Ford 400

SEASON FINALE BUMPS AMBROSE AND LITTLE DEBBIE® RACE TEAM OUT OF TOP 35

HOMESTEAD, FL — Marcos Ambrose was determined to end his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season and 11th career start on a high note in the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. However, the Australian driver’s efforts were derailed when another car connected with his No. 47 Little Debbie® Toyota on lap 167 and pushed it into the outside retaining wall ultimately ending his hopes.

Ambrose pulled into his Cup garage stall for his Michael Waltrip Racing team to work swiftly on repairing extensive front end damage and return to the track at lap 209. As the checkered flag waved for the final time this year at lap 267, Ambrose crossed the finish line in 42nd-place and ended the year 36th in the owner points standings with Michael Waltrip Racing.

“I’m really thankful for all the opportunities I had this season and the experience I was able to gain from working with everyone,” Ambrose said. “We didn’t finish the way we would have liked, but we did learn a lot.”

“During the race, we were pretty loose in, tight in the center and loose off and got caught a lap down right before our first green flag pit stop,” Ambrose said. “The guys kept working on it every chance they could. It’s just unfortunate we got together with the No. 41 car (Reed Sorenson).”

Ambrose may have been disappointed in the final result, but looking back he had some impressive finishes in the handful of races he competed in this season. Ambrose stood out because of his solid performances with multiple teams recording one top- five, one top-10 and four top-25 finishes on the Cup side.

After scoring his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory at Watkins Glen International in August, he carried his momentum over to earn his career-best Cup finish of third-place. Competing in 11 Cup races this season laid the groundwork for his next endeavor as a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitor with JTG Daugherty Racing.

“I’m really looking forward to running the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule full-time next year with JTG Daugherty Racing,” Ambrose said. “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of doing and now I have that opportunity. It’s incredible and I’m really looking forward to being at Daytona in February. I just want to thank everyone for all their hard work and support.” Contributed by Chip Warren, JTG Daugherty Racing

Ford 400:
1. Carl Edwards
2. Kevin Harvick
3. Jamie McMurray
4. Jeff Gordon
5. Clint Bowyer
6. Kasey Kahne
7. Travis Kvapil
8. Casey Mears
9. Tony Stewart
10. Martin Truex, Jr.
42. Marcos Ambrose

2008 Final
Point Standings:
1. Jimmie Johnson — 6684
2. Carl Edwards — 6615
3. Greg Biffle — 6467
4. Kevin Harvick — 6408
5. Clint Bowyer — 6381
6. Jeff Burton — 6335
7. Jeff Gordon — 6316
8. Denny Hamlin — 6214
9. Tony Stewart — 6202
10. Kyle Busch — 6186
11. Matt Kensteh — 6184
12. D. Earnhardt, Jr. — 6127
36. M. Ambrose* — 2655
*Listed by Owner Points for Michael Waltrip Racing/
JTG Daugherty Racing