07 August 2007
AMBROSE DETERMINED FOR BUSCH SERIES SUCCESS AT WATKINS GLEN

Marcos Ambrose is determined to make his next NASCAR Busch Series start his best yet as the Australian looks to capitalise on his sensational road course form in the Zippo 200 at the Watkins Glen International road course in Watkins Glen, New York this weekend.

Ambrose led more laps than any other driver in the #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada last weekend until he was sensationally taken out by Robby Gordon with two laps remaining in one of the most controversial finishes to any NASCAR race this season.

Wood Brothers/JTG Racing has decided that the team will again focus their attention on the team’s full-time #21 Cup entry, putting on hold plans to run a second Cup entry for Ambrose on the Watkins Glen road course. Ambrose and the #59 Kingsford Charcoal NASCAR Busch team will be out to continue the form that sees the rookie in a strong eighth place in the all-important NASCAR Busch Series overall standings (See Note Below).

Ambrose raced at the front of the field in Montreal, outpacing some of the finest road course drivers in NASCAR. The 30-year-old was on course for his debut NASCAR victory with two laps remaining when an incident with Robby Gordon removed him from contention for the win.

Despite being forced into a spin Ambrose recovered to finish seventh, claiming the WIX Filters Lap Leader Award, the Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Award, Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award and jumping into eighth in the points standings.

This weekend will be another chance for Ambrose to contend for his best NASCAR finish yet. Ambrose will use the same car, which was brand new for Montreal, this weekend in Watkins Glen, such was the pace of the #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion.

Marcos Ambrose – #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion

“We are using the same car at Watkins Glen that we used in Montreal and it’s one very, very good race car,” said Ambrose.

“I’m really excited about getting back out there this weekend and we are hoping for another strong top 10 finish.

“I think we showed a lot at Montreal and had as good a pace as anybody. That we didn’t take our first victory was not our own doing but the beauty of NASCAR is that when you race every weekend, you don’t have much of a chance to look back because the next race is always around the corner.

“Watkins Glen, while still a road course, is a different style of race track so it will take some work to get the car to work for us. It will not be as easy as dropping it on the track and away we go, but we’ve showed we have a good road course package now and that we are one of the real contenders.

“It was always our plan to use our new road course car at Montreal and Watkins Glen if the car was not too damaged. The car took a little bit more of a beating than we would have liked, so we have sent another truck up from our shop in North Carolina to meet the car at Watkins Glen with some extra parts and panels.

“With a bit of work the car will be ready to go and then it’s up to us to get it working and up the front.

“As bad as the ending was in Montreal, that race showed we mean business and that in a road course style of racing we can do great things.

“I really enjoy the style of racing the road courses bring and the Watkins Glen layout is another really good circuit.

“No doubt it will be another hard race but this team is more determined than ever after last weekend and I can assure everyone that the #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion will be a car to watch this weekend.”

AMBROSE NEXTEL CUP DEBUT WITH WOOD BROTHERS/JTG RACING ON HOLD

At the beginning of the season, Wood Brothers/JTG Racing announced its plans to enter Marcos Ambrose in both of the Nextel Cup road course races in 2007.

Several circumstances have delayed Ambrose’s Cup debut and he will not be competing in Nextel Cup at Watkins Glen with Wood Brothers/JTG Racing this weekend, accor

Marcos Ambrose has qualified fifth aboard the #47 Kingsford-backed entry of JTG Daugherty Racing

The #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion of Marcos Ambrose blows a flame at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada

Marcos Ambrose leads a pack headed by Nextel Cup driver Jeff Burton in Montreal

Ambrose leads Scott Pruett and Kevin Harvick under the Casino Bridge and into the final corner at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve