Marcos Ambrose is hoping to cap a massive week where it was announced he will be racing in 2011 for Richard Petty Motorsports, with victory at this weekend’s Irwin Tools Night Race at the famed Bristol Motor Speedway.
Bristol is the location of Ambrose’s best ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series oval track result, with a third place finish behind luminaries Kyle Busch and Mark Martin at the corresponding event 12 months ago.
“Man, I looked around at who was ahead of me and just behind me and I started thinking, ‘Mate, what are you doing here?’” Marcos Ambrose said.
According to Ambrose, nothing compares to the sensation of racing at Bristol under lights and in front of over 160,000 fans perched high about the 860 meter long high-banked speedway, considered to be the fastest half mile race track in the world.
“Night racing at Bristol Motor Speedway is the epitome of NASCAR,” Ambrose said.
“It’s a short-track concrete oval with high-banking, high-speed and an amazing crowd.
“I like to call it NASCAR’s pizzazz event.”
Last year the Australian also scored a tenth place finish in the Bristol race in March, making the venue his best oval track on the NASCAR schedule.
“Marcos does not give himself enough credit on the ovals,” JTG Daugherty Racing crew chief Frank Kerr said.
“Every time we go to Bristol, we run well.
“I don’t expect this time to be any different with our number 47 Bush’s Baked Beans Toyota Camry.
“We’re taking the chassis we ran in the All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway and then raced at Chicago (Chicagoland Speedway).
“We’ve had a couple good runs lately, and we’re hoping to keep that momentum alive on Saturday.
“Unfortunately, the last time out at Bristol our hard work and performance did not equal our result.”
Ambrose was entangled in an accident that forced his team to settle for a 33rd-place finish in the spring race.
“It was a shame because we felt like we had a top-five car,” Kerr said.
“Marcos drove through the field a couple of times after pit road speeding penalties.
“Then we just got caught up in a wreck, which derailed our efforts.”
“Frankie’s right,” Ambrose added. “Things happen in a hurry at Bristol and there was nothing we could do.
“Bristol is one of my favorite tracks and I have a lot of fun racing there.
“This time I have about 20 Aussie friends and family coming over to watch,” Ambrose concluded.
This weekend’s race will be broadcast on Fox Sports 2 from 4:00pm EST on Sunday afternoon, with replays on One HD hosted by Marcos Ambrose, check your local guides for broadcast details.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Preview
Bristol Motor Speedway- Irwin Tools Night Race
Track Distance: 0.533 miles/860 meters
Track Type: Short oval
Crowd Capacity: 160,000
Last time at Bristol Motor Speedway
Food City 500, winner- Jimmie Johnson
Marcos Ambrose finishing position- 33rd (contact)
Other Marcos Ambrose Results at Bristol Motor Speedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
2009 (2): 3rd
2009 (1): 10th
NASCAR Nationwide Series
2008 (2): 34th
2008 (1): 19th
2007 (2): 37th (contact)
2007 (1): 28th
NASCAR Truck Series
2007 (2): 26th
NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings (after race 23 of 36)
1. Kevin Harvick (Chevrolet)- 3400 points
2. Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet)- 3107
3. Denny Hamlin (Toyota)- 3047
4. Tony Stewart (Chevrolet)- 3020
5. Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet)- 3014
6. Carl Edwards (Ford)- 2986
7. Jeff Burton (Chevrolet)- 2986
8. Kyle Busch (Toyota)-2975
9. Matt Kenseth (Ford)- 2961
10. Kurt Busch (Dodge)- 2935
11. Greg Biffle (Ford)- 2913
12. Clint Bowyer (Chevrolet)- 2755
26. Marcos Ambrose (Toyota)- 2173
Australian TV Guide
Check local guides for regional viewing times
Happy Hour Practice
One HD- Saturday August 21st, 7:15am – 8:30am
Qualifying
One HD- Sunday August 22nd, 7:00am – 8:30am
Race Replays
Fox Sports 2 (Plus Fox Sports 2HD)- Sunday August 24th, 4:00pm – 6:00pm
One HD (Hosted by Marcos Ambrose)- Tuesday August 24th, 8:30pm – 9:30pm
Fox Sports 2 (Plus Fox Sports 2HD)- Tuesday August 24th, 12:50am – Wednesday August 25th, 2:50am.
One HD (Hosted by Marcos Ambrose)- Wednesday August 25th, 11:00am – 12:00pm
For further information on Marcos Ambrose, visit www.marcosambrose.com.au.
