Ultimate Backyard Makeover Giveaway
Great American Getaway
Little Debbie Racing
Special Magazine Offer
Connect with Us
A Family Bakery What's New Our Products Gift Shop Careers Contact Us
twitter facebook

Coca-Cola 600 Report

AMBROSE'S NIGHT ENDS EARLY AT CHARLOTTE

CONCORD, NC With 24 laps remaining in the Coca-Cola 600, Marcos Ambrose’s No. 47 Kingsford Toyota backed by Little Debbie snapped loose from underneath him and went sailing hard into the inside retaining wall of Turn 2. Ambrose was treated and released from Charlotte Motor Speedway’s infield care center following the incident. The Australian driver was credited with a 36th place finish.

“It just came out from underneath me,” Ambrose said. “It’s just a shame our night ended this way. I feel bad for my guys and for my sponsors. We’re so much better than this.”

After starting the 600-mile event, Ambrose updated his crew chief Frank Kerr that his car was loose in, tight in the center and loose off the corners. His first pit stop of the night occurred at lap 49 for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.

“My team made the changes and for some reason the car didn’t respond the way we had hoped,” Ambrose said. “The changes actually made it crazy loose. I just couldn’t turn the wheel in the center and it was really loose off.”

Next stop at lap 61 under caution, the JTG Daugherty Racing pit crew changed right side tires and made a track bar adjustment. On the restart at lap 66, Ambrose was in 21st-place. Immediately he told Kerr and his pit crew that he really needed more help because his No. 47 Toyota was extremely loose in, tight in the center and loose off.

“It was so twitchy loose,” Ambrose said.

It was so free that the car slipped out from under him sustaining right-rear damage by tapping the wall bringing out the caution at lap 90. The team changed the car's right side tires at lap 91 and assessed the damage. Then, Ambrose came back in two more times for repairs and left side tires.

Swift work by the JTG Daugherty Racing pit crew allowed Ambrose to remain on the lead lap when he took the green flag at lap 95 in 31st-place. As the night went on, the car remained unstable for the next several laps as Ambrose battled more of the same issues.

“We were crazy loose again and tight in the center,” Ambrose said.

When a track bar adjustment was made and four tires were changed at lap 147 under green, Ambrose had a similar story.

“It was loose off and it would jump loose,” Ambrose said.

He managed the best he could to hold onto it and by lap 162 leader, and eventual winner, Kurt Busch passed him. When Jimmie Johnson brought out a caution at lap 166, Ambrose hurried to pit road for four tires, fuel and a packer in the right front. When he restarted 31st at lap 172, he keyed up the microphone.

“It’s just loose everywhere,” Ambrose communicated to Kerr. “Loose in and loose off.”

Ambrose kept pitting every chance he could for more changes to tighten up the handling on the No. 47. He was in on lap 215, lap 267, and lap 275. Once the green flag was back in the air, Ambrose was in position for the Lucky Dog to advance back on the lead lap. Fortunately a caution at lap 300 was the break he needed to be back in the game. He came down pit road for four tires, a half-round down on the track bar and fuel. When it was all said and done he was back to work on the lead lap in 25th place.

With 26 cars on the lead lap, Ambrose was in a good position. By lap 313, he was running in 19th place. As the race went on, Ambrose told his team that he needed a big track bar adjustment and / or a spring rubber in the right rear.

Kerr called Ambrose to pit road at lap 353 for four tires and adjustments. Then at lap 375, with 24 laps to go, Ambrose’s night came to a screeching halt as he hit the inside retaining wall ending his night.

“It’s hard to swallow,” Ambrose said. “We would have salvaged a decent finish and to see the guys load a wrecked car is disheartening. But, we’ll bounce back somehow and turn our efforts to Pocono.” Courtesy Jennifer Chapple, JTG Daugherty Racing


Coca-Cola 600 Results:
1. Kurt Busch
2. Jamie McMurray
3. Kyle Busch
4. Mark Martin
5. David Reutimann
6. Jeff Gordon
7. Clint Bowyer
8. Paul Menard
9. Ryan Newman
10. Matt Kenseth
36. Marcos Ambrose


Next Race — Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500:
Where: Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, PA
Time: Sunday, June 6, 2010
Network & Time: TNT Television, 1 p.m. / MRN Radio, Noon
All Times Eastern



Previous Reports:
2/14 Daytona
2/21 Fontana
2/28 Las Vegas
3/7 Atlanta
3/21 Bristol
3/30 Martinsville
4/10 Phoenix
4/19 Texas
4/25 Talladega
5/1 Richmond
5/8 Darlington
5/16 Dover
5/22 All-Star Race
5/30 Charlotte
6/6 Pocono
6/13 Michigan
6/20 Sonoma
6/27 New Hampshire
7/3 Daytona
7/10 Chicago
7/25 Indianapolis
8/1 Pocono
8/8 Watkins Glen
8/15 Michigan
8/21 Bristol


2010 Point Standings:
1. Kevin Harvick — 3521
2. Jeff Gordon — 3242
3. Kyle Busch — 3170
4. Carl Edwards — 3113
5. Denny Hamlin — 3108
6. Tony Stewart — 3107
7. Jeff Burton — 3101
8. Matt Kenseth — 3095
9. Jimmie Johnson — 3077
10. Kurt Busch — 3073
11. Greg Biffle — 3055
12. Clint Bowyer — 2920
26. M. Ambrose — 2276