Supercars championship leader Will Brown has secured the most important victory of his career, winning the Sandown 500 to claim his first endurance crown.
The Red Bull Ampol star triumphed with co-driver Scott Pye in a stop-start race on Sunday that included six safety cars.
As darkness descended on the historic Melbourne venue and the race curfew loomed, the event was ended by stewards at 5.43pm, seven laps early.
Brown led from pole, but had some stiff competition from Triple Eight teammate Broc Feeney, the reigning Sandown champion.
Feeney and his co-driving boss, the legendary Jamie Whincup, came in second to complete a Red Bull one-two after the pair won at Sandown last year.
It was Triple Eight's ninth Sandown 500 win, with the juggernaut team having claimed eight of the past 11 enduro races at the suburban Melbourne track, which faces an uncertain future beyond this year.
"God, what a race," Brown said.
"Scott (Pye) did a mega job.
"I was bit nervous at the start when they got underneath us, and (car) 88 (Feeney) was leading.
"Those last laps were nerve-racking.
"I thought, 'don't put a foot wrong because Broc's going to be there', and I know he'll pounce.
"I'm just so stoked to get this win at Sandown, first round of the enduros. I
"It's a bloody good way to start it."
James Golding finished third to be on a Supercars podium for the first time, ensuring a Chevrolet Camaro trifecta.
Back-to-back safety cars with 20 minutes left made things interesting, but Brown was able to hold his nerve and win the ninth race of his Supercars career.
It was a crucial result for Brown, who banked 300 championship points, as his main rival for the title, Chaz Mostert, finished seventh.
Brown increased his lead in the championship from 81 to 189 points with three rounds remaining.
Mostert attempted a bold pitting strategy after he found himself as far back as 21st, briefly rocketing back into the top five.
But as his tyres wore out, the Walkinshaw Andretti United star had to come back into the pits.
The Supercars next head to regional NSW for the Bathurst 1000, Australia's most famous motor race, from October 9-13.
SANDOWN 500 RESULTS
1. Will Brown/Scott Pye (Red Bull Ampol)
2. Broc Feeney/Jamie Whincup (Red Bull Ampol)
3. James Golding/David Russell (PremiAir)
4. Matt Payne/Garth Tander (Penrite)
5. Craig Lowndes/Cam Murray (Triple Eight)
SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1. Will Brown 2280 pts
2. Chaz Mostert 2091
3. Broc Feeney 2058
4. Cam Waters 1834
5. Matt Payne 1659
