Marcos Ambrose has had an early end to his fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race with engine failure in the opening stages of the 3M Performance 400 at Micigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.
One day after a strong performance in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Michigan, Ambrose was denied the chance to post another solid result driving for the Wood Brothers Racing operation.
After only 17 laps of the 200-lap event, the #21 Little Debbie Ford Fusion began dropping oil and spewing smoke.
Ambrose initially brought the car into pit lane, but after an inspection by the Wood Brothers Racing crew the engine damage was terminal and the car was taken back to the garage and was done for the day.
Fellow Ford driver and winner of yesterday’s Carfax 250 Carl Edwards won today’s 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway ahead of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader Kyle Busch and David Ragan.
Ambrose will concentrate on NASCAR Nationwide Series duties next weekend, racing the #59 Kingsford Ford Fusion of JTG Daugherty Racing in the Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
QUOTES – MARCOS AMBROSE
“It’s just really disappointing for us,” said Ambrose.
“The water temperature, everything was pretty good there. We just got unlucky.”
“I was looking forward to getting a lot of laps under our belt here and getting comfortable, and making sure everything was together underneath me, and we were going to have a great day.”
“It just didn’t work out. It’s just experience so it’s just hard. That’s what’s bad about this deal here.”
“I could move the car around. I wasn’t tight at all, which is really good for us. I felt like it was coming to me there.”
“But, I was just riding around there, being good and just trying to get to the first pit stop and get a good feel on the car, but was just unlucky.”
RESULTS: 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway
Race 23 in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
1. #60 Carl Edwards 200 laps
2. #18 Kyle Busch
3. #6 David Ragan
4. #16 Greg Biffle
5. #17 Matt Kenseth
6. #8 Mark Martin
7. #83 Brian Vickers
8. #29 Kevin Harvick
9. #19 Elliott Sadler
10. #26 Jamie McMurray
43. #21 Marcos Ambrose 17 laps
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