Ford 300: Second Straight Top Ten Nationwide Series Finish For Ambrose
Show your support.
Buzz this article up.
Nov 16, 2008
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
RESULTS: Nationwide Qualifying
1 #20 Joey Logano 31.962
2 #60 Carl Edwards 32.114
3 #6 David Ragan 32.202
4 #29 Jeff Burton 32.240
5 #17 Jamie McMurray 32.327
6 #88 Brad Keselowski 32.365
7 #5 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 32.371
8 #32 Denny Hamlin 32.374
9 #40 Bryan Clauson 32.387
10 #1 Mike Bliss 32.457
25 #59 Marcos Ambrose 32.756
2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Final Standings
1. Clint Bowyer 5132
2. Carl Edwards 5111
3. Brad Keselowski 4794
4. David Ragan 4525
5. Mike Bliss 4518
6. Kyle Busch 4461
7. David Reutimann 4388
8. Mike Wallace 4128
9. Jason Leffler 4086
10. Marcos Ambrose 3991
2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Prizemoney:
Marcos Ambrose: US$1,081,640
RESULTS: Sprint Cup Final Practice
1 #11 Denny Hamlin 32.841
2 #16 Greg Biffle 33.006
3 #83 Scott Speed 33.032
4 #48 Jimmie Johnson 33.060
5 #24 Jeff Gordon 33.066
6 #26 Jamie McMurray 33.097
7 #84 Brian Vickers 33.109
8 #41 Reed Sorenson 33.151
9 #22 Dave Blaney 33.154
10 #20 Tony Stewart 33.176
35 #47 Marcos Ambrose 33.440
RESULTS: Sprint Cup Practice 2
1 #48 Jimmie Johnson 32.207
2 #11 Denny Hamlin 32.322
3 #83 Scott Speed 32.44 8
4 #1 Martin Truex Jr. 32.464
5 #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 32.490
6 #5 Casey Mears 32.492
7 #99 Carl Edwards 32.498
8 #31 Jeff Burton 32.503
9 #07 Clint Bowyer 32.506
10 #9 Kasey Kahne 32.516
40 #47 Marcos Ambrose 33.626
2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Owner’s Points - After Race 35 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
