MATT PAYNE LEADS THE BATTLE FOR THE SPRINT CUP

Reigning bp Adelaide Grand Final winner Matt Payne is in the box seat to win the 2026 Sprint Cup and book his place in the Supercars Finals Series with two wins from three races at the Perth Super 440.

Payne extended his championship lead over Broc Feeney to 118 points as the championship heads to Ipswich in late August for the finale of the Sprint Cup. The driver who leads the championship at the end of the Ipswich event will earn an automatic berth in the Supercars Finals, as well as 25 bonus points for the finals opener on the Gold Coast in October.

Payne dominated the first race in Perth, leading home Ryan Wood and Anton De Pasquale. While Payne was in control at the front, his teammate Kai Allen and 2023 Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki tangled in a controversial incident.

Feeney ended a seven-race podium-less streak with victory in the second race of the weekend. Getting ahead of Payne after the latter was caught behind Aaron Cameron, Feeney held off the championship leader with Allen in third.

Payne returned to the top step of the podium in the final race, getting revenge on Feeney with a late-race move. The tangle damaged Payne’s left rear tyre, forcing him to manage the damage across the remaining laps with De Pasquale claiming another podium in third.

The championship now heads to Queensland Raceway for the Ipswich Super 440 on August 21 to 23 – the final round of the Sprint Cup before the Enduro Cup.

The top 10 in the championship standings at the end of the Enduro Cup following the Bathurst 1000 will progress into the finals, with the four grand finalists who will battle it out for title glory in Adelaide being set following Sandown.

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