After winning at Watkins Glen International earlier this month, Marcos Ambrose is looking to take a sweep of his two NASCAR Nationwide Series race starts this season, as he lines up in this weekend’s NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.Ambrose has come close to victory in his three appearances on the road course, finishing seventh, third and second respectively, leading a total of 124 of the 199 laps he has contested at the venue.
“It’s frustrating and disappointing because we should have won Montreal multiple times, but this time no dramas,” said Marcos Ambrose, who will be piloting the number 47 Little Debbie Toyota Camry for JTG Daugherty Racing.
“We’re going there to win and I’ll keep racing there until we do win.”
Unfortunate circumstances have kept the Australian driver out of Montreal’s victory lane to date.
In 2007, he was knocked out of the lead by Robbie Gordon near the end of the race, and had to settle for seventh at the chequered flag.
The next year, Ambrose was on track to a victory in the rain-shortened event.
He led the most laps (27), but a penalty for speeding on pit road deprived him of the chance to win.
Last year proved to be a bitter pill to swallow for Ambrose, when he lost the lead on the last corner of the last lap, handing the win to Carl Edwards by three-tenths of a second.
"Any other lap, any other corner, I would have got it straight back from Carl (Edwards), but it just so happened to be the last corner of the race,” said Ambrose about finishing second last season.
“I was really devastated because we had traveled all that way and put a lot of effort into that race.
“Our goal was to win, nothing less.
“It was a huge disappointment because I had let my boys down.”
Ambrose has three NASCAR Nationwide Series victories, three pole positions, seven top-five and 15 top-10 finishes in 73 career starts entering Montreal.
“We’re taking the same car we won the Zippo 200 with at Watkins Glen International,” Ambrose said.
“So, hopefully that will bring us some good luck.
“I’m looking forward to going to Montreal because it’s such a wonderful city.
“They host an awesome event and it’s a great road course in the heart of downtown.
“There’s always a huge crowd that’s always pulling for their Canadians and hopefully an Australian too.
“Every time we show up we always have a chance to win and maybe this time we can seal the deal on Sunday.”
Road course competition is once again expected to be stiff, with Jacques Villeneuve, Robby Gordon, Carl Edwards, Boris Said, Patrick Carpentier, Max Papis, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowskli, Ron Fellows and Paul Menard also featuring on the entry list.
This weekend’s race will be broadcast on ONE HD from 6:15am on Monday morning, check your local guides for broadcast details.
Meanwhile the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has a rare weekend off, returning on September 5 at Atlanta Motor Speedway with the Emory Health Care 500, the second last race before the cut-off for the title deciding Chase.
NASCAR Nationwide Series Race Preview
NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge- Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Track Distance: 2.71 miles/4.36 kilometres
Track Type: 15 turn road course
Last time at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
NAPA Auto Parts 200, winner- Carl Edwards
Marcos Ambrose finishing position- 2nd
Other Marcos Ambrose Results at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
NASCAR Nationwide Series
2008: 3rd
2007: 7th
Australian TV Guide
Check local guides for regional viewing times
Race Replays
ONE HD- Monday August 30th, 6:15am – 9:30am
ONE HD- Tuesday August 31st, 8:30pm – 9:30pm
ONE HD- Thursday September 2nd, 8:00am – 11:00am
ONE HD- Friday September 3rd, 5:00am – 6:00am
ONE HD- Saturday September 4th, 7:30am – 8:30am
Next NASCAR Sprint Cup Race
Atlanta Motor Speedway, Emory Health Care 500, September 5th
NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings (after race 24 of 36)
1. Kevin Harvick (Chevrolet)- 3521 points
2. Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet)- 3242
3. Kyle Busch (Toyota)- 3170
4. Carl Edwards (Ford)- 3113
5. Denny Hamlin (Toyota)- 3108
6. Tony Stewart (Chevrolet)- 3107
7. Jeff Burton (Chevrolet)- 3101
8. Matt Kenseth (Ford)- 3095
9. Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet)- 3077
10. Kurt Busch (Dodge)- 3073
11. Greg Biffle (Ford)- 3055
12. Clint Bowyer (Chevrolet)- 2920
26. Marcos Ambrose (Toyota)- 2276
For further information on Marcos Ambrose, visit www.marcosambrose.com.au.
