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Shelby 427 Report
AMBROSE
SALVAGES 20TH WITH STRONG SPEED IN LAS VEGAS
LAS VEGAS, NV — Marcos
Ambrose has salvaged a solid result after an early clash
prevented him from showing his true potential at Las
Vegas Motor Speedway.
Ambrose recorded a 20th place finish in the 285-lap
race, but it could have been an even better day for
the Australian if not for an early race incident.
Ambrose qualified in fifth place in Las Vegas, his
best ever Sprint Cup Series qualifying performance,
but started from rear of the 43-car field as a result
of an engine change on Saturday.
When Todd Bodine spun on lap five, Ambrose slowed
to avoid the wreck, only to be hit from behind by Elliott
Sadler.
Ambrose pitted the No. 47 Kingsford entry for repairs,
losing two laps while his JTG Daugherty Racing crew
worked on the damage.
Once two laps down, Ambrose was behind the eight-ball,
but showed impressive speed to work his way towards
the front of the pack.
On lap 168, Ambrose was able to lead the field
away at the restart and stay in front of the race leaders.
When another caution came out on lap 172, Marcos was
able to rejoin the back of the pack to regain one of
his laps.
Ambrose then continued to charge, rising through the
pack to reach 20th position by the race finish. The
result salvaged some vital championship points after
the early setback, but Ambrose and his team could not
help but think what could have been given the impressive
pace shown throughout the race.
The finish, in what was Ambrose's first Sprint Cup
start at Las Vegas, lifted the 32-year-old one spot
in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver’s
standings into 20th position.
Ambrose will be back in action next weekend for the
Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton,
Georgia. Contributed
by BAM Media
What the Team Has to Say:
MARCOS AMBROSE, Driver of the No. 47 Kingsford Toyota
“We had a very fast Kingsford car today but we
couldn’t get up to where we belonged once we
were two laps down,” said Ambrose.
“It was great to have such a fast race car.
When the car was at its best we jumped the leaders
at the restart and won our lap back by pulling a gap
on them.
“It was a great feeling to have a car like that
under me but it’s also frustrating because on
pace we should have been looking at a really big result,
but instead we were trying to get laps back after what
went on in the early stages.
“We really showed our potential this weekend
and this team is superb. Everyone is doing an awesome
job, we’ve had three solid results to start the
season and today we showed that we have the ability
to really run well.”
Shelby 427 Results:
1. Kyle Busch
2. Clint Bowyer
3. Jeff Burton
4. David Reutimann
5. Bobby Labonte
6. Jeff Gordon
7. Greg Biffle
8. Brian Vickers
9. Jamie McMurray
10. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
20. Marcos Ambrose
Next Race — Kobalt
Tools 500:
Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, GA
Time: Sunday, March 8, 2009
Network & Time: FOX Television/PRN Radio;
1:30 p.m. EST
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