Albury motorsport identity Brad Jones chasing first win in 35th Bathurst 1000

The 2020 Supercars finale marks Jones' 35th attempt to have his name etched onto the winner's trophy at Mount Panorama.

As a driver, he came second three times, and, in a remarkable record as a team owner, he has had nine top-10 finishes in the past 10 years, but still no win.

Jones' first encounter with the race was in 1968 when his father took him to a friend's farm north of Albury to watch it on TV.

"To me, Bathurst is unfinished business." Jones said.

"That's what drives me so hard towards the goal. I've won a number of Australian championships over the years, but Bathurst has been difficult for BJR and I to win.

"It's been a part of my life since that first connection in 1968 and we're not giving up, on the contrary, we're going harder at it than ever."

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But there's no hiding the fact it's been a frustrating drought without the ultimate success at Bathurst.

"We've been so close, it's not often you have the fastest car at Bathurst, we have a few times but things can go wrong really quickly," Jones said.

"It's a pretty heartless joint, it can bite you really hard.

"Bathurst is always intense, it's always stressful, because it's such an important race - it just means so much to do well there.

"But it never gets anything but exciting, even now after 35 years."

Brad Jones Racing head into this year's event off the back of a strong 2020 season where they have recorded two race wins, pole positions and many top five results.

In a competition where just one tenth of a second can separate the top 10 cars in qualifying, it puts BJR in the elite category as one of the front runners for victory this weekend.

"We've been quick all year and on every different type of track, so that's good form and show's we have made real progress," Jones said.

"It's been a bit a weak point for us and has hurt us championship wise, so it's a significant step forward.

"I'm super happy with our driver pairings this year. Nick (Percat) and Thomas (Randall) are a strong pairing, they are both experienced at Bathurst and then Todd (Hazelwood) and Jordan (Boys) know each other well and I think they are a real smokey to get a good result."

Jones sees the signing of Albury young gun Boys, who will make his debut in the race this weekend, as a coup for the team.

"Jordan tested the car at Talem Bend recently and did a really, really good job," he said.

"He will be a good fit with the team, he's got a good manner about him - doesn't get flustered too easily.

"Your rookie race is always a big one, and hopefully we can get them positioned nicely so that at the back end of the race he and Todd can have a real crack at it.

"I'm going to enjoy watching those two go at it this week."

Will this finally be the year Jones wins Bathurst, 52 years after first watching it on a black and white TV? Or will he have another story to tell about hard it is to win there.

All will be told at around 5 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, and at Bathurst, anything can happen.