence, that win could come as soon as Sunday’s 200km race at Symmons Plains Raceway.
The 40-year-old showed pace unmatched by the field in both qualifying and racing, winning both races from pole position.
He was too fast for second-placed Mark Winterbottom and James Courtney in race one, then beat teammate Jamie Whincup and Courtney in the second 60km race.
“It’s been a fantastic day today,” Lowndes said.
“Our car has been working extremely well … to be able to have good car speed is always a treat.”
Lowndes’ domination of the rural Tasmanian circuit came after a dirty day in practice on Friday.
The five-time Bathurst winner found himself on the grass and gravel several times as he struggled to find balance in his Commodore.
But he rebounded with his first back-to-back race wins in more than two years, clearly relishing the moment.
Reigning series champion Whincup said Lowndes “blew everyone away today and deserves his wins”.
With Lowndes dominant, the most exciting action of the weekend came in the Holden Racing Team garage, where a furious Will Davison confronted Courtney after a clash between the two ended Davison’s first race.
He accused Courtney of being arrogant, pathetic and targeting him.
Courtney countered, saying Davison was “probably regretting saying a few things he said and looks like a fool” after stewards chose not to penalise anyone over the incident.
“Poor dill, poor dill,” Courtney said.
“We’re racing hard and he’s gotten a little fired up after the race … emotions are high, people say things they don’t mean.”
The Holden Racing Team driver maintains his series lead after a pair of third-place finishes.
In the second race, Kiwi 19-year-old Andre Heimgartner was unable to cash in on his fifth-placed starting position, running off the track at the hairpin turn four on the fourth lap.
Countryman Scott McLaughlin came back from the dead, with his Volvo pit crew replacing a busted engine that caused a DNF in race one, to claim ninth place in race two.
V8 SUPERCARS: SYMMONS PLAINS:
RACE 4 RESULT:
* 1. Craig Lowndes (Holden)
* 2. Mark Winterbottom (Ford)
* 3. James Courtney (Holden)
* 4. Shane Vane Gisbergen (Holden)
* 5. Chaz Mostert (Ford)
RACE 5 RESULT:
* 1. Craig Lowndes (Holden)
* 2. Jamie Whincup (Holden)
* 3. James Courtney (Holden)
* 4. David Reynolds (Ford)
* 5. Garth Tander (Holden)
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:
* 1. James Courtney (Holden) – 386
* 2. Craig Lowndes (Holden) – 358
* 3. Garth Tander (Holden) – 337
* 4. Jamie Whincup (Holden) – 333
* 5. Shane Van Gisbergen (Holden) – 327
