Marcos Ambrose has continued his stunning form at Charlotte Motor Speedway today, qualifying the DEWALT Ford Fusion second for the longest race on the NASCAR schedule, the Coca-Cola 600.
Ambrose topped the time sheets in opening practice, and was only pipped to the pole position by his Richard Petty Motorsports team mate Aric Almirola.
The result comes five days after being a front runner in the Sprint All-Star Race, which was held at the same venue.
The effort equals Ambrose's best ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying position, backing up the second place starting spot he earned at Las Vegas in 2011 and Martinsville in 2010.
Ambrose previously has scored four NASCAR Nationwide Series pole positions, and a Truck Series pole at Kentucky in 2006.
"What a great day for Richard Petty and Richard Petty Motorsports, we're a two car team here, independents, trying to take it up the big super teams, and it was just a great for us," Ambrose said.
"Congratulations to Aric (Almirola) on his great lap, our team really has it together at the moment.
"My DEWALT Ford was really hooked up, but not quite good enough for the pole.
"I'll take the front row, if you're going to be beaten by anyone, I guess you want it to be your team mate.
"A proud day, and I'm looking forward to more good things to come for us in the 600."
The race will be shown live in Australia on Monday morning from 7:30am on ONE HD and SPEED.
Coca-Cola 600 Starting Line Up
1. Aric Almirola (Ford)
2. Marcos Ambrose (Ford)
3. Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet)
4. Greg Biffle (Ford)
5. Clint Bowyer (Chevrolet)
6. Mark Martin (Toyota)
7. Kasey Kahne (Chevrolet)
8. Denny Hamlin (Toyota)
9. Paul Menard (Chevrolet)
10. Regan Smith (Chevrolet)
Charlotte Motor Speedway- Sprint All-Star Race Preview
Track Distance:1.5 miles/2.41km
Track Type:Intermediate Quad-Oval
Crowd Capacity:165,000
Marcos Ambrose Results at Charlotte Motor Speedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
2012 All-Star: 7th
2011 (2): 5th
2011 (1): 6th (led 18 laps)
2011 Shootout: 3rd
2010 (2): 16th
2010 (1): 36th (contact)
2010 Shootout: 5th
2009 (2): 22nd
2009 (1): 26th
2009 Shootout: 10th
NASCAR Nationwide Series
2008 (2): 15th
2008 (1): 14th
2007 (2): 40th (contact)
2007 (1): 20th
NASCAR Truck Series
2006: 36th (contact)
