Second Straight Top Ten Nationwide Series Finish For Ambrose

Marcos Ambrose has finished inside the top 10 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series points standings for the second consecutive year following the season-ending Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida today.

Despite having a tough day behind the wheel of the #59 Kingsford Tailgate Ford Fusion of JTG Daugherty Racing, Ambrose’s 31st placing was enough to secure tenth spot overall in the standings.

At the start of the year Ambrose and his team set themselves two main goals for the year ahead – to win a Nationwide race and finish inside the top ten in the overall standings. Today, they completed the second of these goals.

Some of the highlights of Ambrose’s second year in the Nationwide Series include his maiden win at Watkins Glen, second place in Mexico, third place in Montreal and sixth on the 1.5-mile oval at Kentucky Speedway, finishing the year with six top 10 finishes. He also recorded 18 top 15 finishes across the 35-race schedule, 12 of these results came in the final 16 races of the year.

Carl Edwards won today’s Ford 300 ahead of Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski. Fifth place was enough for Clint Bowyer to secure the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series crown.

Ambrose will contest the Ford 400, the final race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, at the Homestead-Miami Speedway tomorrow, with the aim of keeping the #47 Little Debbie Toyota Camry of Michael Waltrip Racing in the top 35 in owner’s points in the season finale.

If successful, Ambrose is assured of becoming the first Australian to race in the world-famous Daytona 500 next February, with the top 35 guaranteed entry into the first five races of the 2009 season.

During today’s final two Sprint Cup practice sessions Ambrose posted the 40th and 35th fastest time respectively.

In other news, JTG Daugherty Racing today announced that Bush’s Baked Beans will serve as a primary sponsor in the Sprint Cup Series for Ambrose’s entry at the Richmond (May 2) and Darlington (May 9) races in 2009.

QUOTES – MARCOS AMBROSE

“Today wasn’t quite the way I wanted to finish off my two-year stint in the #59 Kingsford Ford," said Ambrose.

"But on the positive side of things, our goal at the start of the year was to win our first race and to finish in the top ten in points and we’ve now achieved both of those goals.

“While today wasn’t the best way to finish the season, I think we can look at the year as a good one for everyone who has supported us.

“I got a bit of panel damage early in the race, which made life tough behind the wheel and then we lost a lap trying to fix the damage in the pits, so we were very much behind the eight ball from early on in the day.

“From there we rode around and tried to keep out of trouble. Unfortunately with about 20 laps to go I got loose and brushed the wall, which caused some damage and cut a tyre down sending me back into the wall.

“Tomorrow’s race is going to be tough. There are a lot of cars out there that didn’t seem to be handling that well during practice so it’s going to be a case of trying to keep your nose clean and out of trouble.”

RESULTS: Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Race 35 in the NASCAR Nationwide Schedule
1 #60 Carl Edwards – 200 laps
2 #18 Kyle Busch
3 #88 Brad Keselowski
4 #38 Jason Leffler
5 #2 Clint Bowyer
6 #21 Scott Wimmer
7 #32 Denny Hamlin
8 #5 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
9 #47 Kelly Bires
10 #20 Joey Logano
31 #59 Marcos Ambrose – 178 laps

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