Marcos Ambrose has enjoyed his best short-track race by finishing in 15th place in the Emerson Radio 250 at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia today.
Ambrose also won the Raybestos Rookie of the Race Award with today’s strong finish, the fifth time this season the Australian has won top rookie honours. Ambrose was the only rookie to finish on the lead lap in Richmond today, a venue know for rough and tough short track racing.
Ambrose rises to seventh in the NASCAR Busch Series standings, passing Stephen Leicht in the points after today’s effort. Ambrose remains second in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year and edges closer to David Ragan for the lead of the rookie points standings after Ragan placed 39th.
Ambrose qualified 19th in the Aussie Vineyards-backed #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion and started strongly at the tough one-mile oval, moving up the order in the first 50 laps.
The 31-year-old made set-up changes at his pit stops and continually improved the pace of his car over the course of the 250-lap race and after losing a lap mid-race was able to rejoin the lead lap in the final stages of the race.
Ambrose was in eighth place with 13 laps remaining at a restart after a brief red flag as oil was cleaned from the racing surface. Initially he was able to maintain position but a group of cars that had pitted for new tyres briefly before the red flag period used their superior grip to move past Ambrose, leaving the Aussie Vineyards-backed #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion in 15th place at the finish.
Kyle Busch won today’s Emerson Radio 250 ahead of series leader Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman.
Next weekend the NASCAR Busch Series enjoys a rare weekend off, the first after sixteen-consecutive weeks of racing, before Ambrose is back in action for race 29 of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series at Dover International Speedway on September 22.
Marcos Ambrose – Aussie Vineyards-backed #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion
“This is the best short track run we’ve had so I’m really pleased, ” said Ambrose.
“We were inside the top 10 but just got ‘snookered’ up high, couldn’t get back down on the bottom and some guys filed passed.
“We had no tyres left so there was nothing we could do about the guys who were on new tyres.
“All things considered we had a really good day. Richmond is such a tough track and it always turns on a tough race. Today was no exception but we made a step up, improved the car over the race, learned a lot and overall made a big step forward on our short track program.
“We worked on the car through the race and actually we learned a lot. We’re just getting better and better as a team. I’m just real excited for the future. I think I’m getting better, the team is gelling and we’re learning about these race cars.
“We’ve got some great people in now to help us out. I can’t wait for next year and the next race.
“I want to finish top 10 in the points if we can and I want to finish in contention for that Raybestos Rookie of the Year deal. If we can end the year in the top 10 in the points it would be huge for us. That would be a big win in itself. ”
RESULTS: Emerson Radio 250 at Richmond International Raceway
Race 28 in the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series
1. #5 Kyle Busch 252 laps
2. #60 Carl Edwards
3. #12 Ryan Newman
4. #17 Matt Kenseth
5. #22 Mike Bliss
6. #10 Brian Vickers
7. #20 Denny Hamlin
8. #29 Scott Wimmer
9. #9 Kasey Kahne
10. #11 Jason Leffler
15. #59 Marcos Ambrose
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