Second to fellow Tasmanian Adam Garwood in race one and again when race two was abandoned seven laps in, the 66-year-old ended a 14-month wait by taking out race three.

The victory saw Bowe join Jamie Whincup, Craig Lowndes and Tony Ricciardello as the only four Australian drivers to win 100 races in one category.

"It's terrific - I won my first motor race ever in my life at this track in a Formula Vee 49 years ago so it's unreal," the Devonport-born driver said.

"I'm still happy to be breathing let along racing.

"I grew up collecting cordial bottles at this track when I was a little kid so it's always had very nice memories for me."

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Bowe started race three second on the grid but caught Garwood on the seventh lap and was never headed.

"This track tortures the brakes on these cars because they're only little brakes and it tortures the tyres because they're only little tyres," he said.

"I tried to keep the pressure on him so his car would wilt, but mine was wilting less than his."

Earlier, the sight of Steve Johnson's front right wheel weaving through back-straight traffic like majestic tumbleweed had been enough to bring an early end to race two.

Garwood and Bowe were heading the field seven laps in when the hairpin did for Johnson's Ford Falcon, which had its wheel rim ripped right off.

No points were awarded as Johnson's ride exited the track on the back of a tow truck.

Jordan Cox leads the TCR Australia Series table after enjoying a stellar Australia Day in his Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

The Garry Rogers Motorsport driver won both races - his first victories in the series - despite crossing the line behind Lee Holdsworth (five-second jump start penalty) in the latter.

Cox was happy with the results but equally wiped out from a weekend spent in tense battle with Holdsworth and Chaz Mostert.

"It's a short series, there's not many points on the table so consistency's going to be key," Cox said.

"I just want to go home and rest - I'm spent after this weekend with all the adrenaline."

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Holdsworth was unimpressed with the decision that saw him stripped of top spot on the podium.

"There's not much to say - I didn't jump it so it's a bit disappointing," he said.

"We'll go back through the replays and confirm what I'm saying .. I'm not sure where they got that from.

"It's disappointing to cross the line first and park in front of the number three board but it is what it is - I had a fantastic weekend and really enjoyed myself."

The race ended in dramatic fashion as Jason Bargwanna's Peugeot careered out of control on the final corner into the finish, colliding with James Moffat's Renault and sending both off the track. Both were able to walk away from the incident.

There had been just as much carnage in race two earlier in the day.

A pulsating opening lap saw Aaron Cameron navigate his way to the front but the safety car was out almost instantly as Michael Caruso's race was ended via a back-end tag from Dylan O'Keefe.

Cameron opened up a one-second gap nine laps in, but was ultimately left disappointed and five laps behind the rest of the field after a mechanical issue.

Moffat copped a three-grid place penalty after ramming 17-year-old Jay Hanson on the hairpin. Both sustained damage and were unable to finish.

Eighteen-year-old Nathan Herne leads the Trans-Am series after sharing victories with fellow Queenslander Aaron Seton.

Spectators on the hairpin had front row seats to constant drama in race two as Seton won from Herne and Tasmanian Owen Kelly.

Matthew MacKelden was the first to have a run-in with the famous fourth turn, locking wheels for a full 360-degree spin before re-joining the field.

Brad Chick later sat parked on the bend for half a minute while Craig Scutella's Chevrolet Camaro sent Mark Crutcher on an all-expenses paid beach holiday, ramming the Dodge Challenger to the end of the sand trap.

In race three, Kelly looked a good chance of taking out his first win of the season after finding himself leading the pack at the midway point.

But Herne, who attempted to overtake the Tasmanian on two consecutive hairpins, eventually got his man on turn six before identical manoeuvres from Seton and Tim Brook saw Kelly relegated to third and then fourth.

Thomas Randle was a popular winner of the S5000 season opener after heat two went the way of Tim Macrow.

On a heart-warming return from chemotherapy, the 24-year-old Randle started second on the grid and led from the first corner to the finish.

He thanked his family and team after holding off Macrow and Herne for 25 laps.

"It's nearly a perfect weekend - I just didn't get the lap record in the end but to come away with the win, I'm speechless with the last couple of months I've had," he said.

"It's always the easiest race when you're leading because you've got the clean air and you're not trying to battle with other cars, but I was really happy to come away with the win."