After 34 rounds, more than 50 races and wearing the unwanted tag of the sport's most overrated driver, Ford's James Courtney finally broke through for his first V8 Supercar race win today.
In his third season in the championship following a decorated open-wheeler career in Europe and Japan, Courtney had been expected to be a regular race winner in the category when he joined amid much fanfare.
Instead, the 28-year-old was in danger of becoming better known for his appearances on the Dancing With The Stars television series last year - podium finishes and good qualifying results not translating into race wins.
Today things changed, as Courtney's dancing feet turned into a clean set of heels for his rivals as a nerveless performance won him the first race in round seven of the championship at Queensland Raceway.
First he qualified his car on pole for only the second time in his V8 career.
Then he bounced his Stone Brothers Racing Falcon to the front and held off series leader Mark Winterbottom throughout an epic last few laps to record a memorable victory.
Just a few weeks ago, Courtney suffered the embarrassment of being voted the sport's most overrated driver in a newspaper drivers' poll.
Today he was pleased with the opportunity to spike the snipers' guns.
"I don't care what other people think of me, as long as I'm happy with what I'm doing," Courtney said.
"It doesn't really affect me at all. One thing racing drivers aren't short of is an ego.
"It's a good feeling to get that monkey off my back - silence a few people."
Courtney now has the opportunity to secure his first round win as well - his victory giving him the luxury of starting from pole for race two tomorrow.
Ford driver Winterbottom's second place allowed him to extend his overall championship lead over Holden's Garth Tander to 82 points.
Tander finished fourth today - just behind fellow Holden driver Russell Ingall.
Championship chasing Jamie Whincup struggled into ninth place in his Ford, while Holden's Rick Kelly was eighth - both losing valuable points on Winterbottom and Tander in the overall standings.
Team Vodafone driver Craig Lowndes had a nightmarish race, with a damaged muffler dragging him from third place at one stage to finish last of the 28 cars to finish.
Two more 38-lap races are scheduled tomorrow.
Meanwhile, V8 Supercar bosses announced today Townsville's inaugural round of the series next year will be held from July 10 to 12.
