Championship leader Matt Payne robbed of Supercars sprint crown: ‘It just sucks’

Triple Eight star Broc Feeney has claimed the Supercars Sprint crown after rival Matt Payne was forced out of the Ipswich Super 440 in heartbreaking fashion.

Payne entered Sunday’s Race 28 with a whopping 110-point lead in the Championship standings and needing only a 17th-placed finish or better to secure the Sprint Cup title.

That would have not only guaranteed Payne a spot in October’s finals but also 25 crucial bonus points.

But disaster struck on lap 33 of 62 of the 200km race, with his car inexplicably losing power and forcing him to the pits.

Payne’s mechanical team couldn’t work out a quick fix for the engine issue, forcing him to retire.

It meant Feeney, in his 150th race, could steal the Sprint Cup crown — as long as he finished third or better.

Feeney made the most of his unexpected golden chance by holding on for the win, with Brodie Kostecki and Will Brown rounding out the podium.

Payne cut a distraught figure after the race, but took the disappointment on the chin.

“It sounded like an electrical issue, so really gutted. I was looking forward to wrapping up this Sprint Championship, but it is what it is.

“It sucks on the day, it sucks for the next few days, it sucks for the next couple of weeks,

“But everyone around here knows we’re in a really good spot at the moment. Everyone knows the true potential of the team and hopefully we can come back out swinging.”

Chaz Mostert was sitting in the top five when his car lost power on lap 25, forcing him out of the race.

Sunday’s result marked the second straight year Feeney has won the Sprint Cup crown.

“I’ve got to give a big credit to my dad because he’s been telling me all week it wasn’t over,” Feeney said.