McLaughlin in box seat after Whincup disaster

SCOTT McLaughlin’s dream of becoming a V8 King could become a reality today after DJR Team Penske smashed championship rival Jamie Whincup in a brutal Newcastle street fight.

Putting one hand on the Supercars crown with an emphatic Newcastle 500 win, McLaughlin powered his way to what could prove a championship-winning victory after his Red Bull Holden Racing Team rival crashed.

In a lap-one mistake that looks set to deny him his seventh title, Whincup collided with Michael Caruso to hand opponent McLaughlin a knockout race-one win and all but end the two-way fight for the title.

Survival alone should see McLaughlin claim his first V8 crown today after the thrilling first instalment of the Newcastle 500 saw him claim a 78- point lead over Whincup in a 108-point turnaround.

“Oh yeah,” McLaughlin said. “How good is that. I am just so pumped. What a day.”

McLaughlin won’t rule Whincup out of the championship fight, with 150 points on the line today in the last race.

“It is not over yet. McLaughlin said yesterday.

“We still have to go again tomorrow but today we gave it our best shot. It is just a great result for the V Power race team. As good as it gets.”

Whincup’s bid to become a seven-time champion was shattered on the first lap when he collided with Caruso while at- tempting to steal fourth place. In a crushing blow after coming into the race with a 30-point lead, Whincup was forced back to the pits for major repairs.

“It is not ideal sitting in the pits,” Whincup said yesterday.

“I have dumped a heap of points today. It is going to be very hard from here on in.

“I thought he went a bit wide and we could get through. But he shut the gate and my steering broke. “That is the end of us.” An emergency fix put him back on track but he was 10 laps behind. The Holden immortal finished to bag 42 points and a shot at a miracle today.