Boost Mobile Racing powered by Erebus driver Brodie Kostecki has secured 4th in today’s opening race at the Adelaide 500.
Teammate Will Brown however was unlucky to get caught up in someone else’s drama, causing lengthy repairs in the pits and ultimately finishing P22.
Brodie and Will were determined to make the most of the 78-lapper after a tough qualifying yesterday, starting P13 and P16 respectively.
Off the start, Brodie got away extremely well and although Will got squeezed before the opening complex, he managed to make up 3 spots before the end of the opening lap. Brodie just ahead, now in P12.
Will was among the first to take his first compulsory pit stop for fuel and tyres on lap 8, whereas car #99 adopted a different strategy, stopping on lap 27.
With the first round of stops complete, Brodie was lapping quicker than his teammate, and said ‘thank you’ over the radio as Will let the #99 by on lap 35 – the pair now P8 and P9.
On lap 38, the first of three safety cars was deployed and both drivers entering pit lane for a double-stack. Brodie’s stop was smooth, though for Will, it meant waiting in line and dropping 11 spots by the time he-rejoined.
Thinking quick on their feet, the crew called car #9 into pit lane another two times before racing went green, using as much fuel as possible and ensuring they now had enough fuel on board to make it home.
Brodie still had one more stop to make and took it on lap 46 for the final run home; minutes before the second Safety Car period was implemented on lap 49.
The race restarted on lap 53 and it only made it a few corners before the next yellow flag, this time involving Will. Todd Hazelwood went off at Turn 5 after a touch from Cam Waters, and ricocheted off the barrier and into Will as he went by.
The #9 made it back to the pits for lengthy repairs, and as the team worked furiously to get Will back, Brodie worked his way up to P4.
Will re-joined the race with enough time to reach the minimum laps required to be deemed a finisher, while Brodie ended just outside of the podium.
The on-track action resumes tomorrow with qualifying at 10:50am local time and marks the team’s last chance to gain Championship positions.