Canterbury Volvo driver Scott McLaughlin's finished on the podium in the second race of the Auckland ITM 500 V8 Supercars race at Pukekohe.
Ford's David Reynolds won it from pole, with Holden driver Jamie Whincup, who won the day's opening race, finishing second, and McLaughlin third.
Jamie Whincup in action at the V8 Supercars event at Pukekohe Photo: Photosport
Supercars title contender Craig Lowndes' rear tyre exploded on the 12th lap and he crashed out, handing back the advantage and then some that he'd taken from series leader Mark Winterbottom in the previous race, when he was fourth to Winterbottom's seventh.
Auckland's Shane Van Gisbergen was fifth.
Reynolds climbs above Lowndes to second behind Winterbottom
Reynolds could be Ford's first title winner in five years after he overtook Lowndes to move into second in the championship standings with his race victory.
The win was a fine response to what must have been one of his worst weeks in the sport.
David Reynolds wins the second V8 Supercars race at Pukekohe Photo: Photosport
On Wednesday, his Prodrive Racing team confirmed the pit lane whispers Reynolds would be out of the garage in 2016 after four seasons.
With the musical chairs of post-season driver changes well underway, the 30-year-old was facing a very real prospect of missing a drive next season until agreeing a cut-price deal with Erebus Motorsport.
Despite Saturday's win - achieved in dramatic fashion in the shadow of Lowndes' crash and by holding out Whincup - Reynolds said he wasn't driven by revenge.
"Not at all, I'm not vindictive, I'm not an arsehole," he said. "I've got a job for a bit longer, that's pretty good, Centrelink doesn't pay that well."
Fans on the hill at the V8 Supercars races at Pukekohe Photo: Photosport
The popular Reynolds was keeping a level head on his title chances, which would see his Mercedes badged No.1 in 2016; much to Prodrive's embarrassment.
While the gap to leader Winterbottom sits at an imposing 287 points, Reynolds said he would continue to drive for wins and see what happens.
"It's definitely possible... mathematically, realistically it's still up for grabs," he said. "Not that I'm counting, but anything can happen as we saw today."
The Giz second in first Puke race
Earlier, Van Gisbergen finished second in the opening Supercars race at the ITM 500.
Whincup won it by 4.3 seconds from pole position in his Holden, his fourth victory of the season.
Shane van Gisbergen at the V8 Supercars event at Pukekohe Photo: Photosport
Reynolds was third at the bumpy Pukekohe Park track.
McLaughlin was ninth.
