Marcos Ambrose will start his 100th NASCAR race as part of double duty at Phoenix International Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona this weekend.
Ambrose will clock up a century of NASCAR starts when he pilots the #59 Kingsford Tailgate Ford Fusion of JTG Daugherty Racing in the Hefty Odor Block 200 in the penultimate race of the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series.
The Australian currently sits 10th in the series standings in NASCAR’s second-tier division and after a strong ninth place run in Texas last weekend, Ambrose is keen to cement his second-straight top 10 season performance in the final two races of 2008.
Ambrose will also aim to qualify for his 10th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start this weekend, behind the wheel of the #47 Little Debbie Toyota Camry of Michael Waltrip Racing.
The Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at the unique one-mile oval will be crucial for Ambrose as he aims to bring the #47 entry into the top 35 in Sprint Cup owner’s points ahead of a full-time campaign in the top flight of NASCAR in the #47 next year with JTG Daugherty Racing.
After a strong run in Texas last weekend Ambrose has brought the #47 entry to within 44 points of the all-important 35th position in owner’s points, a place that would guarantee him a start to each week’s race.
Phoenix International Raceway is one of the toughest venues on the NASCAR schedule, with each end of the speedway offering vastly different corner configurations.
At the corresponding event last season Ambrose led a courageous turnaround in the fortunes of the #59 Kingsford team, coming home in 15th position after qualifying an ill-handing car in a lowly 38th place.
Ambrose will be one of eight drivers vying for the seven remaining starting spots in Sunday’s penultimate Sprint Cup event of the season. Should Ambrose qualify, it will mark his Sprint Cup debut at Phoenix International Raceway.
Quotes
“It’s hard to believe that I have run a combined total of 99 races,” said Ambrose.
“Maybe one day to make my 1,000th NASCAR start like Michael Waltrip did recently. That’s a really big accomplishment.
“We had a good weekend in Texas and we look to build on our performance at Phoenix.
| 
|