Kostecki secures pole position for Race 21 of NTI Townsville 500

July 11, 2026 4 min read

Race 21 starting grid: 2026 NTI Townsville 500 - Supercars

By Liam Wright — 11 July 2026 — 3 min read

Kostecki claims pole

Brodie Kostecki has secured the pole position for Race 21 of the 2026 NTI Townsville 500, outpacing Matt Payne and Thomas Randle. Kostecki, driving the #17 Shell V-Power Ford, edged out championship leader Payne by a narrow margin of 0.1 seconds. This performance sets up a direct confrontation between the two Ford rivals as they prepare to navigate Turn 1 on Saturday.

Randle, in the #55 Castrol Ford, emerged as a notable qualifier, securing third place. He finished ahead of Ryan Wood, who pilots the #2 Mobil 1 Truck Assist Toyota. The starting grid for Race 21 features a strong lineup of competitors, with several drivers aiming to make an impact.

Other notable qualifiers include Cam Waters in the #6 Monster Energy Ford, Aaron Cameron in the #3 LIQUI MOLY BLAHST Ford, and Kai Allen in the #26 Penrite Ford. James Golding (#7 CoolDrive Ford) and Chaz Mostert (#1 Mobil 1 Optus Toyota) also secured positions within the top eight.

Further down the grid, the Red Bull Ampol Mustangs of Will Brown and Broc Feeney will start from 12th and 18th respectively. This positioning adds an element of intrigue for the race, particularly given their previous performances.

Strategic gamble in earlier race

Kostecki’s recent performance follows a strategic decision in an earlier race where a bold call nearly resulted in a victory. Despite starting from pole, a slow start saw Kostecki drop to fourth. However, he quickly recovered, moving into third after passing Chaz Mostert on lap 3. He then overtook Matt Payne for second on the subsequent lap, pursuing Cam Waters.

Waters and Payne made their pit stops on laps 17 and 18. Kostecki and his engineer, George Commins, chose to extend their run, staying out until lap 24. This strategy saw the #17 Ford rejoin the race in fourth position. Kostecki then advanced, passing Kai Allen and later Matt Payne with two laps remaining, ultimately finishing second, just 0.2 seconds behind Waters.

Commins explained that the team had a pre-planned strategy to run longer if competitors pitted earlier than anticipated. This approach aimed for a five to six-lap overlap to gain an advantage. Kostecki himself noted his decision not to pit at the same time as Waters, to avoid having identical tyre conditions.

Kostecki’s strong showing in that race allowed him to reduce his deficit to the championship leader. His points gap to the leader decreased from 203 to 179 points, with Payne having taken over the championship lead from Feeney.

Race 21 grid overview

The starting grid for Race 21 of the 2026 NTI Townsville 500 features a diverse lineup of teams and drivers. The top positions are dominated by Ford entries, with Kostecki, Payne, and Randle leading the charge. Toyota and Chevrolet also have strong representation throughout the grid.

The race is scheduled to commence at 3:05pm AEST. Live coverage will be available through various platforms, including Fox, KAYO, Sky NZ, Seven, and SuperView. The 68-lap race is expected to be a competitive event, with drivers vying for crucial championship points.

The full starting grid for Race 21 includes: