Another Huge Day For Ambrose In Kentucky
09/07/2006


Marcos Ambrose and Team Australia have had yet another huge day in their short history in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at the Kentucky Speedway in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky today.

After qualifying on pole and leading the first 33 laps of the race, Ambrose finished in 19th place in the Aussie Vineyards #20 Ford F-150 truck. Ambrose led the most laps of any driver in the race with 49 laps led, earning 10 bonus points.

The strong result elevated Ambrose a further spot in the championship standings to 29th. Ambrose was also the fifth rookie home in the Built Ford Tough 225.

Starting from pole Ambrose led the field away, streaking away to build a comfortable lead, which he held for 33 consecutive laps. Brendan Gaughan briefly took the lead, only to see Ambrose regain the lead and take his laps led tally to 49 before making his first pit stop.

Stopping later than most put Ambrose on a different pit sequence to most of the field, putting the Aussie Vineyards truck back in the pack. Ambrose's truck did not handle as well while running in the disturbed ‘dirty' air of the pack and found it hard to come back to the front of the field.

Ambrose made his second stop under green flag conditions and when a caution period was called roughly three laps later, Ambrose was caught behind the pace car and went a lap down. Ambrose's progress was also halted when Mexico's Michel Jourdain Jr spun in front of the Australian in Turn 4. Ambrose had to take to the grass infield to miss Jourdain's wreck and the Aussie Vineyards car needed a further pit stop to clear the grass and dirt from the front grill.

In 21st position at the final restart, Ambrose made two positions in the final sprint to the finish to claim 19th one lap down. The finish, Ambrose's third best from his 10 starts so far, earned the Tasmanian 116 points towards his championship, as well as five bonus points for leading a lap and a further five for leading the most laps of the race.

"We led a lot of laps today and got the pole, but it was just one of those rookie things in the race," said Ambrose.

"We set the car up in practice running in clean air and the car was very fast and the start of the race. But the way the car behaves just changes so much in traffic and we had a few moments today once we were in the pack. Now we have to balance the car to run in traffic.

"We didn't stop early with a lot of the front guys and that put us off their pit sequence. It meant we had to pit under green and the caution came out three laps later which out us a lap down.

"We definitely showed them we are in town today and we leave here with a better reputation than when we arrived. We just didn't quite have it all come together in the race today, but we showed we were fast by leading all those laps at the start and pulling away from the pack. We had another car (Michel Jourdain Jr) spin in front of us and had to go through the grass to avoid it. It filled the front grill with grass and we had to come in the pits to clear it out and that sent out to the back of the longest line.

"I'm definitely proud of what we achieved this weekend. We got that pole, led those laps and we are getting noticed. We will go back to the shop now and work towards next weekend and try our best next weekend in Memphis."

awesome news shame about the result but all going good for marcus!

thats awesome to see hi going well

qualified on pole! what a champ!

Only a matter of time before he gets a Busch series ride!

Where do you get the info prydey? They don't televise the Craftsman Truck series on fox sports anymore. Shame really, great racing to watch!

http://www.marcosambrose.com

Thanks matey! Has been bookmarked. Might have to catch up for beer oneday!