Ambrose Keen To Put Daytona Disappointment Behind Him In California

Marcos Ambrose is determined to get his season moving in the right direction after a luckless start when the Australian races in the Stater Brothers 300 at California Speedway in Fontana, California this weekend.

A cut tyre sparked a series of unscheduled pit stops for the Australian at the opening race of the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series at Daytona International Speedway last weekend, resulting in Ambrose being classified in 39th place.

This weekend at the 2.0-mile California Speedway, Ambrose is focussed on putting Daytona behind him and showing the true potential of JTG Racing’s #59 team.

Ambrose finished 25th in the February event at the Fontana, California venue last season and then improved to finish 13th at California in September, when temperatures were around the 100 degrees Fahrenheit mark.

Ambrose’s JTG Racing team-mate Kelly Bires turned in a strong performance in the season opener at Daytona last weekend, finishing 12th in the #47 Clorox Ford Fusion and showing the potential of the JTG Racing team in 2008.

Marcos Ambrose – #59 Kingsford Hickory Ford Fusion

“I can’t wait to get over to California and get out there in the Kingsford car,” said Ambrose

“Daytona was very disappointing for us. I was very keen to get the season off to a solid start but things didn’t go our way.

“From the moment I got out of the car I started thinking about California. The best way to put a bad result behind you is to turn things around with a strong result, so California could not come soon enough. That’s the beauty of racing every week I guess.

“California is a big, fast track and one where it’s very important to have your car working well through the corner. I think we can run well there. We’ve improved our cars over the off-season and this will be a good test of where we are at with our development.

“One thing is for sure, it will not be as hot as last time we were there last September.”

2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Standings – After Race 1 of 35
1. Tony Stewart 190
2. Kyle Busch 180
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr 165
4. Brian Vickers 165
5. Matt Kenseth 155
6. Bryan Clauson 150
7. Greg Biffle 146
8. Denny Hamlin 147
9. David Ragan 143
10. Carl Edwards 134
39. Marcos Ambrose 46

RACE SCHEDULE
Local California (US Pacific) Times
Practice 1
Friday 22 February 2008
9:45am – 11:50am

Final Practice
Friday 22 February 2008
5:45pm – 6:45pm

Qualifying
Saturday 23 February 2008
9:35am

Race – 150 laps
Saturday 23 February 2008
4:30pm US Pacific
7:30pm US Eastern

UNITED STATES TV SCHEDULE
Saturday 23 February 2008
ESPN2
7:00pm US Eastern

AUSTRALIAN TIMES
Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Times
Practice 1
Saturday 23 February 2008
4:45am – 6:50am

Final Practice
Saturday 23 February 2008
12:45pm – 1:45pm

Qualifying
Sunday 24 February 2008
4:35am

Race – 150 laps
Sunday 24 February 2008
11:30am AEDST
11:00am SADST
10:30am QST

AUSTRALIAN TV SCHEDULE
Sunday 24 February 2007
Ten HD
11:00am – 2:00pm AEDST

ABOUT CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY
Location: Fontana, California
Race Distance: 150 laps – 300 miles (482.8 kilometres)
Track Length: 2.0 miles (3.22 kilometres)
Degree of Banking in Turns: 14 degrees
Degree of Banking in Back Straight: 3 degrees
Degree of Banking in Front Straight: 11 degrees

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES RECORD BOOK
Defending Nationwide Race Champion: Matt Kenseth
Defending Nationwide Polesitter: Dave Blaney
Marcos Ambrose 2007 Race Finish: 25th
Marcos Ambrose 2007 Qualifying: 41st

For further information please call:
Chris Jordan – BAM Media: +61 412 936 338
Brett Murray – BAM Media: +61 418 760 066
Communications Managers – Marcos Ambrose

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