NASCAR fans have greeted Marcos Ambrose on his return to the United States as the Australian finalises preparations for his first full season in the top division, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
After spending Christmas back home in Australia with his family in his hometown of Launceston, Tasmania, Ambrose was not at his US base in Charlotte for very long before he jetted to Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
But with NASCAR ceasing all testing at sanctioned venues, including the traditional Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona, it was the fans who kicked off Ambrose’s 2009 NASCAR season, with the annual Daytona Fan Fest still going ahead despite no testing taking place on the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
The Australian ace was joined at the fan activities by the likes of Sprint Cup stars Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick as well as ‘stable-mate’ Michael Waltrip.
Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, is the co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, the team that will build, prepare and maintain Ambrose’s #47 JTG Daugherty Racing entry this season.
“Getting back here and seeing the excitement and anticipation in everyone’s faces really makes you appreciate the fans of NASCAR,” said Ambrose.
“It’s good to be here in Daytona and have the time to give something back to the fans. There’s no testing, so they are truly why we are here.
“Coming down here to Daytona has really got me excited. To have the Daytona 500 as the first race of the season is just huge. That race is as big as they come and it is impossible not to be excited in the build up to it.”
Ambrose will become the first Australian to race in the world-famous Daytona 500 when he takes the start for the opening race in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next month.
Ambrose says that having raced in selected Sprint Cup events in 2008, he knows just how tough this season is going to be and wants to ensure he is well-prepared and able to raise his game to the level required for ultra-competitive Sprint Cup Series, which features 38 races in just over 40 weeks.
“I had the opportunity to race in 11 Sprint Cup races last season and that gave me the chance to experience what it’s like to be at that top level,” said Ambrose.
“It showed me that to sustain that intense level for a full season over 40 weeks, I have to go to the next level in just about every aspect of my racing.
“Mentally, as well as physically, it’s just a massive, massive challenge. Even logistically it’s very gruelling, but it’s what I’m here to do and this is my big chance at it.
“The Sprint Cup level of the sport is just so tough. I got a taste of it last year so I’m doing everything possible to be prepared for it and be able to raise my game a few notches.”
Ambrose will be on-track at the 2.5-mile superspeedway in Daytona Beach, Florida when the first Sprint Cup practice session for the season kicks off on February 7.
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