The two-time defending champion started the penultimate round of 2020 by coming out on top in a heavyweight Supercars battle with Holden rival Shane van Gisbergen on Saturday.

McLaughlin's 55th career victory draws him level with Garth Tander in fourth on the all-time race wins list.

Making his flawless drive from pole even sweeter was that the only driver who can upset his run to the title - Jamie Whincup - finished a disappointing 10th.

After an early-drama, which led to the race being shortened by a lap to 31, the Shell V-Power ace held his nerve and any challenge that came his way to finish about half-a-second in front of Van Gisbergen.

With two more 32-lap races on Sunday, the 27-year-old can secure a Supercars three-peat before heading into next month's season finale at Mount Panorama.

McLaughlin has a 263-point gap on Whincup, but if he can extend that to at least 300 before October's Bathurst 1000 he will have an unassailable lead.

"I'm working my butt off to try and get to that point," he said.

"We don't need the 300 points, we can still do a solid job at Bathurst (and win the championship).

"If we come out (on Sunday) with that same (215-point) margin that we had moving in (to this round), even if we do lose a little bit, it's not a bad result.

"Ideally we would love to have it wrapped up (on Sunday)."

In the 60-year history of Australian touring car racing, only three drivers have won at least three-straight titles - Ian Geoghegan (1966-69), Mark Skaife (2000-2002) and Jamie Whincup (2011-14).

TAILEM BEND SUPERSPRINT

1. Scott McLaughlin (Ford)

2. Shane van Gisbergen (Holden)

3. Cameron Waters (Ford)

4. Jack Le Brocq (Ford)

5. Anton De Pasquale (Holden)

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

1. Scott McLaughlin 2162 pts

2. Jamie Whincup (Holden) 1899

3. Cameron Waters 1663

4. Shane van Gisbergen 1647

5. Chaz Mostert (Holden) 1572

Australian Associated Press