Robby Gordon Motorsports To Field Marcos Ambrose In Nextel Cup Debut

Robby Gordon Motorsports will field Australian Marcos Ambrose in the Busch Series rookie’s NASCAR Nextel Cup Series debut in the Centurion Boats at The Glen at Watkins Glen this weekend.

After one of the most controversial incidents in NASCAR’s recent history last weekend, Ambrose has accepted a ‘peace offering’ from Gordon to drive the #77 Camping World Ford Fusion, which will also carry some signage from Ambrose’s regular sponsor Kingsford Charcoal.

Ambrose led 37 laps, more than any other driver, in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 in Montreal last weekend and was on course to record his first NASCAR Busch Series win when he was turned around by Gordon while leading at the second corner at a restart with two laps remaining.

As a penalty, Gordon was eliminated from the following day’s Nextel Cup race, and while he strongly disagreed with the calls during the Busch race, he has accepted NASCAR’s decision and wants to put the incident behind him.

Ambrose will continue his NASCAR Busch campaign on Saturday in the #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing, but will now do ‘double duty’ in the Robby Gordon Motorsports entry.

Gordon will drive the #55 Verizon Wireless Ford Fusion in the Busch race and the #7 Jim Beam Ford Fusion in the Nextel Cup Series race.

The Sunday event will be a joint effort between Robby Gordon Motorsports and Wood Brothers/JTG Racing, with Ambrose’s regular Kingsford crew doing the pit work and his new Crew Chief Ernie Cope calling the shots from the box on Sunday.

Ambrose was originally scheduled to make his Nextel Cup debut in a Wood Brothers/JTG Racing entry this weekend, but several circumstances meant the team had to put their plans on hold.

Ambrose is considered somewhat of a road racing specialist who won two Australian V8 Supercar Championships on road courses for Ford before turning his attention to NASCAR at the beginning of last year.

He started his career in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, has progressed to the NASCAR Busch Series this season and now gets his chance to make his debut in North America’s highest level of competition, NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series.

He currently sits eighth in the NASCAR Busch Series points and second in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings.

PRESS CONFERENCE

A press conference will be held at Robby Gordon Motorsports tomorrow (Wednesday, Aug. 8) at 2 P.M. at the following address:

10615 Twin Lakes Parkway
Charlotte, NC 28269

Both Robby Gordon and Marcos Ambrose will be in attendance as Ambrose’s car for his NEXTEL Cup debut is being prepared on site.

Gordon and Ambrose will not be available for further comment until that time.

For further information please call:
Ashleigh Lockhart – Wasserman Media Group
+1 704 506 2767
Chris Jordan – BAM Media (Australia)
+61 412 936 338

WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY …

ROBBY GORDON:

“There are a couple of reasons why I’m doing this,” said Gordon.

“The first reason is that it’s unfortunate that Marcos got put in a position in Montreal where I was thinking, ‘OK, if I’m not going to win, he’s not going to win.’

“At the same time, I think he’s a talented race-car driver, and obviously he has the ability to compete at the highest level. He showed that last weekend in the Busch race, and I felt that this opportunity would be a make-up.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get to finish the race the way either one of us wanted to finish it last weekend, and now we’ve got an opportunity to try to put on a good show again this weekend at Watkins Glen.

“He will be driving a brand new, purpose-built road racing car in the Camping World colours with a bit of Kingsford branding thrown in for good measure.

“As a team owner, I’m excited about giving him this opportunity. I look forward to running two cars this weekend, I look forward to getting them in the show, and at the end of the day, I hope it comes down to the two of us to win the race.”

MARCOS AMBROSE:

“Well, they say that America is the land of opportunity and I guess this is proof of that,” said Ambrose.

“A bit of old outback Australian culture involved playing a game of Australian football, having a fight and then heading to the pub together for a beer – I guess this is a bit like that.

“This is part apology and part compliment on Robby’s behalf. I believe we can have a solid run this weekend and give Ford, Camping World and the rest of Robby Gordon Motorsports’ sponsors a good return on their investment.

“In some respects this is a no-lose situation for me because I get to break into Nextel Cup without the regular burden of things like owner and championship points.

“Obviously, this indicates there is no animosity between us, and we will both be out there looking for the best result possible in our Fords.”

TAD GESCHICKTER – CO-OWNER WOOD BROTHERS/JTG RACING:

“I have to say that the way Marcos has handled himself since the incident last Saturday impresses me more every day,” said Geschickter.

“He has been enormously professional and I guess this opportunity, in some ways, is a result of his attitude.

“I am also happy that Kingsford can be a part of his Cup debut in a car prepared by Gene Nead.

“Wood Brothers/JTG Racing are also happy to be providing the staff which will enable Marcos and another Ford into Sunday’s race.”

ABOUT ROBBY GORDON MOTORSPORTS

Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Robby Gordon Motorsports fields the #7 Ford Fusion in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. With sponsorship from Motorola, Monster Energy, Menards, Mapei and Jim Beam, Robby Gordon will run the entire 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series schedule. The program, now in its third year, utilizes Roush/Yates motors. The racecars are developed in-house at Robby Gordon Motorsports.

MARCOS AMBROSE NEXTEL CUP FACTS
- if Marcos Ambrose is able to qualify for this weekend’s Centurion Boats at The Glen he will become the first Australian to start a NASCAR Nextel Cup race since Geoff Brabham finished 38th in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on 6 August 1994

- starting this weekend’s Cup event will make Ambrose the seventh Australian to race a NASCAR Nextel Cup event

- Dick Johnson is the only Australian to race a NASCAR Nextel Cup event at Watkins Glen. Johnson qualified 15th and was classified 27th in the Bud at the Glen on 12 August 1990, exactly 17 years ago from this weekend’s Cup race date

– Marcos Ambrose drives the No. 59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing in the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series

- Ambrose is currently eighth in the NASCAR Busch Series standings and second in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year points

- Ambrose finished 21st in the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and third in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings, earning US$256,368 in 22 starts in the No. 20 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia Ford F-150 for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing

- Ambrose won two consecutive Australian V8 Supercar Championship Series titles in 2003 and 2004 for Ford

- Ambrose was born in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

RACE SCHEDULE
Local New York (US Eastern) Times
Practice 1
Friday 10 August 2007
11:50am – 1:20pm

Qualifying
Friday 10 August 2007
3:10pm

Practice 2
Saturday 11 August 2007
10:30am – 11:20am

Final Practice
Saturday 11 August 2007
1:50pm – 2:50pm

Race – 90 laps
Sunday 12 August 2007
2:00pm US Eastern

UNITED STATES TV SCHEDULE
Sunday 12 August 2007
ESPN
1:30pm US Eastern

AUSTRALIAN TIMES
Australian Eastern Standard Times
Practice 1
Saturday 11 August 2007
1:50am – 3:20am

Qualifying
Saturday 11 August 2007
5:10am

Practice 2
Sunday 12 August 2007
12:30am – 1:20am

Final Practice
Sunday 12 August 2007
3:50am – 4:50pm

Race – 90 laps
Monday 13 August 2007
4:00am US Eastern

AUSTRALIAN TV SCHEDULE
Monday 13 August 2007
FOX Sports Three
3:00am – 7:00am

AUSTRALIAN TV REPLAY
Monday 13 August 2007
FOX Sports Three
10:30pm – 1:00am

ABOUT WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL
Location: Watkins Glen, New York
Track Length: 2.45 miles (3.94 km)
Race Distance: 90 laps – 220.5 miles (354.86km)
Circuit Type: Permanent Road Course (11 turns)

NASCAR NEXTEL CUP RECORD BOOK
NASCAR Nextel Cup Race Record: Mark Martin (2hr, 11min, 54sec) 13 August 1995
Cup Qualifying Record: Jeff Gordon (70.798 seconds/124.580mph) 8 August 2003
Defending Busch Race Winner: Kevin Harvick
Defending Busch Polesitter: Kurt Busch

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