Benalla’s fastest man was pipped at the last post on Sunday, but he could be going much faster in 2024.
Zak Best finished second in the Dunlop Super 2 series for the third year in a row.
Best arrived in Adelaide for the series’ final race with a 30-point championship lead.
The Benalla driver had the edge over his main title rival, Kai Allen, in qualifying and secured a P3 and P4 start for the two races, while Allen could only manage P6 and P4.
As the lights went out for Race 1, Allen had the race pace and was quickly alongside Best.
The battle raged throughout the race, with the rivals regularly swapping places.
Nash Morris got caught up in the battle as the two cars surged through the top half of the field.
As Allen passed Morris, all the pressure was on Best to get the job done quickly and keep up with his rival.
Best attempted to pass Allen at turn five but failed to leave Morris enough space, and the driver was forced off the track.
As the chequered flag was waved, Allen had kept third place, and Best was just behind in fourth.
Things went from bad to worse when the Benalla driver was handed a 15-second time penalty, dropping him to 14th place outright.
Best’s 30-point advantage over Allen was now a 33-point deficit.
So, it all came down to the final race of the season, and Best was going to do everything he could to claim the title.
After a blistering start, the driver climbed into first place, while Allen remained in fourth place.
But fourth place was all the South Australian driver needed around the Adelaide circuit to claim the title with Best in front, and as Ryan Woods passed Best at the end of Lap 1, all Allen required was a fifth-place finish.
Allen let Cooper Murray pass and cruised to a fifth-place finish, winning the Super 2 series by six points.
Zak was second best once again, but this time around, he might not get another shot at the Super 2 title.
After Brad Jones Racing’s Jack Smith announced he would be leaving the Supercars series after the final round in Adelaide, Best has quickly become the favourite to gain promotion.
With Allen confirmed as racing in the secondary series for another year as he waits for a seat in the Dick Johnson Racing Supercar team to become available, Best is the top young driver available.
If the rumour mill is correct, it won’t be long until Benalla has a driver racing in Australia’s premier V8 racing series.