Super second for Moffat and Douglas at Bathurst 1000; Double top 10 for Jack Daniel's Racing

BATHURST, Australia – James Moffat and Taz Douglas have taken a sensational second place at the Bathurst 1000.

Moffat and Douglas ended a frantic, controversial and historical race on the podium after sustaining substantial damage to their #360 Norton Nissan Altima.

Douglas was involved in two incidents at Griffiths Bend (Turn 2). The first came after contact with Cameron Waters and the second due to the track surface break-up that caused the race to eventually be stopped after 61 laps.

The result gives Nissan its first podium result in the Bathurst 1000 since 1992 when Jim Richards and Mark Skaife won the weather affected event.

The second Norton Nissan of Michael Caruso and Dean Fiore endured a difficult day when a power steering issue dropped them down several laps. The car eventually finished 15th.

The next event of the V8 Supercars Championship will be held at the Surfers Paradise street track for the Armor All Gold Coast 600 in two weeks time.

James Moffat, #360 Norton Nissan Altima

"What an amazing day," said James Moffat.

"The red flag, in a way, saved us because we were able to repair the car, and from that point on, it just about staying out of trouble.

"The cars were really sketchy to drive. I was screaming on the radio to the engineers, giving them an ear bashing, but the result is unbelievable.

"I can't thank the team enough for the amount of work they've done on this program to get it to this point. I know every team in V8s works hard, but I haven't been involved with a harder working bunch of guys.

"We're definitely making ground, and to finish second is hopefully a reward for all of their hard work, as well as our great supporters Nissan, Norton, Toshiba, Steadfast and all our team partners.

"And finally, a special thanks to my good mate Taz Douglas. He brought me back a car that looked like it had come out of a scene from Dukes of Hazard, but it would good enough for me!"

Taz Douglas, #360 Norton Nissan Altima (co-driver)

"It was a pretty hectic day for myself," said Taz Douglas.

"Our car was very quick by itself, but we struggled in a pack. The team gave me some clean air in the opening laps and I was able to punch out some quick times, but when the Safety Car came out, it bunched us up and Cam Waters edged me into the fence. I wasn't even challenging him. Then later, I went a tiny bit off on the marbles and I was straight into the fence.

"There was plenty of smoke, but mechanically, the car was fine. The boys were able to fix it under the red flag ... and here we are!"

Michael Caruso, #36 Norton Nissan Altima

"Firstly, it was an outstanding result for my great Norton teammate James Moffat," said Michael Caruso.

"I know how much this place means to him, so it see him on that podium was awesome.

"Our morning started really well. We topped the warm-up and I felt we had a car that could have challenged for a really strong result.

"But it wasn't to be. My #36 Norton Nissan suffered a power steering problem in the opening stages and we dropped down four laps.

"Back in the old days of the Bathurst 1000, you could almost make up that ground, but these days, there's no chance.

"We plugged away for the rest of the day, but really, all we were doing was burning up fuel and tires!"

Dean Fiore, #36 Norton Nissan Altima (co-driver)

"It wasn't an ideal race for us," said Dean Fiore.

"It's just a massive disappointment. We were really quick and very consistent, but to have a mechanical bite us in the bum is hard to swallow.

"There's so many of those stories up and down pit lane!

"There's promising signs there for the future and something for Michael and I to work on."

Double Top Ten for Jack Daniel's Racing at Bathurst 1000

The Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altimas survived an incredible Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 with a double top-ten result.

Todd Kelly and debutant Brit Alex Buncombe crossed the finish line in seventh, while Rick Kelly and David Russell placed eighth.

In a day of high attrition, all four Nissans were still running at the end, with the Norton Hornet entry of James Moffat and Taz Douglas earning a brilliant second place result.

After qualifying in 13th position, Todd Kelly overcame starter motor issues on the warm up lap, before moving up smartly on the first lap to be placed tenth.

Buncombe slightly grazed the wall during his first stint, but was able to continue in the race unhindered.

When the red flag flew on lap 61, Todd found himself in eighth position, but shortly after the resumption of racing was spun out by Jamie Whincup exiting the Chase.

The excitement continued for the elder brother when an ambitious move down the inside at turn two by Russell Ingall resulted in contact between Ingall and Lee Holdsworth, which saw the latter inverting after contact with the tire wall.

Running as high as fifth before the final round of pit stops, the duo picked up a position on the last lap to be classified seventh.

After qualifying 16th, Rick Kelly found himself in 11th at the conclusion of the first lap, before strategy plays and solid car pace moved him further up the order.

With David Russell behind the wheel, the car ran strongly within the top six, which turned into the lead prior to the mid-race red flag.

After running wide while leading from the restart, the car returned to second position on the track before Rick completed his next stint.

Unfortunately the duo lost ground on the penultimate pit stop when the car was double-stacked behind the other Jack Daniel's entry, before battling with a persistent misfire on the run to the checkered flag.

The V8 Supercars Championship continues with the Castrol Edge Gold Coast 600 from October 24-26.

JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD

TODD KELLY - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima:
Race result- 7th

"Three Nissans in the top-ten is a pretty solid result for where we are at right now," said Todd Kelly.

"We didn't quite have the ideal balance for the race in our car. It was a long tough race. I've never really seen anything like it.

"It was an amazing result to get three cars in the top-ten, especially with our straight line speed deficiency.

"I lost count of the number of cars that pulled out and passed us on the straight.

"So for Moff to finish where he did with that going on was just awesome."

ALEX BUNCOMBE - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima:
Race result- 7th

"It's pretty mega to have finished in the top-ten here in V8 Supercars, even to finish this race is a pretty big achievement, especially today" said Alex Buncombe.

"It was a wild race. I've never experienced anything quite like that before. There was something like 10 or 15 safety car periods.

"Coming here to Bathurst has been a fantastic experience, hopefully I can come back next year.

"But for now I'm really looking forward to the Gold Coast, I think the Nissans should be very competitive there."

RICK KELLY - #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima:
Race result- 8th

"Gee what an eventful race; there was a lot going on out there!" said Rick Kelly.

"We got off to a pretty good start. It was the first time I had been comfortable in the car all weekend.

"In the first stint we developed a misfire, but I think we were still the second fastest car on the track at that time, and it felt fantastic.

"Unfortunately it just got worse. We didn't get Dave in the car at the right time either, which didn't help, and this the misfire got that bad that it was costing us a second a lap, and then probably two or three at the end there.

"It's really upsetting, because the car we had today was a race winning car, no doubt.

"I couldn't believe the pace it had, and we finished nowhere because of the miss unfortunately.

"For us you don't want to throw away a result like that. Excited for Moff though, for him to capitalize on everyone's problems, to get up to second here at Bathurst is really great for the team."

DAVID RUSSELL - #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima:
Race result- 8th

"It certainly was a wild one. In all of the 1000s I've done, I've never seen so much carnage, but at the same time fierce pace as well," said David Russell.

"I'm really proud because we matched the pace of the leaders. Today we had every chance to do that.

"Unfortunately we were hampered in the race today before the red flag situation with an electrical problem. Obviously the engine was still running, but it cost us a lot of time and a lot of power on the straights.

"The fact that we pushed through that and kept the pace up all day, and come through to finish in the top-ten is something, but I can't help but wonder where we would have been if we didn't have those dramas throughout the race."

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