AUTO RACING: Ambrose brings his own style to Bristol

By: Allen Gregory | Bristol Herald Courier
Published: March 18, 2010

Marcos Ambrose wasn’t sure what to expect last year when he made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The native of Tasmania didn’t exactly take a familiar route to the NASCAR world.

Ambrose developed his racing instincts through karting and the radical Australian road racing series dubbed V8 Supercar, so naturally he faced a transition period at America’s favorite short track.

“There’s nothing like Bristol in the world,” said Ambrose in a phone interview. “It’s just so unique and different.”

Many Sprint Cup drivers recoil when asked to remember their first foray on the unforgiving high banks of BMS. Often the Bristol initiation culminates in bent
sheet metal and hard feelings.

Ambrose not only survived Bristol, but he thrived in the No. 47 Toyota.

Shaking off the label of a road-course expert, Ambrose finished 10th in his first start last spring with the JTG-Daugherty Racing team.

“I don’t know if you could call that a breakthrough for me, but it sure was nice,” Ambrose said. “Bristol is regarded as one of the toughest tracks in the sport.
Getting around that place so well answered lot of questions for me and my team. It felt great.”

Ambrose added more proof of his versatility and the staying power of his underdog team by finishing third in the fall race at BMS.

The BMS challenge will be different this season due to the extension of the SAFER barriers by more than 160 feet at the exits of Turns 2 and 4, but Ambrose isn’t concerned.

“If you are up that high on the track, you are in trouble anyway,” Ambrose said. “You just have to find that groove, and forget about the fence and barriers.”

Despite lacking the manpower and engineering expertise of the NASCAR mega teams, Ambrose and his crew chief Frank Kerr posted a 18th place finish in Sprint Cup points last season.

Former National Basketball Association standout and current NASCAR television commentator Brad Daugherty is one of the co-owners of the team, which is
helped by an alliance with the expansive Michael Waltrip Racing organization.

Entering Sunday’s Food City 500, Ambrose is 28th in Sprint Cup points. He is eager to chase away the gremlins.

“We’ve had a couple of mechanical issues and didn’t finish well the first two races, but the past two races have been good,” said Ambrose, referring to
consecutive top 15 finishes as Las Vegas and Atlanta.

The intense Ambrose said he feeds off the energy of the Bristol Motor Speedway diehards. As for reports that the 55 straight sellouts at BMS might end this year, Ambrose said understands that fans must balance their passion for racing with a leaner budget.

“It’s a tough economy for everyone,” Ambrose said. “It costs money to come to a race and people have to look after their family, but I expect a heck of a crowd this year.”

BMS Vice President of Public Affairs Kevin Triplett confirmed Wednesday afternoon via e-mail that tickets remain available for Sunday’s Food City 500.

“We are not in a position to discuss specifics in regards to the number of tickets. Suffice to say, we have plenty of good seats left. Good seats,” Triplett said.

According to Ambrose, any weekend at a race track is enjoyable.

“Why not have fun? ... We’re doing something every kid wants to do.” Ambrose said. “Racing is a great life.”

And few tracks are more enjoyable than BMS, said the fast-talking 33-year-old Australian,

“Bristol is a tough track where you have to survive for 500 laps, but I love the place,” Ambrose said.

agregory@bristolnews.com I (276) 645-2544