Todd Kelly made contact with Michael Caruso at a restart on lap eight of the 59-lap race, bending his steering and hampering the handling of his Commodore.
The 29-year-old kept his cool and brought his car home, able to catch Rick Kelly in the closing stages at Rick struggled with leg cramps as a result of seatbelt alignment problems.
Series leader Jamie Whincup won today's opening race of the Hamilton 400 ahead of Mark Winterbottom and Lee Holdsworth.
Tomorrow will see Jack Daniel's Racing strive for further progress with a 20-minute qualifying session and 59-lap race to conclude this year's New Zealand leg of the championship.
JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD
Rick Kelly - #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:
"I'm really, really stoked with the way the team's performed all weekend," said Rick Kelly.
"The car right out of the box has been sensational. We have barely touched it, the pit stops and strategy were all done well and as a team we have been really good this weekend.
"I probably struggled a little bit as my leg went numb in that race. The car was good and I would have been looking for a top five.
"The seat belt buckle wasn't in the right spot and it cut the circulation to my left leg. We'll fix it for tomorrow.
"To be seventh in the championship, I'm pretty stoked at the moment.
"If we can move forward tomorrow and qualify a little higher we'll be looking good.
"I feel brand new after being sick yesterday, there is no drama there whatsoever. I thought the races could be quite tough being 59 laps each.
"To be honest there was no trouble at all. We could have kept going as long we liked.
"It's a good sign. I'm healthy, the car's healthy and we're looking good for tomorrow."
Todd Kelly - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:
"We are extremely lucky to end up where we did," said Todd Kelly.
"Early on I had a tangle with (Michael) Caruso and the wall and I got on the radio and said to the guys that I would probably have to come in because the steering was bent really badly."
"About three or four laps later, after a few runs through the chicane, it straightened itself up a little bit. I was even more concerned then because if it could straighten itself back up there's a good chance it's going to break, which is what happened in Adelaide and I went straight into the fence.
"So I was a little bit concerned about it and the Jack Daniel's Commodore obviously wasn't as good as it could have been for the rest of the race, with the steering out.
"To end up seventh and eighth with both Jack Daniel's Commodores is extremely lucky. It certainly could have been a lot further back than that.
"So we'll have a crack at it in qualifying tomorrow and hopefully do well again."
2009 V8 Supercar Championship Standings
After Three Races (Saturday, Hamilton 400):
1. Jamie Whincup 450
2. Will Davison 387
3. Lee Holdsworth 378
4. Steven Johnson 333
5. Jason Richards 285
6. Rick Kelly 252
7. Fabian Coulthard 243
8. Mark Winterbottom 228
9. Shane Van Gisbergen 222
10. Craig Lowndes 201
12. Todd Kelly 186
RESULTS: Race One
1. #1 Jamie Whincup - 59 laps
2. #5 Mark Winterbottom
3. #33 Lee Holdsworth
4. #22 Will Davison
5. #17 Steven Johnson
6. #111 Fabian Coulthard
7. #15 Rick Kelly
8. #7 Todd Kelly
9. #4 Alex Davison
10. #8 Jason Richards
19. #11 Jack Perkins
22. #16 Dale Wood - 58 laps
RESULTS: Qualifying
1. #1 Jamie Whincup 1:23.6232
2. #5 Mark Winterbottom 1:23.6730
3. #888 Craig Lowndes 1:23.8543
4. #17 Steven Johnson 1:23.8551
5. #2 Garth Tander 1:23.9327
6. #15 Rick Kelly 1:24.0438
7. #7 Todd Kelly 1:24.1021
8. #18 James Courtney 1:24.1192
9. #33 Lee Holdsworth 1:24.1704
10. #34 Michael Caruso 1:24.1777
13. #11 Jack Perkins 1:24.3279
29. #16 Dale Wood 1:26.1629
RESULTS: Top 10 Shootout
1. #5 Mark Winterbottom 1:23.8053
2. #1 Jamie Whincup 1:23.8060
3. #17 Steven Johnson 1:24.0691
4. #34 Michael Caruso 1:24.0801
5. #2 Garth Tander 1:24.0862
6. #33 Lee Holdsworth 1:24.1885
7. #888 Craig Lowndes 1:24.3101
8. #18 James Courtney 1:24.4742
9. #15 Rick Kelly 1:24.5275
10. #7 Todd Kelly 1:24.5789
