Seton scoops pole after Vaughan/Perkins crash

Aaron Seton has scored his first Dunlop Series pole after a clash between Brad Vaughan and Jack Perkins ended qualifying early at the NTI Townsville 500.

Third-generation racer Seton was top of the times with three minutes remaining when Vaughan and Perkins collided.

Two minutes and 17 seconds were left on the clock when the red flags came out, but the session was later declared as Perkins' car was recovered.

Replays showed Vaughan veering into the path of Perkins, who was at pace on approach to Turn 7.

The incident, which is under investigation, paved the way for a mixed up grid for the first 40-minute race of the weekend.

Notably, Super3 driver Cameron McLeod will start fourth, while Super2 points leader Zak Best ended up 20th.

Best leads Eggleston Motorsport's Cooper Murray by 48 points heading into Saturday's race, with Murray qualifying sixth.

Seton, son of two-time Supercars champion Glenn, became the fifth different pole winner from as many starts in 2023.

"The car was on point," said Seton, who claimed the first Super2 pole position for Gomersall Motorsport.

"Credit to all the guys at Gomersall Motorsport, it's an amazing feeling. It's been a tough start to the year.

"Definitely, this is good."

Murray's teammate Kai Allen will share the front row with Seton, with McLeod joined on the second row by Blanchard Racing Team rookie Aaron Love.

McLeod set the pace in the Super3 segment of qualifying with a 1:14.6020s, despite clouting the barriers at Turn 8.

Super2 runners rolled out and Seton set the pace with a 1:14.1609s, with Allen second with a 1:14.4770s.

Perkins with his damaged car

McLeod held third before Love clocked a 1:14.5487s, with Cameron Crick and Murray making it three Eggleston Commodores in the top six.

The red flags were unfurled with Perkins stranded at the Turn 7 run-off, with Vaughan returning to the pit lane.

Vaughan swerved into the path of Perkins, who first hit the Tickford Ford before clattering into the outside wall concrete.

Practice 2 pace-setter Jay Hanson will start seventh ahead of Jordyn Sinni, the fourth of the Eggleston Holdens.

Zane Morse and Jobe Stewart, the Super3 points leader, rounded out the top 10, with Nash Morris 11th.

Vaughan was 13th at the time of the stoppage, with Perkins 25th and last.

Matt Chahda was only 16th, with Lochie Dalton and Ryan Wood, who won both races in Perth, 18th and 19th respectively.

Race 1 will commence at 1:15pm AEST on Saturday.