Marcos Ambrose is ready to write his name in the history books this weekend, with the Australian poised to collect his third straight NASCAR Nationwide Race win at Watkins Glen International, as well as pick up his first ever NASCAR Sprint Cup victory.Five visits to the New York road course have netted Ambrose four podium finishes, and a third straight victory in the Nationwide Series this weekend would equal Terry Labonte’s record of three successive wins at Watkins Glen (1994-’96).
Competition however is expected to be tough on the fast and flowing circuit.
Tony Stewart is a five time Sprint Cup race winner at the venue, with luminaries such as Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Robby Gordon and Mark Martin also having visited victory lane.
As ever, road course experts have been drafted into the mix, with the Sprint Cup field also featuring Patrick Carpentier, Boris Said, P.J. Jones and Andy Lally, while the Nationwide field will include Said, Nelson Piquet, Jacques Villeneuve and Ron Fellows.
Ambrose however is confident of a strong showing in both classes.
“We are really excited about it… who knows how it's all going to play out for us, but we feel like we have got a possibility to win either or both races, and we’re pretty pumped up about it,” Marcos Ambrose said.
“We managed to win the last couple of road races at Watkins Glen with the Nationwide Series, (but) we haven't quite got it done in the Sprint Cup Series.
“We are going to be chasing Tony Stewart and the whole team down there at Watkins Glen, we feel like they are going to be the car to beat, as well as Jeff Gordon.
“We have to put ourselves in contention and do everything right and hopefully the race will work out in our favour.
“In road course racing, big, heavy too powerful race cars suit my style, and I've been fortunate that I've done well on the road courses in NASCAR, it really sets me up with a lot of confidence to know what I'm looking for in the race car.
“I've got a good base setup that I carry to all the road course races, and I really know what I'm looking for.
“We don't have to muck around with trial and error, and I pretty much engineer it from the seat because I have such a clear vision of what I need to do to get around these places well, and I guess I lacked that at some ovals and other places we go to.
“I think it's just a confidence thing for me, I know what I need to do to get out there to contend at the front… and I know what the car needs to feel like, and now with a good team around me, like I do right now, I'm able to get what I need.”
Watkins Glen has one of richest histories out of all North American road courses, with the venue having hosted all levels of NASCAR competition, Indycar Racing, and Formula One, which visited the circuit 20 times from 1961.
In an ominous sign for the competition, the most recent Formula One race held at Watkins Glen in 1980 was won by Australian Alan Jones, while another Australian in Will Power won this year's Indycar race at the venue.
Ambrose will only be campaigning in two NASCAR Nationwide events this year, at Watkins Glen this weekend, as well as on the Montreal street course at the end of the month.
TV viewers in Australia are in for a treat throughout the following week, with the coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at Watkins Glen receiving a massive 23 hours of air time between One HD and Fox Sports. Check your local guide for coverage details.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Preview
Watkins Glen International- Helluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen (Sprint Cup) and the Zippo 200 at the Glen (Nationwide)
Track Distance: 2.45 miles/3.9445km
Track Type: Natural road course
Last time at Watkins Glen International
Helluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen, winner- Tony Stewart
Marcos Ambrose finishing position- 2nd
Nationwide Series- Marcos Ambrose 1st
Other Marcos Ambrose Results at Watkins Glen International
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
2009: 3rd
NASCAR Nationwide Series
2008: 1st
2007: 13th
NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings (after race 21 of 36)
1. Kevin Harvick (Chevrolet)- 3080 points
2. Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet)- 2891
3. Denny Hamlin (Toyota)- 2820
4. Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet)- 2803
5. Jeff Burton (Chevrolet)- 2757
6. Kyle Busch (Toyota)- 2724
7. Kurt Busch (Dodge)- 2722
8. Tony Stewart (Chevrolet)- 2719
9. Matt Kenseth (Ford)- 2682
10. Carl Edwards (Ford)- 2666
11. Greg Biffle (Ford)- 2552
12. Clint Bowyer (Chevrolet)- 2564
28. Marcos Ambrose (Toyota)- 1885
Australian TV Guide
Check local guides for regional viewing times
Sprint Cup Happy Hour Practice
One HD- Saturday August 7th, 11:00pm – Sunday August 8th, 12:15am
Nationwide Race
One HD- Sunday August 8th, 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Sprint Cup Qualifying
One HD- Monday August 9th, 12:00am – 1:15am
Sprint Cup Race
Fox Sports 3 (Plus Fox Sports 3HD)- Monday August 9th, 2:00am – 6:00am
Nationwide Race Replays
One HD- Tuesday August 10th, 7:30pm – 8:30pm
One HD- Wednesday August 11th, 9:30am – 12:00pm
One HD- Friday August 13th, 2:35am – 5:05am
One HD- Saturday August 14th, 8:00am – 9:00am
Sprint Cup Race Replays
Fox Sports 3 (Plus Fox Sports 3HD)- Monday August 9th, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Fox Sports 1 (Plus Fox Sports 1HD)- Tuesday August 10th, 3:00am – 4:30am
One HD (Hosted by Marcos Ambrose)- Tuesday August 10rd, 8:30pm – 9:30pm
One HD (Hosted by Marcos Ambrose)- Thursday August 12th, 2:00pm – 3:00pm
For further information on Marcos Ambrose, visit www.marcosambrose.com.au.
