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Pep Boys Auto 500
SOLID
RESULT HELPS AMBROSE CLOSE IN ON TOP 35
HAMPTON, GA — Marcos
Ambrose has recorded a solid result during his eighth
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start in the Pep Boys Auto 500
at Atlanta Motor Speedway. His 29th place finish ensures
that the No. 47 entry (formerly No. 00) of Michael Waltrip
Racing remains in close proximity of the top 35 in the
2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Owner’s
points standings with only three races remaining this
season. Currently, the No. 47 entry is a mere 80 points
adrift of a place inside the top 35.
The top 35 cars in the Owner’s Points standings
are guaranteed a start in each race, with the final
standings this season locking the top 35 cars into
the first five races of next season, where Ambrose
will begin his first season of full-time competition
in the premier division in NASCAR. With just three
races remaining, the No. 47 entry is 80 points behind
the No. 84 of Red Bull Racing and 105 points behind
the No. 7 of Robby Gordon Motorsports.
Ambrose started the race from 38th position
after qualifying was rained out on Friday. Throughout
the 325-lap race around the 1.5-mile oval, Ambrose
worked hard on improving the set-up of the No. 47 Little
Debbie® Toyota Camry, continuing to work well with
Cup crew chief Frank Kerr.
Despite some periods during the race where the car
suffered from poor handling, Ambrose and his crew were
able to get the car back on the pace for the final
stages of the race. Ambrose was able to bring his
car home in the top 30 in his first start in a Toyota.
Carl Edwards won today’s Pep Boys Auto 500 ahead
of the Sprint Cup series points leader Jimmie Johnson.
Edwards took over the front running when he passed
Denny Hamlin on a late race restart. Hamlin finished
third.
Ambrose will be in action again next week as he completes ‘double
duty’ by competing in the NASCAR Nationwide and
NASCAR Sprint Cup events at the Texas Motor Speedway.
Contributed by Brett Murray,
BAM North America
What the Team Has to Say:
Marcos Ambrose, Driver of the No. 47 Little Debbie® Toyota:
“Our aim in this last part of the season
is to make sure we get this car inside the top 35
in owner’s points, and today’s result
has helped us remain on track to achieve this goal,” said
Ambrose.
“I learned a lot about the characteristics of
a Cup car prepared by Michael Waltrip Racing this weekend,
and I’m really looking forward to the final three
Cup races of the year.
“The handling was not the best there for a while,
but we worked at it and got things better. These races
at the end of this season are invaluable going into
next season because it’s days like to today where
you learn a lot and get some direction on set-up.”
Pep Boys Auto 500
Results:
1. Carl Edwards
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Denny Hamlin
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Kyle Busch
6. Kurt Busch
7. Jamie McMurray
8. David Ragan
9. Jeff Gordon
10. Greg Biffle
29. Marcos Ambrose
Next Race — Dickies
500:
Where: Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX
When: Sunday, November 2, 2008
Network & Time: ABC, 3 p.m. / PRN Radio,
3:30 p.m.
(All Times Eastern)
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