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[NASCAR] History on the line for Ambrose
HISTORY ON THE LINE FOR AMBROSE IN HOMESTEAD
Marcos Ambrose is on the verge of achieving two major goals and creating his own piece of Australian motorsport history entering the final NASCAR weekend of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida this weekend.
In the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Ambrose is guaranteed to make his 11th start in the top level of NASCAR in the Ford 400 this weekend, having jumped the #47 entry of Michael Waltrip Racing into the top 35 in owner’s points last weekend in Phoenix.
Ambrose will race full-time at Sprint Cup level next season in the #47 Little Debbie Toyota Camry and if the 32-year-old can maintain his position in the top 35 in owner’s points in the season finale this weekend, he 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 biggest event in NASCAR.
So important is a position in that top 35, Red Bull Racing has switched lead driver Brian Vickers into its #84 entry for this weekend's race in Homestead, with rookie driver and former F1 pilot Scott Speed now driving the #83 entry, which sits safely in the top 35 while the #84 is in 36th, just 17 points behind the #47 entry of Ambrose.
Since switching to the Michael Waltrip Racing operation three races ago, Ambrose has posted finishes of 29th, 21st and 18th, showing consistent form ahead of next season.
Ambrose will perform double duty this weekend, with a big task also ahead of him in the second-tier NASCAR Nationwide Series.
Ambrose needs just a 37th place finish in the #59 Kingsford Taillgate Ford Fusion in the Ford 300 at the 1.5-mile speedway to secure his second-consecutive top 10 season finish in the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series.
The Ford 300 will also have special significance for Ambrose, as his last drive of a Ford for the foreseeable future after eight years associated with the Blue Oval. JTG Daugherty Racing will switch to Toyota in 2009 as part of a new technical alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing.
Ambrose finished 10th in the Ford 300 in Homestead last season and he will be looking to repeat that effort to earn his seventh top 10 finish of the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series.
QUOTES - MARCOS AMBROSE
“This weekend, we just need to protect ourselves,” said Ambrose.
“The owners points are really tight entering this last race, so we have to keep an eye on things and play it smart.
“We are going to be doing everything within our control to get that guaranteed start for Daytona. If we get that, it will be massive. Just massive.
“We are building on our momentum on the Cup side from a solid finish at Phoenix.
“We qualified 18th, raced in and around the top 15 and had a strong finish even after we had substantial damage.
“The team did a great job of making repairs and keeping us on the lead lap after being involved in an accident. We are all really looking forward to Homestead after that performance.
“We just need to stay focused and out of trouble. In the end when the chequered flag falls, what matters the most is that we are still inside the top 35.
“At least I have made some laps at Homestead. I look forward to going there with Frankie (Frank Kerr, #47 crew chief) and the guys. I’m continuing to get more comfortable each week.”
2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Standings - After Race 34 of 35
1. Clint Bowyer 4977
2. Carl Edwards 4921
3. Brad Keselowski 4624
4. David Ragan 4428
5. Mike Bliss 4397
6. Kyle Busch 4281
7. David Reutimann 4264
8. Mike Wallace 4019
9. Jason Leffler 3926
10. Marcos Ambrose 3921
11. Jason Keller 3776
2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Prizemoney after 34 races:
Marcos Ambrose: US$1,055,367
2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Owner’s Points - After Race 34 of 36
31. #22 Bill Davis Racing 2785
32. #41 Chip Ganassi Racing 2774
33. #66 Haas CNC Racing 2765
34. #7 Robby Gordon Motorsports 2685
35. #47 Michael Waltrip Racing 2655
36. #84 Red Bull Racing 2638
37. #77 Penske Racing 2554
38. #10 Gillett Evernham Motorsports 2495
39. #96 Hall of Fame Racing 2337
40. #45 Petty Enterprises 2207
2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Prizemoney after 10 races:
Marcos Ambrose: US$1,050,211
RACE SCHEDULE
Local Florida (US Eastern) Times
SPRINT CUP Practice 1
Friday 14 November 2008
11:30am – 1:00pm
NATIONWIDE Practice 1
Friday 14 November 2008
1:15pm – 3:00pm
SPRINT CUP Qualifying
Friday 14 November 2008
3:10pm
NATIONWIDE Final Practice
Friday 14 November 2008
6:45pm – 7:25pm
NATIONWIDE Q! ualifying
Saturday 15 November 2008
11:35am
SPRINT CUP Practice 2
Saturday 15 November 2008
1:30pm – 2:15pm
SPRINT CUP Final Practice
Saturday 15 November 2008
2:50pm – 3:50pm
NATIONWIDE Race – 200 laps
Saturday 15 November 2008
4:30pm US Eastern
SPRINT CUP Race – 267 laps
Sunday 16 November 2008
3:45pm US Eastern
UNITED STATES TV SCHEDULE
NATIONWIDE from Homestead
Saturday 15 November 2008
ESPN2
4:00pm US Eastern
SPRINT CUP from Homestead
Sunday 16 November 2008
ABC
3:00pm US Eastern
AUSTRALIAN TIMES
Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Times
NB: All times one hour earlier in Queensland
SPRINT CUP Practice 1
Saturday 15 November 2008
2:30am – 4:00am
NATIONWIDE Practice 1
Saturday 15 November 2008 !
4:15am – 6:00am
SPRINT CUP Qualifying
Saturday 15 November 2008
6:10am
NATIONWIDE Final Practice
Saturday 15 November 2008
9:45am – 10:25am
NATIONWIDE Qualifying
Sunday 16 November 2008
2:35am
SPRINT CUP Practice 2
Sunday 16 November 2008
4:30am – 5:15am
SPRINT CUP Final Practice
Sunday 16 November 2008
5:50am – 6:50am
NATIONWIDE Race – 200 laps
Sunday 16 November 2008
7:30am AEDST
SPRINT CUP Race – 267 laps
Monday 17 November 2008
6:45am AEDST
AUSTRALIAN TV SCHEDULE
NATIONWIDE from Phoenix
Sunday 16 November 2008
Ten HD
8:00am AEDST
SPRINT CUP from Phoenix
Monday 17 November 2008
FOX Sports 3 (and Ten HD – check local guides)
7:00am AEDST
ABOUT HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY
Location! : Homestead, Florida
Track Length: 1.5 mile
Nationwide Race Distance: 200 laps – 300 miles
Sprint Cup Race Distance: 267 laps – 400.5 miles
Degree of Banking in Turns: 20 degrees
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES RECORD BOOK
Defending Sprint Cup Race Winner: Matt Kenseth
Defending Sprint Cup Polesitter: Jimmie Johnson
Marcos Ambrose – Homestead Sprint Cup Series debut
NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES RECORD BOOK
Defending Nationwide Race Winner: Jeff Burton
Defending Nationwide Polesitter: David Ragan
Marcos Ambrose 2007 Race Finish: 10th
Marcos Ambrose 2007 Qualifying: 18th
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