The reigning Australian champion stopped just short of colliding with a tumbling Brenten Farrer in the second round of heats, with his luck continuing through into the A-Main finale.

Starting the 30-lap feature race on the front row, Murcott took an early lead but came under pressure from the hard-charging Luke Dillon.

Dillon took the lead just moments before he made contact with a spinning Ryan Jones, with fast-closing American Jac Haudenschild the collecting pair – all three unable to restart.

“I had a bit of luck in my heat race, Farrer crashed in front of me and I got a wheel, so it was lucky for us that I didn’t go over – if you don’t have some luck you’re never going to win,” Murcott said.

Kerry Madsen inherited second and after the re-start applied the pressure to Murcott but the 2014 King’s Royal winner was unable to close the gap, falling just four-tenths of a second short at the chequered flag.

“I knew Kerry was coming for me. You’re a sitting duck when you’re out front – they can see what you’re doing but you can’t see them,” Murcott said.

"The Lucas Oil Classic is the one I’ve always wanted to win and this year we’ve got a really good shot of winning. It would cap off my career.”

Until Dillon and Haudenschild crashed three-time Classic winner Madsen had been content to finish fourth and bank points.

“I tried to push hard but passing wasn’t easy, and being a preliminary feature you don’t want to throw anything away,” Madsen said.

“We caught a break with Dillon and Haudenschild, and we came on pretty strong at the end, but I’m very happy with second – we’ve got good points and we’ll come back Sunday and go for the big prize.

“It’s the Lucas Oil Classic – anything can happen, so you have to get yourself in the show and go from there.”

Daryn Pittman was the first American home, grabbing the final podium place with countryman and Lucas Oil racer Kyle Hirst fourth.

In a carnage filled night, Mt Gambier’s Glen Sutherland was lucky to escape injury when he took a wild ride in the second lot of heats, the massive roll over cracking his helmet.

Murcott heads into the final night’s racing for the 2015 Lucas Oil Classic as the clear points leader, followed by brothers Ian and Kerry Madsen.

Night three of the Lucas Oil Classic sees all drivers return for one last round of heats before moving into a series of finals leading up to the 40-lap Grand Annual feature race.

Live streaming of the event can be accessed through www.thecushion.com.