Feeney wins Gold Coast 500 as Wood misses Supercars finals cut
Walkinshaw TWG's attempt to lift Ryan Wood into the next round fell short, while Anton De Pasquale recovered to keep his title hopes alive.
Broc Feeney claimed his first Gold Coast 500 victory and booked a place at Sandown, while Ryan Wood was eliminated from Supercars title contention despite his team's attempt to help him advance.
Starting from pole at Surfers Paradise Street Circuit, Feeney completed the 85-lap, 250km race 6.9098 seconds clear of Brodie Kostecki. The 24-year-old had been runner-up in both Gold Coast races last year.
Walkinshaw TWG Racing instructed Chaz Mostert to slow down so Wood could take third, giving Wood a chance to reach the next round after entering the race ninth in the standings. Mostert questioned the instruction over team radio.
The strategy was not enough to save Wood's championship campaign. Anton De Pasquale recovered from an early collision and a pit stop for punctured tyres to finish 14th, retaining seventh in the standings and progressing to the semi-finals. Mostert passed Wood on the last lap, taking third and leaving his teammate fourth.
Kai Allen and Jack Le Brocq also dropped out of title contention. The rules left seven drivers eligible for the championship, eliminating the bottom three from the top 10 unless they won either Gold Coast race. Matt Payne leads the standings ahead of Feeney and Kostecki as the series heads to its penultimate round at Sandown in Melbourne.
