Feeney Admits Sprint Cup Nearly Payne's, Focus on Points

Brisbane – The battle for the 2025 Supercars Sprint Cup reaches its climax at Queensland Raceway this weekend. But Broc Feeney isn't hiding from the harsh reality: the trophy he claimed last season is now almost within the grasp of rival Matt Payne.

Feeney, who dominated last year's Sprint Cup by a massive 345-point margin over Payne, is now the underdog after inconsistent results following his switch from Chevrolet to Ford. He trails Payne by 118 points heading into the final three races at Ipswich, with 315 points still up for grabs.

"Sprint Cup-wise, I think Matt's got one hand and four fingers on [the trophy]," Feeney said on the Drivers' Only program. "We're just trying to get a bit of speed back. Perth was a step in the right direction for me. Hopefully QR we can both be up there fighting for wins again."

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That statement came after Feeney broke a seven-race podium drought for Triple Eight with a sprint race victory on the Saturday of the Perth Super440. The other two wins in Perth went to Payne, who has missed the podium just twice in the last 14 races.

For Payne, the Sprint Cup isn't just about the trophy. The big prize is the 25 bonus points that the Sprint Cup winner carries into the first round of the Finals Series in October. "Realistically, you really just want the bonus points," Payne said. "You really want to give yourself the best chance to make sure you feel that little bit safer heading into Gold Coast. Then the eyes will be on the Enduro Cup and see if we can get another 25 bonus points, which we did last year."

Payne and Feeney both have bitter memories from last year's Finals Series. Payne dropped out after a clash with Cam Waters during the Semi-Final at Sandown, while Feeney famously fell at the final hurdle in Adelaide. Waters is the only other driver mathematically in contention, though 277 points adrift.

Interestingly, the Sprint Cup winner gets a guaranteed Finals Series berth, but that's almost redundant given the points equations. Any driver over 600 points clear of 11th place after Ipswich will be locked into the Finals – a feat up to six drivers could potentially achieve.

With three races remaining, all eyes are on whether Feeney can turn the tide or Payne will seal his first title. One thing is certain: the racing at Queensland Raceway will be a stage for a fierce battle between two of Supercars' best young drivers.