Congrats To Ambrose  

Ambrose establishes NASCAR credentials

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August 11, 2008 - 3:35PM
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Marcos Ambrose created a slice of history, established his NASCAR credentials and single-handedly lifted the fortunes of a battling team during a weekend of glory in New York.

After becoming the first Australian to win a NASCAR race with victory in the second-tier Nationwide series on Saturday, US time, Ambrose stepped into the big league Sunday and drove from the back of the grid to the podium.

His heroics at Watkins Glen prompted experienced pit crew boss David Hyder to declare the Tasmanian possibly the best road-course driver the series had seen.

The win in the Zippo 200 on Saturday was the culmination of two and a half years adapting to the fearsome speeds and oval tracks in the US and provided a shot in the arm for his struggling Wood Brothers Team.

Ambrose, a dual Australian V8 supercar champion, drove his Ford almost to destruction in pursuit of his first win.

"We used that No.21 car up," Ambrose said. "We have no clutch left, no brakes. I feel really proud of the Wood Brothers who gave me the opportunity to come here.

"We're having a great time. I hope this gets the Woods back on track. They've had a tough year."

The victory was the team's best finish since Ricky rudd's runner-up in 2005 at Sonoma in California.

Hyder said Ambrose "could be the very best road-course driver I've ever seen."

"I kept watching his lap times and they didn't fall off in a long run like a lot of cars did," Hyder said.

"He stayed consistent and everything fell our way."

Ambrose stunned the field in the elite series today, Australian time, slicing through the field in the Centurion Boats round at the Glen from last to third place.

The race was won by current NASCAR Sprint Cup series points leader Kyle Busch, who was second to Ambrose in the Nationwide race the previous day.

Two-times Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart was second with Ambrose third ahead of ex Formula One star Juan Pablo Montoya.

Buoyed by his sudden rise in the standings the 31-year-old has targeted further success next weekend when he races at Michigan International Speedway.

Ambrose admitted it had been tiring cutting his way through the field and acknowledged the respect from his more experienced rivals as he sped past.

"It was great fun running with those guys at the front," he said.

"I've really got to thank them for not taking me off...it would be easy to send me off into the weeds with that rookie stripe on the car."

Later Ambrose said he was out to prove his ability on ovals and not be pigeon-holed as a road course specialist.

"I don't want to be labelled a road racer. I am 10th in the Nationwide Series points so I'm trying to make it as a NASCAR driver, full stop, not just a road racer," he said.

"I've dragged my family a long way, away from immediate friends and family down home, and it's just a lot of commitment.

"When you have a weekend like this it just validates the choices that I've made to come across here and have a go at it," Ambrose said.