‘Li’l More Shrimp on the Barbie’ For Marcos Ambrose
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First, it was actor Paul “Crocodile Dundee” Hogan. Then, it was actress Nicole Kidman. More recently, it’s been Kidman’s current husband, country singer Keith Urban.
And now, it’s Marcos Ambrose. G’day, mate.
I tell ‘ya, I’m liking these Aussies more and more, particularly Ambrose, who has been one of the best stories of the Sprint Cup season thus far.
It’s enough to make me want to head over to Outback Steakhouse (I know, a shameless plug) and order some Aussie Chips or Kookaburra Wings and, for dessert, some Chocolate Thunder From Down Under.
But seriously, folks, who would have expected Ambrose to have the season he’s had. Not only is he a solid 17th in the standings in his first full season in Sprint Cup competition, he’s shown some outstanding promise for the future, most notably in the last 11 races.
During that stretch, Ambrose has three top-fives, two other top-10s and one top-11. For a guy that was dodging koala bears not too long ago, he’s happier than a guy with two dozen extra-large shrimp on the Barbie.
Oh yes, by the way, Ambrose has a better record in his first full Cup campaign than seasoned veterans like Jeff Burton, Casey Mears, Jamie McMurray, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, former champ Bobby Labonte and yes, even better than Dale Earnhardt Jr.
While I really enjoy watching Ambrose pilot the No. 47 Toyota like a veteran wheel man, I’m finding I like him better for his near-constant smile and his seemingly always positive attitude and outlook on things.
I just hope that continued success – and there’s likely to be a lot of that still to come for Ambrose if he keeps driving and finishing the way he has been of late – doesn’t spoil Ambrose or make him into the same mold some of today’s Cup veterans have become once good luck and success turned into bad fortune and lack of anything positive.
He brings a fresh, wide-eyed, almost awestruck approach and innocence of sorts to the sport, which is such a relief. He doesn’t act like a spoiled brat (no names mentioned) or a diva (do you think I’m crazy to mention the other guy’s name?), and races his heart out each time he’s on the racetrack.
All I can say is, Marcos, if you’re reading this, please take Billy Joel’s advice: “Don’t go changin’, to try and please (us) … (we’ll) take you just the way your are.”
