Eastern Creek; John Bowe shows his strength

Cat Racing pulled another strong result in round four of the V8 Supercar Championship at Eastern Creek with John Bowe taking overall fourth for the day.

Bowe finished 7th, 6th and 5th in the three races - taking fourth for the day for the second round in a row.

The strong showings have rocketed Bowe from 23rd in the championship to 8th in only two rounds.

"I didn't have the best car out there today, but it was vital to keep pressing on to grab a strong points haul," Bowe said.

"We grabbed a few spots with some of the madness that was going on around us, but that is part of the secret.

"You have to keep your nose clean during these sprint races to keep in the points battle."

Race two and three were marred by several major incidents including championship contenders Craig Lowndes and Garth Tander tangling in race two, and Lowndes and Paul Radisich making heavy contact in the final event.

Holden driver Mark Skaife took the overall win from Russell Ingall and Glenn Seton.

The strong performances at Eastern Creek and the previous round at Adelaide have given the Cat team a major boost.

"We suffered in last year's championship by not doing well in the long distance races which earn more points," Bowe said.

"Adelaide put us back on track and we have continued here at Eastern Creek.

"The car was far from perfect, but we are now not far off the front-running pace."

All Ford teams will also receive a major boost at the next round in Darwin when the all Holden Commodore VT machines are to be slowed by trimming 100mm off the front undertray.

"I personally do not think the performance review committee has done enough to equal the balance between Ford and Holden," Bowe said.

"Every bit helps, but we will wait and see when we get to Darwin." <pre> RACE ONE 1. - Skaife (Holden) - 20:28.287 2. - Lowndes (Holden) - 20:28.543 3. - Tander (Holden) - 20:28.933 4. - Radisich (Ford) - 20:35.018 5. - Ingall (Holden) - 20:35.925 7. - BOWE (CAT FORD) - 20:37.338

RACE TWO 1. - Radisich (Ford) - 20:44.817 2. - Skaife (Holden) - 20:45.093 2. - Lowndes (Holden) - 20:45.395 4. - Ingall (Holden) - 20:45.729 5. - Seton (Ford) - 20:46.100 6. - BOWE (CAT FORD) - 20:46.377

RACE THREE 1. - Ingall (Holden) - 20:36.917 2. - Skaife (Holden) - 20:37.970 3. - Seton (Ford) - 20:38.445 4. - Longhurst (Ford) - 20:40.967 5. - BOWE (CAT FORD) - 20:43.529

POINTS Skaife - 480 Tander - 476 Radisich - 395 Seton - 376 Lowndes - 334 Ingall - 312 Longhurst - 296 BOWE - 268 Johnson - 266 Murphy - 263

-Paul Ryan-