The Grove Racing driver looked in control for much of the race, but the closing laps became a tense affair after contact with Feeney during a fierce fight for the lead left Payne’s Mustang suffering from a severe vibration.
Slow motion replays later showed Payne’s left rear tyre had been damaged, yet the New Zealander somehow managed to nurse the car home, crossing the line just over one second ahead of the charging Triple Eight driver.
The battle between Payne and Feeney was one of the highlights of the weekend, with neither driver willing to give an inch as they fought for valuable championship points. The pair went wheel to wheel after the final pit stops before Payne emerged in front and held firm despite his tyre issues.
Anton De Pasquale completed the podium in third after another consistent drive, while Cam Waters claimed fourth.
One of the drives of the day came from Kai Allen, who recovered impressively to finish fifth after a challenging start to the weekend. Aaron Cameron, Jayden Ojeda, David Reynolds and Thomas Randle rounded out the top positions, while Brodie Kostecki’s strategy ultimately dropped him to 12th after a third pit stop.
The victory caps off an outstanding Perth campaign for Payne, who once again proved he is the benchmark in the 2026 Supercars season. Despite relentless pressure from Feeney and a car that was clearly compromised in the closing laps, Payne kept his composure to secure another crucial win.
With the Sprint Cup battle entering its final stages, the championship fight remains alive, but Payne leaves Perth with momentum firmly on his side after another statement performance.
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