Starting from P6, John Bowler (#14) made an exceptional launch, gaining multiple positions off the line to move into P3 within the opening phase of the race — one of the standout starts of the weekend for Bowler Racing.
With strong early pace, Bowler quickly found himself under pressure from reigning champion Ryan Smith, who remained close behind before making a move to reclaim the position on Lap 2.
The race continued to unfold at a high intensity, and on Lap 5, while battling closely in traffic, Bowler was forced into a late braking moment that pushed him onto the grass. The excursion cost valuable momentum, allowing three cars to pass and dropping him back to P7.
Despite the setback, the result still provided a positive outcome, with the finishing position securing a front-row start of P2 for Race 5 under the reverse grid conditions.