Marcos Ambrose endured one of the toughest days in his NASCAR Busch Series career but still managed to finish 18th in the Gateway 250 in Madison today.
Ambrose started to go backwards from the opening laps and slipped from his qualifying spot of 14th to be 30th and a lap down by lap 45 of the 200-lap contest in his Aussie Vineyards-backed #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion.
While obviously out of race contention at that stage, Ambrose battled away lap after lap and stayed out of plenty of late-race carnage to fight his way back to 18th spot.
The result has enabled him to maintain his place in the series’ top 10 and second place in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings behind David Ragan, who finished fifth today.
Reed Sorenson won today’s race from Scott Wimmer and David Reutimann.
Ambrose will be back in action next weekend in the Kroger 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis on July 28.
Marcos Ambrose – Aussie Vineyards-backed #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion
“We had a decent car all weekend, but had some problems throughout the night, ” said Ambrose.
“This is a tough track and it was hard getting a good run with all the cautions in the last part of the race.
“We were OK when we started, then we went two laps down after our first pit stop, we were hoping to get the laps back and even the Lucky Dog, but the long green flag didn’t give us the opportunity.
“It was hard to get the lap back. We struggled throughout the race, but hopefully we can get the car in good running condition for next week’s race at Indy. ”
RESULTS: Gateway 250 at Gateway International Raceway
Race 21 of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series
1. #41 Reed Sorenson 200 laps
2. #29 Scott Wimmer
3. #99 David Reutimann
4. #38 Jason Leffler
5. #6 David Ragan
6. #60 Carl Edwards
7. #42 Kevin Hamlin
8. #77 Ron Hornaday
9. #1 JJ Yeley
10. #03 Todd Bodine
18. #59 Marcos Ambrose 198 laps
RESULTS: Raybestos Rookie of the Year Contenders at Gateway
1. (5th) #6 David Ragan
2. (18th) #59 Marcos Ambrose
3. (22nd) #28 Robert Richardson Jr
4. (26th) #88 Brad Keselowski
5. (27th) #18 Brad Coleman
6. (36th) #14 Kyle Krisiloff
RESULTS: Qualifying
1. #29 Scott Wimmer 33.246
2. #41 Reed Sorenson 33.296
3. #60 Carl Edwards 33.302
4. #27 Jason Keller 33.612
5. #37 Bobby East 33.651
6. #24 Landon Cassill 33.666
7. #22 Mike Bliss 33.670
8. #99 David Reutimann 33.730
9. #47 Kelly Bires 33.788
10. #9 Chase Miller 33.821
14. #59 Marcos Ambrose 33.907
2007 NASCAR Busch Series Points Standings – After Race 21
1. Carl Edwards 3229
2. David Reutimann 2377
3. Kevin Harvick 2358
4. David Ragan 2271
5. Jason Leffler 2257
6. Dave Blaney 2252
7. Bobby Hamilton Jr 2183
8. Stephen Leicht 2093
9. Mike Wallace 2055
10. Marcos Ambrose 2048
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