ON the day his country heads into a home cricket World Cup final Craig Lowndes sits on 99 not out and on the brink of alternative sporting immortality.
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The 19 years since Lowndes last led the way at Symmons Plains may also be the age of Kiwi Andre Heimgartner but the veteran continues to dominate his field as stylishly as Daniel Vettori.
Having won the final race at Symmons last year, the 40-year-old completed a personal hat-trick with career wins 98 and 99 yesterday, taking his venue tally to nine in his 550th race.
As ever, the popular Lowndes, who enjoyed a Symmons clean sweep way back in 1996, was playing down the significance of an impending milestone which would make him the first driver in touring car/V8 Supercar history to reach three figures.
"Better than 98," he replied when asked how it felt to be on 99.
"I've been involved in this sport for too long but I'm thankful that I've been around long enough to get to that number. I'd love to get to 100 tomorrow, but my focus will be making the car fast."
Meanwhile, having won 13 of the last 20 races to overtake HRT as Symmons Plains' most successful team, Red Bull can now claim to be leading the charge at the Bullring.