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Whincup clinches Newcastle Supercars pole

Seven-times Supercars champion Jamie Whincup will start the final race of the season from pole position after winning the top 10 shootout at the Newcastle 500.

It marked a record-extending 83rd career pole for Whincup but the teams' championship hopes are all but gone with his teammate Shane van Gisbergen to start 21st on the grid on Sunday.

Van Gisbergen failed to make the 10 shootout, after winning race one a day earlier, and then copped a three-position grid penalty for impeding during qualifying.

It means DJR Team Penske duo Scott McLaughlin and Fabian Coulthard - who qualified third and fourth - will likely hold onto their 143-point lead over Triple Eight in the teams' championship.