Chevy Rock & Roll 400

AMBROSE KEEPS ROLLING AT RICHMOND

RICHMOND, VA — Twenty-six races are in the books for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and Marcos Ambrose finished 22nd in his No. 47 Little Debbie® backed Toyota Camry at Richmond International Raceway.

The night was full of surprises starting with a little rain that delayed start of the 400-lap event. When NASCAR waved the green flag, Ambrose started from 16th-place in the 43-car field at the .75-mile D-shaped oval. As the first caution of the night occurred with Scott Speed hitting the wall on Lap 4, Ambrose radioed crew chief Frank Kerr about his car’s handling.

“We started the race a little loose on forward drive and as we made some laps it was tight in the middle and loose off,” Ambrose said.

The Australian driver maintained a top 15 spot for nearly 40 laps. At Lap 45, Tony Stewart's and Reed Sorenson’s cars got together in Turn 4 to bring out the second caution of the race. Ambrose headed to pit road for four tires and an air pressure adjustment since he had been loose in, tight in the middle and loose off. He returned to racing in 16th-place on Lap 50.

Six laps later Ambrose was racing for position as the No. 78 car of Regan Smith stalled on the backstretch. A hole opened up on the bottom by Jamie McMurray for 14th-place and Ambrose dove to the bottom for the spot. The two made light contact.

“He got loose and got off the bottom and I filled the hole,” Ambrose said.

As Ambrose restarted 14th on Lap 63, he reported a bit of brake fade.

“The brakes would shake too,” Ambrose said.

The No. 47 Toyota was on the move and gained three positions to be
scored in 11th place by Lap 64. Holding on to a top-15 position, Ambrose pitted again at lap 106 when a caution happened for debris. The pit crew changed four tires and shoved a quarter rubber in the right rear because Ambrose had been loose off.

After pitting and making some more laps, Ambrose reported he was loose off on Lap 138. When the yellow flag waved at Lap 172 for debris, he was 24th and said he was 'loose on entry.' Back on pit road at Lap 174, the JTG Daugherty pit crew changed four tires and took the quarter rubber out of the right rear.

On their next stop under caution at Lap 204, Kerr called for a small wedge adjustment in the Little Debbie® backed Toyota and only two tires. The call for two tires was for track position. Ambrose went from 24th to 11th for the restart on Lap 211.

Ambrose eventually fell to 28th and a lap down to leader Hamlin before having the opportunity to pit at Lap 282 for four fresh Goodyear tires. He pitted again on lap 322, and on lap 383 he earned the Lucky Dog to get back on the lead lap. He pitted one final time under caution for more tires and adjustments. Marcos fought hard to pass a number of cars to cross the finish line 22nd and post his 19th top-25 finish of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. He remains 17th in the points standings. Contributed by Chip Warren, JTG Daugherty Racing

Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Results:
1. Denny Hamlin
2. Kurt Busch
3. Jeff Gordon
4. Mark Martin
5. Kyle Busch
6. Clint Bowyer
7. Brian Vickers
8. Sam Hornish, Jr.
9. Kevin Harvick
10. Ryan Newman
22. Marcos Ambrose

2009 Point Standings:
1. Jimmie Johnson — 6492
2. Mark Martin — 6384
3. Jeff Gordon — 6323
4. Kurt Busch — 6281
5. Tony Stewart — 6207
6. Juan Montoya — 6203
7. Greg Biffle — 6171
8. Denny Hamlin — 6140
9. Ryan Newman — 6081
10. Kasey Kahne — 6016
11. Carl Edwards — 5972
12. Brian Vickers — 5826
18. M. Ambrose — 3767