Ambrose’s Third Place at Bristol is Best Result

Written by Phil Northeast on August 23rd, 2009

Marcos Ambrose rates his third place finish at the daunting Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee today as the most satisfying result of his NASCAR career to date.

The Tasmanian claimed his best-ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series finish on an oval in the gruelling 500-lap Sharpie 500 night race, arguably the toughest race on the 36-race Sprint Cup schedule.

Ambrose speaks with #47 crew chief Frank Kerr at Bristol

“This is more satisfying than any of the results I’ve had, even all the wins at Watkins Glen, because it’s on such a big stage against the best at a place like Bristol,” said Ambrose.

This is Ambrose’s seventh top 10 finish of the season and his fourth top five result, and keeps Ambrose in 17th position in the Sprint Cup points standings, clearly the best first year driver.

Starting from 25th place in the 43-car field Ambrose never dropping lower than that position in his charge towards the front aboard his Clorox-backed #47 entry, exhibiting strong car speed all night in the 500-lap race.

The JTG Daugherty Racing crew work on Marcos Ambrose's Clorox entry at Bristol

For most of the night Ambrose raced inside the top 10 and towards the end of the race he battled with NASCAR legend Mark Martin (who competed in his 1000th NASCAR race tonight), NASCAR bad boy Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle in the top five.

“Mark Martin is a legend of this sport and to race him at the front of the pack in front of 180,000-odd people at Bristol and run hard against Kyle Busch, who is one of the most talented drivers anyone’s ever seen, is just awesome and it’s truly a privilege,” said Ambrose.

Marcos Ambrose set to pass Jimmy who? (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images)

“I have to pinch myself to run against Mark Martin in his 1000th race and finish just off his rear bumper. I’m racing at one of the best races in the world against the best drivers in the world.”

Despite his off track humility Ambrose could not resist a joke when he outraced NASCAR champion Jimmy Johnson. “Jimmy who?” said Ambrose over the radio to the team.

RESULTS: Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway
Race 24 in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
1. #18 Kyle Busch 500 laps
2. #5 Mark Martin
3. #47 Marcos Ambrose
4. #16 Greg Biffle
5. #11 Denny Hamlin
6. #39 Ryan Newman
7. #2 Kurt Busch
8. #48 Jimmie Johnson
9. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr
10. #17 Matt Kenseth

2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver’s Standings – After Race 24 of 36
1. Tony Stewart 3564
2. Jimmie Johnson 3344
3. Jeff Gordon 3310
4. Denny Hamlin 3141
5. Carl Edwards 3110
6. Kurt Busch 3103
7. Ryan Newman 2995
8. Greg Biffle 2986
9. Juan Pablo Montoya 2975
10. Mark Martin 2971
11. Kasey Kahne 2963
12. Matt Kenseth 2945
13. Kyle Busch 2911
14. Brian Vickers 2906
15. Clint Bowyer 2833
16. David Reutimann 2785
17. Marcos Ambrose 2639