Fraser wins chaotic race, takes points lead

Declan Fraser has claimed the Dunlop Series points lead with victory in a chaotic Townsville race.

The Triple Eight driver raced from pole to victory in the shortened affair.

Fraser, who will race in Bathurst with Craig Lowndes, led home Matt Chahda.

Chahda was forced to defend from Cameron Hill, the duo running line astern to the line.

Fraser became the fourth different driver, after Jaylyn Robotham, Zak Best and Matt Payne, to lead the points this season.

Fraser also claimed round honours for the first time, ahead of Chahda and Hill.

The race began in high drama, with Saturday winner Tyler Everingham clashing with Payne.

A slow-starting Best was sandwiched by Everingham and Payne.

Best and Everingham made contact, with the latter spearing into the path of Payne.

Robotham copped a hit from Best at the exit of Turn 3 when the Safety Car was deployed.

The impact dislodged Robotham’s rear wing, and he was forced to retire.

The Safety Car neutralised the field and the race restarted on lap 5.

Fraser led Chahda, Best and Hill, with Best nursing a damaging Falcon.

Best plummeted down the order and crossed the line 22nd.

Chahda and Hill battled over second, which allowed Fraser to skip away.

On lap 8, the race was neutralised for a second time when Cameron Crick and Nash Morris clashed at Turn 6.

Crick and Morris assess the damage

For Morris, it was DNF No. 5 of the season from six starts.

The race restarted on lap 15, and Fraser again pulled away as Hill hunted Chahda.

Try as he might, Hill was unable to unseat Chahda, who will also make his Bathurst debut in October.

Macaky-born Fraser crossed the line 2.5s to the good, with Jay Hanson fourth.

Thomas Maxwell, Ryal Harris, Angelo Mouzouris, Aaron Seton, Tim Blanchard and Zane Morse rounded out the 10.

Kai Allen crossed the line 11th and claimed Super3 honours, with closest rival Brad Vaughan spinning at Turn 6.

Fraser will take a 69-point lead over Hill to Sandown, with Payne 108 points behind.

Everingham and Best are fourth and fifth, 132 and 141 points behind respectively.