ambrose to run in some cup races!!!!

[tassiedevilAB]

he is a link to the story with a few pics, http://www.marcosambrose.com

congrats to him for these rides next year!

[Lee Roy]

Cool. I'm looking forward to seeing him run at Infeneon and the Glen.

[BenRoethig]

If would be very guarded in my expectations of seeing him in a cup race next year with the probable exceptions of The Glen and Infineon. The team he drives for isn't that good and quite frankly he had a hard time holding his own in the truck series. Cup makes the trucks look like a leisurely Sunday drive. He should be more focused on proving he's able to drive a Busch car first.

[Robert Ryan]

The team he drives for isn't that good and quite frankly he had a hard time holding his own in the truck series. Cup makes the trucks look like a leisurely Sunday drive. He should be more focused on proving he's able to drive a Busch car first.
I agree I wonder how much better will he do in the Woods Busch car? He loves the idea of the increased pressure and more regular races in Busch He has the advantage of actually been on ovals and having adequate practice, something he did not have going to Trucks. His progress in the Truck series (finishing 3rd in the rookie rankings) was much better than his first year in V8Supercars

[tstran17_88]

If would be very guarded in my expectations of seeing him in a cup race next year with the probable exceptions of The Glen and Infineon. The team he drives for isn't that good and quite frankly he had a hard time holding his own in the truck series. Cup makes the trucks look like a leisurely Sunday drive. He should be more focused on proving he's able to drive a Busch car first.I agree. If he was with an established team trying to make a qualifying effort for a cup race, it would be tough, but he'll be trying with Team Aussie, which has zero experience with cup cars, even with the help the Wood Bros. will be giving them.

[Sparky1329]

I agree with you guys. He'd have a much better shot if he was affiliated with a better car owner.

[Robert Ryan]

agree with you guys. He'd have a much better shot if he was affiliated with a better car owner.
Or a case of how much better can he improve on the results of the Wood Brothers Busch team?

[Sparky1329]

Several drivers over several years haven't had much of an impact on the Wood Brothers effort.

[RaceFanStan]

The Wood's Brothers are riding their "past glory" & don't have the high tech needed to be competitive. :s

[tstran17_88]

The Wood's Brothers are riding their "past glory" & don't have the high tech needed to be competitive. :s

They are Ford's version of Petty Enterprise. But at least a person could see a sliver of improvement at PE last season.

[RaceFanStan]

I think Todd Parrott was the "sliver of improvement" @ Petty Enterprises.
Unfortunately for Petty Enterprises, Todd Parrott went back to Robert Yates Racing. :s

[harvick#1]

wow, you think Ernie Irvan will come back to RYR for old folk sake

[Robert Ryan]

The Wood's Brothers are riding their "past glory" & don't have the high tech needed to be competitive.
That is very very true. They have extended his contract to 2011, because of his abilities to sort cars quickly.They hope his sorting abilities can help their Busch effort.

[RaceFanStan]

wow, you think Ernie Irvan will come back to RYR for old folk sake
Ernie Irvan will NOT return to the driver's seat.
Ernie knows another hard hit to his head could either paralyze or kill him.
Ernie Irvan quit because he wanted to maintain his quality of life.
2 serious concussions was enough to make him quit completely.

[Cole_Trickle]

Marcos should run well on the road courses, but he'll have a hard toime qualifying for a Cup oval race with 50+ fulltime cars next year.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Marcos better know what he is in for. The Wood brothers could kill his career. Not that I want that to happen, and I would love to see the Wood's do better, but Marcos needed to be with a team that can make him better. I don't think the Wood's are that team. He wont get the second chances many home grown drivers will get.

I think the learning curve is steep, but with the right team he could have made it. I just hope like hell they give him enough car to make races....

[tassiedevilAB]

this is the reason i posted this statement , for a debate to see if you guys think that the team is doing the right thing, i would have liked to see him concentrate on his Busch drives & not have this added pressure they are putting on him.
He is a great sorter of the equipment that is given to him, witnessed in the truck series this year! & THE V8 SUPERCARS, when he first lobbed in stone bros. racing falcon, he made a good car a rocket ship in his first year there!

and we already have had a great debate when that rumour of him racing at Sonoma came up. he will have to test the COT car to see the difference FROM THE BUSCH RIDE!

[tassiedevilAB]

Hi mark in oshawa, I din't think Ford Racing will let that happen to him, team aussie are going out on a limb in this venture, & would make sure he get's what he deserves to compete with the best, when aussies get there mind around something we always give it the best shot, so they do not make fools out of themselves!
This might be a marketing ploy, but we know how Craig Core doesn't like egg on his face, & he always gives 110% with all the ventures he dives into!

[Robert Ryan]

This might be a marketing ploy, but we know how Craig Core doesn't like egg on his face, & he always gives 110% with all the ventures he dives into!
Not necessarily successful like his long suffering WPS V8Supercar team. His CCWS/Atlantic/Truck ventures have had more success.

[tstran17_88]

Ernie Irvan will NOT return to the driver's seat.
Ernie knows another hard hit to his head could either paralyze or kill him.
Ernie Irvan quit because he wanted to maintain his quality of life.
2 serious concussions was enough to make him quit completely.
I would almost think Harv was trying to make a joke since Ernie's first Michigan wreck was a tad worse than a concussion...it was touch and go for a few days whether he would survive.

[tassiedevilAB]

Hi Robert, that is true in the v8supercars......BUT .....If WPS HAD DRIVERS THAT DIDN'T OVER DRIVE THE FALCONS, like Bargs & Wilson do, WPS would be a top10 car IN EVERY RACE! those too just seem to wreck each others race!...." Barg's It's my corner" no!...... Max it's mine" !..... "Gore.... didn't i say to you guys, don't hit each other again"

[millencolin]

only just read the article in australasian motorsport news... good luck son, kick some arse for us!!!

[tassiedevilAB]

Hi millincolin , just let him get used to the car first!
it's good that you read the article on his cup entry, but let's not count our chickens before they hatch mate! It was already going to be another steep learning curve in Busch for him, & now with this development it good get even steeper! At least us assies know he will give it his best shot!

[Mark in Oshawa]

Going too far, too fast..... stay in Busch and CTS; and get your experience. Cup looks simliar to Busch, but it is a different level again, as many good Busch drivers have found out the hard way...

[tassiedevilAB]

i hear what you are saying Mark,
i only wanted him to do his Busch racing this year & get use to racing with the Buschwackers, to get him use to how the big boys race week in & week out in Cup.

[harvick#1]

I see Ambrose making maybe 1 race and that maybe one of the road courses. with a underfunded team, there will be now way to get into a field of 43 that will be very deep with good teams and decent teams with Toyota money

[Robert Ryan]

I see Ambrose making maybe 1 race and that maybe one of the road courses. with a underfunded team, there will be now way to get into a field of 43 that will be very deep with good teams and decent teams with Toyota money
This all depends on how underfunded the WOOD BROTHERS are for 2007, as the "Team Australia" car is one of theirs.

[BenRoethig]

Team Australia must have some really deep pockets then.

[Robert Ryan]

Team Australia must have some really deep pockets then.
Yes and getting deeper. I think Craig Gore is also looking at doing Le Mans some day as well. He not only has the Champcar/Atlantic/ Formula BMW teams, but in Australia the original WPS V8Supercar team(from which everything else spawned), but sponsors the Aussie Racing Cars (sophisticated legends roadracing series), Porsche Carrera Cup, and has an interest in the V8Utes.

[BenRoethig]

Yes and getting deeper. I think Craig Gore is also looking at doing Le Mans some day as well. He not only has the Champcar/Atlantic/ Formula BMW teams, but in Australia the original WPS V8Supercar team(from which everything else spawned), but sponsors the Aussie Racing Cars (sophisticated legends roadracing series), Porsche Carrera Cup, and has an interest in the V8Utes.

And getting the Woods and Ambrose up to speed would cost more than all of those combined. I think you're under the impression that cup is inexpensive because of the technology. The truth is that the infrastructure costs are second only to F1.

[Robert Ryan]

And getting the Woods and Ambrose up to speed would cost more than all of those combined. I think you're under the impression that cup is inexpensive because of the technology.
I never said that. Craig Gore has very deep pockets and they are getting deeper. He will not be the only one carrying the can for the Marcos Ambrose effort or the Wood Bros preparation for NEXTEL CUP. Others are involved. What I do see is his increasing involvement in more US racing and NASCAR as well as expanding into racing into Europe.Would not be surprised to see him having his own NASCAR team in the future. At last count he has spent US $50 million on his other racing activities and he has only really started.

[tassiedevilAB]

very impressive Robert, Gorrie, sure knows how to spend his money racing wise! ....But he also has partners in all his racing projects. Champcars, etc.
It all depends on how deep those pockets are , for him to pursue his Nascar programe & how well his marketing products sell over there!

Judging from what he has achieved in that deal of Ambrose's Busch ride, the guy is a very good businees man! Signage & supermarket position with an already established company, so he can sell the wines alongside their products, very smooth dude is Gorrie!

[call_me_andrew]

I wouldn't worry about the Wood Brothers. Last time I checked, they're getting help from Roush. I believe they won at Bristol a few years ago. They just need better drivers.

[tassiedevilAB]

yEH I DID READ THAT SOMEWHERE that Roush supplied the chassis to them.
I also think the trucks were Roush chassis!

That is why Gore has taken this under his wing, he would have made sure he was getting some good equipment for Marcos to have a red hot go !

[tassiedevilAB]

Does anyone know if Marcos is testing on any oval, prior to his pre season Busch testing at Daytona, i have read that some cup teams are testing on other ovals before they are testing at daytona !

I know he did testing last year for the trucks prior to Daytona

[tassiedevilAB]

one more day to go & Marcos will be on the daytona oval testing with the Busch teams,.......... gotta luv that !
his new fire suit has red flames coming up from his shoes & riding up his legs, his "devilracer" nick name suits this fire suit,................ hot stuff!

I know it's all to do with him being sponsored by a charcoal company!

Enjoy your drive tomorrow mate!

[tassiedevilAB]

Marcos is going to be making his debut on friday with Montoya, that would be fun to watch!

[Mark in Oshawa]

Tassie, if you are not running his fan club, you ought to be!!!

I hope he does well, NASCAR needs a little more of an international flavour. Now if we could just get ole PT in there with a ride, then it would get interesting!!!

[tassiedevilAB]

no i wouldn't like to do that he has his own fan leader doing that! now don't get Robert jealous ya here'!

What you mean to say having pt, ambrose,& montoya fighting for positions, you gotta luv that ! that is some kinda international team!

[tassiedevilAB]

her's the morning session speeds

1 5B Kyle Busch Chevrolet 49.165 183.057
2 5A Kyle Busch Chevrolet 49.191 182.960
3 87B Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 49.221 182.849
4 90A Stephen Leicht Ford 49.332 182.437
5 87A Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 49.334 182.430
6 32A Dave Blaney Toyota 49.348 182.378
7 6A David Ragan Ford 49.349 182.375
8 11A Martin Truex Chevrolet 49.420 182.113
9 16B Todd Kluever Ford 49.470 181.928
10 37B Jamie McMurray Ford 49.487 181.866
11 6B David Ragan Ford 49.512 181.774
12 37A Jamie McMurray Ford 49.512 181.774
13 20A Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 49.522 181.737
14 90B Stephen Leicht Ford 49.530 181.708
15 20B Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 49.538 181.679
16 32B Dave Blaney Toyota 49.594 181.474
17 18B Aric Almirola Chevrolet 49.597 181.463
18 99A David Reutimann Toyota 49.616 181.393
19 21A Timothy Peters Chevrolet 49.619 181.382
20 15A Paul Menard Chevrolet 49.628 181.349
21 16A Todd Kluever Ford 49.668 181.203
22 38A Jason Leffler Toyota 49.717 181.025
23 66B Steve Wallace Dodge 49.740 180.941
24 99B David Reutimann Toyota 49.752 180.897
25 21B Timothy Peters Chevrolet 49.770 180.832
26 59A Marcos Ambrose Ford 49.806 180.701
27 2A Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 49.861 180.502
28 66A Steve Wallace Dodge 49.863 180.495
29 2B Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 49.866 180.484
30 55A Brandon Miller Ford 49.888 180.404
31 42B Juan Pablo Montoya Dodge 49.997 180.011
32 59B Marcos Ambrose Ford 50.029 179.896
33 88A Shane Huffman Chevrolet 50.112 179.598
34 28B Robert Richardson Chevrolet 50.391 178.603
35 88B Shane Huffman Chevrolet 50.391 178.603
36 42A Juan Pablo Montoya Dodge 50.420 178.501
37 36B Brent Sherman Chevrolet 50.566 177.985
38 0A Eric McClure Chevrolet 50.586 177.915
39 38B Jason Leffler Toyota 50.789 177.204

that's pretty good for a Daytona virgin!............... go aussie go !!!!!!!!

[tassiedevilAB]

I wish i could have stay up but i had to get to bed, seeing that Marcos got to 10th position in the PM sessions & 1st fusion in the top 10, just wait & until the team really gels, & threre is still 2 more days to test!

go aussie go

[tassiedevilAB]

Here's the Friday afternoon speeds

1 20B Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 48.311 186.293 19 41 ---.--- ---.---
2 15A Paul Menard Chevrolet 48.370 186.066 31 52 -0.059 -0.059
3 11A Martin Truex Chevrolet 48.394 185.973 35 56 -0.083 -0.024
4 88B Shane Huffman Chevrolet 48.463 185.709 26 36 -0.152 -0.069
5 66B Steve Wallace Dodge 48.478 185.651 24 32 -0.167 -0.015
6 18B Aric Almirola Chevrolet 48.539 185.418 13 29 -0.228 -0.061
7 42A Juan Pablo Montoya Dodge 48.554 185.361 14 24 -0.243 -0.015
8 5A Kyle Busch Chevrolet 48.566 185.315 23 23 -0.255 -0.012
9 5B Kyle Busch Chevrolet 48.578 185.269 22 38 -0.267 -0.012
10 59B Marcos Ambrose Ford 48.601 185.181 7 13 -0.290 -0.023
11 55A Brandon Miller Ford 48.615 185.128 33 40 -0.304 -0.014
12 99B David Reutimann Toyota 48.665 184.938 28 29 -0.354 -0.050
13 38A Jason Leffler Toyota 48.811 184.385 30 30 -0.500 -0.146
14 59A Marcos Ambrose Ford 48.856 184.215 11 37 -0.545 -0.045
15 87A Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 48.924 183.959 26 26 -0.613 -0.068
16 66A Steve Wallace Dodge 49.038 183.531 14 15 -0.727 -0.114
17 28B Robert Richardson Chevrolet 49.065 183.430 22 24 -0.754 -0.027
18 6A David Ragan Ford 49.206 182.905 2 17 -0.895 -0.141
19 16B Todd Kluever Ford 49.227 182.826 20 23 -0.916 -0.021
20 90A Stephen Leicht Ford 49.287 182.604 5 17 -0.976 -0.060
21 37B Jamie McMurray Ford 49.297 182.567 6 26 -0.986 -0.010
22 87B Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 49.324 182.467 8 20 -1.013 -0.027
23 32A Dave Blaney Toyota 49.337 182.419 5 11 -1.026 -0.013
24 18A Aric Almirola Chevrolet 49.380 182.260 9 12 -1.069 -0.043
25 90B Stephen Leicht Ford 49.397 182.197 11 20 -1.086 -0.017
26 21A Timothy Peters Chevrolet 49.402 182.179 6 25 -1.091 -0.005
27 20A Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 49.414 182.135 2 10 -1.103 -0.012
28 32B Dave Blaney Toyota 49.416 182.127 20 23 -1.105 -0.002
29 6B David Ragan Ford 49.444 182.024 8 10 -1.133 -0.028
30 2A Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 49.521 181.741 2 20 -1.210 -0.077
31 36A Brent Sherman Chevrolet 49.525 181.726 10 13 -1.214 -0.004
32 2B Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 49.540 181.671 5 5 -1.229 -0.015
33 99A David Reutimann 49.574 181.547 3 6 -1.263 -0.034
34 16A Todd Kluever Ford 49.629 181.346 5 5 -1.318 -0.055
35 88A Shane Huffman Chevrolet 49.754 180.890 11 26 -1.443 -0.125
36 21B Timothy Peters Chevrolet 49.849 180.545 12 28 -1.538 -0.095
37 0A Eric McClure Chevrolet 49.880 180.433 11 11 -1.569 -0.031
38 42B Kevin Hamlin Dodge 49.927 180.263 11 29 -1.616 -0.047
39 38B Jason Leffler Toyota 49.978 180.079 8 8 -1.667 -0.051
40 72A Randy MacDonald Chevrolet 50.912 176.776 5 22 -2.601 -0.934
41 34B Randy LaJoie Chevrolet 0.000 0.000 0 0 -0.000 -0.000
42 63B Jeff Spraker Dodge 0.000 0.000 0 0 -0.000 -0.000

[tassiedevilAB]

Marcos Ambrose - #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion

“The whole crew gelled really well and we’re all very happy with the day’s work,” said Ambrose.

“The draft definitely makes a huge difference so there is only so much you can read into the times.

“Some people did a lot of running in the draft and others did a lot of solo qualifying runs. The important thing is concentrating on your own thing with your team and today our team worked really well on what was effectively our first day of the year.

“Daytona is a pretty aggressive track and a bit more challenging than I expected. The cars really bounce over the bumps and you have to catch the car quite a lot out there.

“It caught me by surprise a little, because it’s bumpier and narrower than I expected. Today was my first day around this place, so tomorrow we will come in knowing what to expect and can really get to work with some ideas on the car.

“Today was our first day of the year (on-track) so it was really about the team working well, running some laps in the draft and doing some qualifying runs and the day went really well.

“The #59 Kingsford Charcoal crew were spot on all day and they are a very good group to work with. We had a good solid first day and tomorrow we will get to work with some development on the aerodynamics of the car.

“My first day as a part of the Busch Series was a good feeling and it’s definitely a step up. I’m with the big boys and the big teams now. It’s very fast out there and it’s definitely competitive. I’m really excited about working hard between now and the first race so that we have a good start to the season.”

[Mark in Oshawa]

I wouldn't worry about the Wood Brothers. Last time I checked, they're getting help from Roush. I believe they won at Bristol a few years ago. They just need better drivers.


WRONG, what they need is two team cars besides the 21. They had in Elliot Sadler a good driver, and they couldn't keep him because the resources are not there. Roush supplies motors, but it is the building of the chassis, the body shop and the hiring the right people that teams are built. Factor in they have only the testing data they get on their own, and they are a small team in a sport where the mega teams call the shots.

Marcos wouldn't get a shot at a big team because he isn't a gamble the big teams would want to take. They take a young 19 year old who has won all the way up and mold him. Marcos has the disadvantage that every non-American driver has. He can have all the talent in the world, (Marcos has it for sure) but he cannot above the radar of the top teams without a fight. Add in the fact that he is in his "middle" years and isn't from America. The top teams just pass on these guys. They have to adjust to the NASCAR way of doing things, and driving, and the top teams don't have that patience with a driver like Marcos or Paul Tracy because they can groom their own stars. No bad habits to unlearn and all of that.....

No, Marco's has to be careful now. If he won in CTS and then moved to Busch and did well there, I would feel better about him going to a Cup ride, but the Wood's ride I would hope is just on the road courses. Marco's will do well there, and have a shot to take that team further ahead, but the Wood's haven't had a winning car for the most part in years. Sadler's wins came at Bristol, which is as much a lottery as it is anything. When they win on the cookie cutters, then you know the Wood's are back....

[Robert Ryan]

If he won in CTS and then moved to Busch and did well there, I would feel better about him going to a Cup ride, but the Wood's ride I would hope is just on the road courses
He is with them for the Cup and Busch rides. The thing is with him..he was ONLY Woods driver that was actually doing anything. If he can lift the team from an obviously low point, then he will be noticed by other teams.

[tassiedevilAB]

that's a good reponse Robert, to Mark in oshawa remarks, A lot of people here forget that he is a fighter & has more determination to get to the top than say young americans & old canadians( PT).........HE SHOWED HIS WORTH LAST YEAR to the woods & got promoted,
what has happened to the promising Bobby East an american that everybody though was going to do good things for woods truck team & he is shareing a drive with another up & commer ! That must say something to Marcos's fans! He did more to the truck team than they did for a long time tv, exposure & sponsor reconition! & bobby east got the benefit of Ambrose's undouted abillity to get the baest out of what he is given!

[BenRoethig]

No offense, but you guys act as if he won the trucks series title last year. I know he's like the greatest driver to come from V8s or something, but let's be realistic here, if he showed anything last year it's that he has a lot left to learn about driving stock cars. He tended to do well on the larger tracks that were more wide open and not so well on the more difficult short tracks.

[tassiedevilAB]

There's no offence entended, your right he did have trouble on the small tracks,
but so do alot of drivers that are brought up on racing the bullrings, from what he came from to what he achieved last year, he suprised alot of douters out there!
No he isn't the greatest driver to race v8 , that was Peter Brock the driver that everybody looked up to ! even Marcos!

[tassiedevilAB]

HE KNOWS HE HAS A LONG WAY TO GO BenRoethig, have you read what i posted fron team australia site, his words are not the words of a guy that has a big ego , but more of a guy that realises that it is just one piece of his nascar dream! puting the pieces together to play his nascar puzzle!

[tassiedevilAB]

http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/bg/01/19/mambrose.test/index.html

Hi BenRoethig, this link will show you why i Know that he is determined to succeed in this nascar dream of his & that Robert & i know how this guy did everything in he could to achieve that! & you will get a laugh also of his telling of the story! Just have a look where it came from, that,s right none other than Nascar.com! Enjoy mate & haveagooday !

[Robert Ryan]

Tassidevil, I know you are a fanatical fan of Marcos Ambrose, (that will bring you in conflict with a member on this board), but this does not ring true. I know there are many Actors from Australia who are doing movies and sitcoms in the US, but this statement from Marcos suggests he is also "playing to the crowd"

I went to Bristol to have a look," Ambrose said. "I had a friend that flew over with me. We camped out in the outfield with all the fans, and walked in. I got tickets from Ford and sat in the stands. During the practices, I went to the inside.

"It was pretty wild. I got hooked."

When Ambrose returned home, he told his wife, Sonja, that he had found what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.


Absolute garbage..

[tstran17_88]

There's an outfield at Bristol? :confused:

[Robert Ryan]

There's an outfield at Bristol?
I thought that was odd too. Someone has had a fair bit of licence on what actually took place. When Marcos did venture to Bristol at the behest of Ford he took along more than a friend, he took along a Camera crew and interviewed the drivers for Channel 10, not quite the impression you get reading the story posted by Tassidevil. In fact Journal Now thought the camera crew were doing a background story for a proposed NASCAR race at , Surfers Paradise so Aussie fans knew what NASCAR was about.!!!!

[Robert Ryan]

During the practices, I went to the inside.
Well it was more than that .He watched the races from the Wood Brothers pit wearing the teams head muffs. He was totally enthralled.

[Robert Ryan]

From V8X a V8Supercar magazine:

The southern hospitality was fantastic at Woods Brothers Racing. At the Bristol 500 I was able to hang around with them and really get a feel for what it was all about. The Woods Brothers run one car in the Winston Cup series, their driver was Ricky Rudd

[Hoss Ghoul]

The V8 Supercup is a world class series.

Ambrose is a two time champion of that series.

Ambrose is with a mediocre team, with Ford backing.

For a rookie to stock cars and American oval racing he ran OK last year, nothing great, but he certainly didn't embarrass himself.

If the Woods Bros.(and all non-Cup affiliated) teams can make a better showing in Busch this year, I suspect we'll se Ambrose with a handfull of top 5's and maybe 10-12 top 10's by years end. I think that would be a good year. Follow that up with another succesfull year/and/or wins in Busch and I would not at all be surprised to see MA in Cup by 2008 or 2009 at the latest.

Ambrose would not be the first driver to parlay a mediocre CTS/Busch ride into a full time Cup ride...especially with the Woods Bros....

[Robert Ryan]

Ambrose would not be the first driver to parlay a mediocre CTS/Busch ride into a full time Cup ride...especially with the Woods Bros....
I agree winning the European Formula Ford Championship in 1999(usually the first step to a F1 ride), then coming back(lack of finance) to Australia winning in V8Supercars in 2003/2004, then moving to the Craftsman Truck , with virtually no practice;no oval experience; a part time crew in a new team put together by the not currently successful Wood Brothers..would normally mean coming dead or near dead last, instead of what he achieved.He is more like Michael Schumacher in his determination to succeed and weld a team around him. No the "affable , laid back , Mr Nice guy" is one aspect of Marcos, the fairly ruthless race driver is the other. I agree wih your assessment where he will be in 2008 and that will be Nextel Cup(or whatever it is called) in 2008.

[tstran17_88]

There's an outfield at Bristol? :confused: Assuming he meant the numerous campgrounds around the track, why would he want to camp and not stay in the Wood Bros. motorhome?

He needs to camp in the infield of 'Dega if he's looking for the true fan experience! :D

[tassiedevilAB]

This is what he is Robert, a determined, calculated, ruthless racing driver, with a positive attitude to getting a mediocre race team up the front in his first year, at something that was totally different to what he raced in the past. Bobby East was the shinning potential star that the team mainly pinned there hopes on, that's why he had all that sponsorship BECAUSE HE WAS AMERICAM & a champion so he was supose to do better than Marcos, & marcos had the one race PET SIGNAGE on his debut race!

Look where Marcos is & look what has Happened to Bobby now ?

Marcos knew were he wanted to be, right were he is now& with determination & racecraft he should get to his ultimate goal !

[tassiedevilAB]

Remember in his 2nd race he had a white truck & in the aussie media he said he felt enbarassed driving it, With Gorrie coming on board for the 3 rd race the old develracer came to the fore also & he evem challenged for pole , but made 3rd place starting spot! He felt a sence of pride warering the green & gold on the truck! He shuold have gone for the start in the race instead of making the mistake of falling back & he even mentioned that here the day after ! SINCE THAT HARD TO TAKE MISTAKE ,HE DID WHAT HE ALWAYS DID IN THE AUSSIE SERIES & WENT FOR THE WIN ,WHEN HE GOT THAT POLE! & DIDN'T THE CROWD LOVED WHAT THEY SAW THAT NIGHT , & HIS 3RD WAS JUST REWARD FOR HIS DETREMINATION, that was the turning point of his season & Woods &TAD LOVED THE CELEBRITY STATAS HE HAD GIVEN THEM !

[Robert Ryan]

This is what he is Robert, a determined, calculated, ruthless racing driver
Bit different from the nice laid back fellow you have portrayed elsewhere, Tassidevil.

Bobby East was the shinning potential star that the team mainly pinned there hopes on, that's why he had all that sponsorship BECAUSE HE WAS AMERICAM
What a load of crap, Tassidevil
Maybe Tassidevil we should introduce you to Racefanstan.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Tassie, ummm I am not in the US, but I read all the press releases I can off the net, I go to NASCAR.com, I watch Speed and read Racer. The US is NOT full of Ambrose mania any more than it was full of Bobby East mania.

Let Marcos start finishing in the top 5 before you start the hype machine. He is one promising driver in a series where there are 20 promising drivers. Ones who have lived on ovals all their lives, and will have no problem not reading the press clippings from OZ about how good Ambrose is. They will not give him one inch, and just like in CTS, he is going to have good days, he will have bad days, and if his good days get him past 10th place, then he is improving, because I don't think he had too many good days last year.

You have to just let things take their course, but trust me, he is promising. That is it...nothing more, nothing less. I like the guy, and if he shows well with the Woods, well hey, then he has a shot. One thing is for sure, Bobby East didn't get status over him because he was American, it was because Ambrose was unproven. I dont' want to read this thread 2 months from now and Ambrose is struggling and read about how he is being screwed over. He has to make it on his own without the PR machine from Tasmania telling me he is getting a raw deal.